I made it through my fist week. The shows are selling out, and the guys are constantly hyped on adrenaline. Cole assures me that by the end of the tour, their enthusiasm wanes in comparison to what it is now.
Cole.
He and I have been spending a lot of time together. We hang out with the others, but when they go their separate ways, we usually end up hanging out. I tell him he can go out, but he never does. In fact, it’s been a week and I’m starting to feel like I’m getting cheated from having the full tour experience.
I expected wild parties and sex—you know, everything you imagine when you think rock tour. The only thing I wasn’t expecting was drugs, since I know all four of them are anti-drug. Again, unusual, but I’m starting to see that Soul Serenade is nothing if not unique in their own right.
Today is a rare day off, as the next show is the day after next, and it’s only about a six-hour drive from here. I know the others all have plans for the day. I really have nothing going on, and there’s nothing I want to do really. It’s good to have a day to just relax.
The bus is quiet. Tristan and Cole are still sleeping, and Gavin left earlier claiming to have business with the label. The newlyweds left about a half hour ago to do some shopping. Kacen apparently loved the idea of buying the baby something in every city.
“Hey, Stace,” Tristan says groggily.
“Afternoon, sleepyhead.”
He grins. “I need my beauty sleep.”
I chuckle. “I think you’re good, Tristan.”
“Should I be worried?” Cole’s sleepy voice startles me.
“Worried?” Tristan asks, confused.
“My girl just told you you’re beautiful,” Cole deadpans.
I focus my attention back to my Kindle.
Tristan spits the drink of milk he just took. “Uh . . . we were just kidding around. Your girl?” he questions.
I pretend to be reading. I’m not. I tap the screen and bring up a book I’ve already read; that way, I can tap the pages and not lose my spot. I don’t want them to know that I’m hanging on every word.
“Not yet,” Cole tells him. “I’m working on it, though.”
There is not one hint of teasing in his tone. I’m too big of a chicken to look at him, to see if the expression on his face tells a different story.
“All right then. I’m supposed to meet Gavin at the sports bar down the street for some pool. You all want to come with?”
“No,” Cole says.
“Stacy?” Tristan calls my name.
I look up, acting as though I wasn’t listening. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Gav and I are going to play some pool at a place just down the road. You want to come with us?”
I don’t look at Cole, but I can feel his eyes bore into me. “No, but thanks, though. I think I’m just going to enjoy the quiet while I can.”
“All right, well, if you change your mind, just call me and we’ll send one of the guys back to get you.”
“I’m good, but thanks. Have fun and be safe.” Logan’s mothering tendencies have rubbed off on me when it comes to this lovable group of rockers.
“Have you eaten?” Cole asks once Tristan’s gone.
“Not since breakfast.”
“Let me take a shower, and then we can go grab something to eat.” He leans in, kisses me on the forehead, then stands and heads toward the bathroom.
He’s been like this for the last week. He hasn’t given me his usual “we would be good together. One night is all we need” speech in a few weeks, and I’ve been feeling this gradual shift between us. I’ve come to see a different side of him, but does a tiger really change his stripes? This could be his way to get what he wants, which is apparently me underneath him.
He’s showered and ready to go in record time.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“I don’t know. I thought we could take a walk and see what catches our attention.”
I watch as he slips a hair tie on his wrist and grabs his sunglasses. I’ve watched them all make some type of effort to be incognito when they go out in public.
He holds his hand out for me and I easily slip my fingers between his. He’s been this sweet, sexy guy all week, but I’m waiting for the “when can we fuck” or something to that effect to fall from his lips.
We walk through the city, and the silence between us is comfortable; we’re simply just two people holding hands, enjoying the slow pace of the day.
“How about there?” He points to a food truck.
“This will be a first for me,” I admit.
“Really? It’s kind of like fair food, without the rides.” He winks.
We both order a cheeseburger and a large fries to split. It smells amazing. Cole leads us over to a picnic table that sits next to the truck.
“They leave picnic tables in the street?”
He chuckles, pointing to the food truck. “They bring it. I can only assume that it helps business. The truck is convenient, but walking and eating is not always as easy.”
“Makes sense.”
“So, how are you liking being on the road so far?” he asks once we’re seated.
I place the fries on a part of my cheeseburger wrapper between us. Cole works on opening a few ketchup packets. “It’s not what I expected—at least, not yet.”
“Not yet?”
“It’s just that I expected more . . . parties and groupies and just . . . you know, all the stuff you hear and think of when you think rock tour.”
“Disappointed?” He smirks.
“No, I’m not disappointed,” I say, with a little more sass than necessary. “It’s just not what I expected.”
“Do you regret it? Your decision to come with us?”
By the tone of his voice, it’s almost as though he dreads hearing the answer. “Not at all. I mean, it’s only been a week, but it’s been fun to see it all behind the scenes. Not only that, but I get to work with my bestie.”
He nods and takes a bite of his burger. I don’t even think he chewed, because he’s already talking again—with no food in his mouth, I might add.
“You forgot to mention the best damn rock group who just so happens to have a sexy lead guitarist.” He winks and shoves the rest of his burger in his mouth.
“How could I forget about Gavin? He’s every girl’s wet dream,” I quip. I’m just messing with him; I know Gavin is bass guitar and Cole is lead, but he can’t be the one having all the fun.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” he asks. He’s dead serious, and I see that my joke is not as funny to him.
I quickly snatch a fry out of the container and throw it at him. “Yes, Mr. Hampton, I’m fucking kidding you.”
He easily catches the fry and pops it into his mouth. I watch as he chews once and swallows before he narrows his gaze on me. “Not funny, sweets.”
“Oh, come on. You have to admit I got you.”
“You can have me any way you want me, Stacy.”
Serious. That’s the first word that comes to my head. The look in his eyes tells me this statement is different from all the others. At least that’s how it feels.
“Hmmm, let’s see,” I start, tapping my index finger on my chin. “I think I want you . . . to be sweet Cole.” I immediately feel my face heat once the words slip past my lips.
“Sweet Cole?”
I take a drink of my water to stall. Why can I not just keep my damn mouth shut? Oh, well. Too late now. “Yeah.” I re-cap my water. “You know, the guy you’ve been the last couple of weeks. You’re nice to me, and you’ve toned down the ‘we will fuck’ attitude. It’s been good.” I shrug. “I like getting to know this side of you.” I might as well lay it all out there, since I’ve already shoved my foot in my mouth.