Chapter 18
RIFF
I step onto the bus and Trip elbows his brother while they both sit on the love seat playing their video game. They both grin at me from ear to ear and it’s fucking annoying. “What?”
Tyke winks at Trip. “Have a good week off? We missed you at home.”
“Yeah, Riff. Where did you go last week, huh?” Trip asks.
I head towards my bunk and plop my bag inside my foxhole. They’ve obviously already figured it out, so I might as well admit where I was and get their merciless teasing over with now. “You all know exactly where I’ve been, so cut the shit and let’s get this over with.”
Trip and Tyke both howl with laughter. I roll my eyes and roll my hand, telling them to get it all out now.
“I never thought I’d see the day when Riff Oliver falls for a girl,” Tyke says.
“I knew it was coming. It’s about time this stubborn asshole admits he’s capable of feelings,” Trip adds. “I’m happy for you, bro. So tell us, is she walking funny?”
“You guys are idiots. I don’t know how I’ve put up with you two this long,” I answer as I shake my head and totally avoid his question.
“Because we’re the only ones crazy enough to put up with your moody ass,” Trip says.
I open my mouth to answer, but quickly shut it, knowing he’s probably right.
“She’s not coming on the bus with us too is she?” Tyke asks while pounding away on the remote.
I crunch my brow. “So what if she does?”
“Relax, dude. It’ll be tight is all. Noel is bringing Lanie back on the bus with him. Two chicks on this bus with us, hogging the bathroom all the time and complaining about our filth, might be more than the rest of us can take,” Trip clarifies.
“I thought Lanie was going to her mom’s place?” Maybe he’s planning to keep her with him. I wouldn’t blame him if he did. I’d keep Aubrey here if I could.
Tyke shakes his head. “Noel called earlier and said that she’s staying for a while.”
All this talk about girlfriends on the bus makes me miss my Kitten. I pull out my cell and dial her number.
“Hey,” she says into the phone. “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you until tonight.”
I cradle the phone between my ear and shoulder as I grab my Oreos and a cup of milk. “Guess I couldn’t wait. So what are you up to?”
I sit at the table and fill her in about the details of my flight home as I stack my cookies on the table. The twins instantly shut up and go busy themselves with restocking the kitchen once their game ends.
Noel walks in with Lanie under his arm. She stretches up on her toes and kisses his cheek before heading towards the bedroom to settle in. Noel grins as he watches her down the hall.
I sigh. Seeing shit like that isn’t going to help me to get over missing Kitten.
Aubrey starts explaining the plot of some movie she watched on television as Tyke hands Noel a beer from across the island and distracts me from my private conversation. “Good break? I see that sappy grin.”
It’s hard not to listen to Noel and Tyke talk too since they’re practically standing next to me and aren’t exactly quiet when they speak.
Noel twists off the cap. “Don’t hate.”
Tyke holds his palm hands up. “I’m not. It’s going to be weird around here with both you and Riff settled down and all.”
Noel chokes on his drink and quickly wipes his mouth. “Riff?” I grin as shock registers on his face. “With who?”
Tyke gives him a pointed look. “Lane’s friend, Aubrey. Who else?”
His eyebrows rise. “Realllllly? Wow. I thought they just hooked up.”
Tyke shrugs. “Apparently he spent the entire break with her in New York, and he’s been on the phone with her now for the last hour.”
“Huh,” he says while he shakes his head.
It’s official my world is officially changing and everyone around me knows it.
“Zach? You still there?” Aubrey questions on the other end of the line.
I readjust in my seat. “Sorry, I’m still here. The guys are all coming in. Looks like Lane’s staying on the bus with us for a while.”
“That’s great. She and Noel need some time together to finish reconnecting.”
I sigh. “It’d be better if you were here.”
“I’m hoping soon. I can take a half day off work on a Friday and fly out to you for the weekend sometime this month. I don’t think I can go an entire month without seeing you,” she says.
I know it’s twisted to enjoy someone’s misery, but I kind of like the idea that she’s missing me. It makes me feel almost downright giddy.
I try to frown as I say, “Soon,” but I don’t think I succeed because even I can hear the smile in my voice.
I roll my eyes. I’ve actually turned into one of those pussy-whipped pansies I always make fun of. Good god. What’s this girl doing to me?
****
After three weeks of constant texting and emails I don’t know how much longer I can go without seeing Kitten. This distance thing is killer. I’d give anything to be able to hold her in my arms all night like I did back at her apartment.
The catering area backstage at this show is pretty small. The room holds two round tables with four seats at each. Part of the road crew for Black Falcon fill one table, while the other is populated by Striker and Donovan from Embrace the Darkness. I roll my eyes and head to their table. I’d prefer to stay away from these two assholes, but I’m not going to let them bully me out of a seat to eat my dinner.
