Chapter 5
I’m sweating. I open my eyes slowly, taking in the glare of the morning sun. I yank my ear buds from my ears and pull my sweatshirt over my head. My yawn is more like a roar. I hate mornings. I pull a piece of gum from my bag and fold it in half before putting it in my mouth. D’Rey reaches his hand over the top of the seat in front of me and I hand him a piece.
I glance around the bus, taking in my surroundings. We’ve been on the road for a few hours and I’m already claustrophobic. I’m too impatient and it makes traveling difficult. It doesn’t matter how many things I bring to do, I’m like a toddler and I’m bored almost immediately. And when I’m bored, I start to overthink. I’m always fine if I’m driving myself. The minute a driver is involved, I start to panic. It’s amazing how your past can still fuck you up years into the future.
Max’s laugh makes me glance over in his direction. He’s curled on his side in deep conversation with a woman who has the most incredible ass I’ve ever seen. Her yoga pants are painted over the perkiest butt on the planet and I have the urge to walk over and slap it. Her hair is pulled into a mess on the top of her head and her tank clings to her back showing me she isn’t wearing a bra. It’s not Rachel. I’ve stared at her enough to know this is someone who is fair game.
Max’s eyes meet mine and he wrinkles his forehead at me. I give him a thumbs up and he shakes his head. That gets her attention and she turns toward me.
“What the fuck?” I stand up and look right at Joshua.
“I take it Charming didn’t know I was coming on tour?” Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard and hearing Max laugh fuels my anger.
“Why are you here? Please tell me I’m still asleep and this is a nightmare.” I’m pissed.
Joshua puts his hand on my shoulder. “Miss King is joining us this month. She’s been hired by the label to write some exclusives.”
“My personal life is off limits. You got that?”
Her eyes are locked on mine. “Your personal life is of no interest to anyone but you. And I’d have to shotgun energy drinks to keep up with your harem of women. You’re safe.”
“Honey, you’d be begging to be a part of that harem. Don’t kid yourself.” I huff like a child who didn’t get his way and sit back down in my seat. I shake my head and look out the window. This in unbelievable.
This woman is like a rash I can’t get rid of. I’ve never met anyone who got under my skin so badly. She’s barely five feet and soaking wet, she’d hardly tip the scales at a hundred pounds. I should just be able to brush her off.
“Chill. I know you get amped up when we’re on the bus. Take some deep breaths. I think it’s going to be a good thing.” Laney sits down next to me and takes my hand. I relax a little and she leans into me. “You don’t have to be interviewed unless you want to be. And nothing gets published without Joshua’s permission. It’s fine.”
I try to get my breathing under control. I haven’t shared my past with anyone but Della. She was my rock. When Laney came into the picture, there were so many things about her that reminded me of Dell. She has no idea what happened to me but she knows I don’t travel well and she knows I have a hard time not getting my way. It doesn’t take a genius to see this about me. But Lane has a way of making me calm and I draw on that more often than I should.
“Just do me a favor,” she whispers. “Don’t sleep with her.”
“Hell would have to freeze over.”
The crowd is alive tonight. I can feel their energy and it makes me feel invincible. They’ve been on their feet the whole set. It’s nights like this that fuel my love of touring. Regardless of how much sleep is lost and how many miles we log on the road, this electricity makes it worth it.
It’s our second encore and Max starts the beat for our brand new hit, Redemption. The crowd screams even louder. I catch the eye of a blond in the front row and she licks her lips. I wink. Tonight’s conquest has been chosen. I keep my eyes locked on her as I sing back up to D’Rey. She’s mine. I won’t have to even say a word. She’d follow me anywhere. Maybe the hunt should be a little more difficult. Maybe then I would feel more fulfilled.
I scan the rest of the front row. Laney’s eyes are locked on Harley. Lucky bastard. There was a time I got to roll around with her almost naked. Her perfect body pressed against mine, her smell lingering on my skin for hours afterward. Granted it was a music video but if she hadn’t been Harley’s, even then, I would have thrown her over my shoulder and shown her exactly what that tight body was made for.
My eyes lock on Katrina. Anger instantly shoots through me and I almost miss a note. What is it about this woman that gets me so tied in knots? Why do I loathe her? Sure, she’s a scummy reporter but that’s not enough to illicit such a strong response. Maybe Rachel can shed some light on this if I can pry her away from Max long enough to ask. Our guards are pulling them to the side of the stage so we can get back on the bus. I take a minute to really look at her. She’s so tiny and I have an overwhelming urge to protect her. My brain must be fried. There’s nothing even remotely redeeming about this woman.
“Goodnight, Seattle.” Damien runs off stage and that’s our cue to follow. The crowd is screaming for us to come back. I pump my fist in the air and watch as Harley throws his guitar pick into the audience. The spotlight dims and the stage goes dark. I smile as I hear the chants. We never do more than two encores so I know we aren’t going back out. I close my eyes and soak it in. This is what we’ve worked so hard for.
“That was amazing.” Katrina fist bumps Max. “It doesn’t matter how many times I see you live, the shows get better and better.”
I try to step around her but she stumbles into my path. Our eyes lock and we both step the other direction. Christ. I’m never getting by her if we continue this. She shakes her head and turns sideways in hopes I’ll walk by without saying anything. If I do, it makes me a dick. But if I speak, we’ll end up fighting.
“Princess,” I lift my chin in greeting and move around her. Her eyes search mine for a split second before looking away.
She groans her response. That sound. I swear she’s trying to kill me.
“Thirty minutes. That’s all you’ve got. Drink some water, grab your shit and head to the bus.” Joshua looks directly at me. “No extras on the bus tonight. We’re heading right to the hotel.”
Katrina smirks at me.
“Smirk away, Princess. I don’t need to bring someone on the bus with me. There’ll be plenty to choose from lined up outside the hotel. It’s a buffet of willing women. You should write about that. It’s magical.”
“You’re a pig.”
“Oink, oink, baby.” She rolls her eyes and I laugh.
“Chance, you’re up tonight.” Joshua turns to leave.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Interview. You and King. Tonight at the hotel. There’s a private lounge at the end of the hall. We’ve got the whole floor to ourselves.” He dials a number on his phone and he’s gone before I can protest. There went the high I was on.
“Fuck.”