I sit down and open my silverware packet and pill out a plastic knife to butter my roll. The two men look up at me as I sit down without asking permission. Striker tucks a strand of his black hair behind his ear and relaxes, while Donovan smirks next to him.
Striker eyes me as I prep my food. “Hey, mate. How’s it going?”
His British accent is so strong at times it’s hard to understand him.
“Good. You?” I return pleasantries before I take a bite of food.
“Not bad. Say…” He leans in on his elbow. “I heard that little dish, Lanie Vance is staying on with Noel. Is that true, then?”
I swallow hard. “You better be careful with that. Noel’s not messing around when it comes to her. He’s serious about her. I suggest you stay away from her if you know what’s good for you.”
Both men laugh and my fingers curl into fists.
“Right, well, I don’t think I’ll be taking lessons in love from the likes of you. No offense, mate, but you don’t exactly have longevity with the ladies,” Striker says.
Donovan shakes his head next to him. “I don’t know. He’s seems attached to the red-head he’s been fucking—tries to fight me every time I tried to get a piece of that action.”
“Watch it, dick.” Anger rages through me and I fantasize about punching this dick square in the throat.
Donovan throws his hands up in surrender. “Easy. Take it easy. She’s yours. I fucking get that. It doesn’t mean I still don’t think she’s hot as fuck, because let’s face it. She is.”
I uncurl my fingers and they throb as the blood begins to flow back into them. He’s right. Kitten is a sexy woman. I noticed her beauty right away, so I imagine the rest of the male and half the female population does, too. First it was Donovan, then that pencil-dick boss of hers and I’m sure they won’t be the last.
I need to figure out a way to cool all my emotional shit before she gets tired of my bullshit.
I shrug causally. “She is, and I plan on keeping her all to myself for a very long time.”
“Blimey,” Striker says. “Are you telling me the biggest player I know is settling down?”
“It’s time, man. She’s the one.”
It’s a lot easier than I thought to admit my feelings. Maybe it’s because Aubrey makes me feel so different, that it feels natural to want to be a different person—a better one.
Still, I don’t want to push this level of calm anymore. If I stay here much longer I may rip their heads off. I finish my plate and stand before taking off towards the bus.
A string of groupies line the parking lot. They instantly paw at me the moment I’m within reach. Normally I would be eyeing one to hand a golden ticket to, but I have absolutely no desire for random sex. I only crave realness and that’s something only one woman in the entire world has ever given me. There’s no way I would break the little bit of trust we’ve built on a random fling.
AUBREY
My cell rings while I’m at work and I curse myself for not muting my ringer here. If someone’s personal cell goes off with a music ringtone these people love to hand out dirty looks like candy.
I yank it out of my purse and answer Lanie’s call. “What’s up? Can I call you back in a bit?”
“This will only take a second,” she says in a rush. “My mother fell and broke her leg.”
I gasp. “Oh my god. Is she okay?”
“I hope so. I’m on my way to Texas as we speak to find out what’s going on and take care of her. Quitting my job couldn’t have worked out better since I would’ve probably been fired for taking time off anyhow.”
“Fate has a strange way of pointing us in the directional path of our life. That’s for sure.”
She sighs. “Isn’t that the truth? I’ll call you when I find out more about her.”
“Okay. Love you,” I tell her.
“Love you, too.” She ends the call and I throw the phone back in my purse.
Isaac pokes his head out of his office. “Hey, Aubrey. You got a second before we head out for the weekend?”
I nod and pick up my paper and pen. “Sure.”
I walk into Isaac’s office and he’s already back at his desk. “Close the door, would you?” He gestures for me to take a seat across from him after we’re shut inside together. I pick up my pen ready to take notes. “You won’t need that.”
I tilt my head as my confusion shows through my body language. “Okay?”
“I’ve been meaning to ask you how you and Riff are doing?”
I stiffen. Oh shit. Are we seriously going to do this? “We’re good. Thanks.”
He taps his chin. “How long have you been seeing him?”
I bite my lip. “A few weeks.”
He nods like it answers some unspoken question of his. “We’re you seeing him when we went out for drinks?”
I shake my head. “No. Not at that point.”
“Things seem serious between the two of you. Are they?”
“They’re definitely moving in that direction, I think.”
He leans in on the desk. “You know, Aubrey. Men like Riff usually don’t hang around long term. I would hate for you to get hurt.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I think I’m capable of managing my own love life. If that’s all…”
I turn to walk out of the door, but his voice stops me. “Aubrey, I won’t hold this against you once things end with him. I would still very much like that date with you.”
I don’t reply to that. How can I? He basically said my worst fear out loud—that Zach would break my heart like all the others before him. I pray that he’s wrong and our connection is strong enough to make a real go out of this relationship.