Chapter 4
My heart has been in my throat for days. This is the story of a lifetime but I don’t think I can tell it. My past has defined every second of my life. It’s the reason I hate men, the reason I’m so bitter, the reason I live in fear of getting close to anyone. My father was a drunk and he knocked us around more times than I care to admit. When I was twelve, he killed my mother in a drunken rage after finding out she’d spent some of the rent money on a dress for my seventh grade dance. Then he left. I’ve blamed myself every second since. It was my first dance and I’d been asked by the cutest boy in the seventh grade. I never made it to the dance. The next day, I was thrown into foster care and I spent the next six years being tossed around from group home to foster home.
Seeing the pain on Max’s face almost brings me to my knees. For once, I’m having a hard time caring about the story. All I want to do is run to him and hug him. I feel like such an asshole. I pushed and pushed and he cracked. Sure, that’s what I do for a living but I had no idea how much darkness was behind that cool exterior of his. I need to make this up to him. I need to tell the whole story. I need to make Max forgive me.
I offered to tell the story in Max’s words. He refused and Chance shut it down the minute I said victim. I called Joshua Seymour and offered the same thing. He has yet to return my call. I understand the press has a reputation of being toxic. There’s nothing I can do to change that assumption except prove them wrong.
“What’s going on?” My roommate Rachael Yunk takes the milk out of the fridge and looks at me. “You look pale. You feeling ok?”
“I don’t know what to do, Ray. I want to help Max but he won’t let me in.”
Ray shakes her head. She knows me better than anyone in the world. We met freshman year of college. I had gotten a scholarship from the state of California. That was the first perk of being in the foster care system. She’d been thrown around from family to family after she’d turned fifteen and understood not having a home. We had an instant connection and spent our days at college joined at the hip. We shared an apartment and it was the first time we’d had a real home in years. She’s my rock and I can’t imagine one day without her.
“I don’t think you can save him. I know you want to but you’re beating yourself up over something that isn’t your fault or your responsibility. You need to find a way to let it go.”
“I know you’re right.” I put my face into my hands. “You’re always right.”
She shrugs, “It’s a gift.”
The ringing of my phone startles me. It’s a private number but I answer it anyway.
“Is this Miss King?” The deep voice is sexy and my eyes widen when Ray looks at me.
“This is Katrina.”
“Katrina, this is Joshua Seymour. I understand you have offered to do an exclusive interview with Max. I’d like to discuss the terms of this offer.”
“Yes, sir. I would love to.” I walk out of the kitchen to pick up my notebook. Is this really happening?
“We’d like to hire you to go on the last leg of the tour with us. We want someone on the inside who can write a human interest story, featuring Max. We want only positive press and every story will be an exclusive for you. Stories have to be run by me prior to publication. Max has agreed to share his story with only one reporter and I think you’re the woman for the job.”
I’m stunned. “I’d have to run it past my boss.”
“I already have.” Joshua clears his throat. “We leave tomorrow and all your travel accommodations will be covered by the label. You’ll have a daily spending allowance for meals and we have offered to double the salary you make while you’re on the road.”
“Is this a joke?” This certainly can’t be real.
“I never joke about business, Miss King. You’ll have full access to the band and no restrictions on what you write. However, as I said before, I will have the final approvals on any stories that go to press. You will also have to sign a confidentially agreement and a contract to be under the employ of the label while on tour. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir.” I can’t think of anything else to say.
“These men have been through enough. They deserve some good press. Pack your bags, Miss King. We’ll be on the road for four weeks. I’ll have a car pick you up at six in the morning.”
I didn’t sleep at all. My heart has been pounding in my chest since the second I hung up the phone. This is every reporter’s dream. Full access to the most popular band in the country is not something that happens to someone like me. My name will be in newspapers and magazines all over the world. I’ll finally become a reputable source of information and can actually leave my rag of a paper behind and do something important with my words.
I roll my luggage to the front door and look out the window just as the chauffer knocks. I open the door quietly so I don’t wake Rachael. The driver just nods at me and he takes my luggage out to the car.
I can’t stop fidgeting in the back seat. If I’m completely honest with myself, it’s not just nerves. The thought of spending a month on the road with this incredible group of men has my mind wandering. I’ve idolized Harley from the very beginning and watching him go through hell and back inspired me. I want to rescue Max and I want to get to know Joshua better. That voice of his haunted me all night.
Being in close proximity to Chance is the only downfall. I’ve never met anyone more full of themselves in all my life. I want to smack that smug look off his face. I don’t know what women see in him. How can any woman have any self-respect after a night under him? I get the appeal of celebrities but aren’t there other men who aren’t cavemen who would be a better choice? I’m not sure how I’ll be objective writing about him. It will be a true test of professionalism.
Joshua meets me outside the bus and shakes my hand. “Welcome, Ms. King. I have the legal documents we discussed ready for your signature. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable and I’ll bring them to you shortly. These men are my family and I will not allow anyone to hurt them.”
“Neither will I.” My voice is strong despite the nervous breakdown I feel like I may be having.
He motions to the bus and my legs don’t betray me. I take a deep breath, grab the handrails and take the steps slowly. I’m stunned when I see the inside of the bus. It’s first class all the way. The oversized seats look inviting, especially at this early hour. There are bunks toward the back, a small kitchen on the left and a bathroom at the very back. There are several mounted televisions that are off. A few overhead lights illuminate the people already on board.
Harley gives me a timid smile and Damien winks at me. Laney is asleep under a pile of blankets. I feel a sense of relief knowing there are other women on board. Max nods his head at me. I know this has to be difficult. I wonder what Joshua had to say to him to get him to agree to this. Someday I will thank him but for now, I’ll take a seat and try to calm my nerves.
I make my way toward the back of the sitting area and take an empty seat. I put my laptop case on the empty seat next to me and sigh. Glancing to my right, I almost stop breathing. Chance is asleep and his whole body is relaxed. Scruff lines his jaw and I’m struck by how good looking he actually is. I take a minute to really look at him. He’s wearing a pair of sweatpants and an oversized hoodie. His eyes are shut and I realize I’m not really sure what color they actually are. He’s wearing ear buds and I can hear faint music coming from them.
“He’s almost human when he’s asleep.” I look up and see Max smiling down at me.
“It’s the first time I’ve been near him that I haven’t had the urge to throat punch him. Is there a way to keep him asleep this month? Anesthesia? Roofies might even work.”
Max’s laugh is contagious and just like that, my nerves are completely gone. He moves my laptop case to the bunk behind me and takes the empty seat next to me. He hands me a blanket and I smile.
“Thanks.” I curl onto my side facing him. “I promise I won’t push you. I’m not sure what made Joshua offer this job to me but I will do my best to tell your story the way you want it told.”
He turns his head toward me and yawns. “The second you sat down at my feet, I knew you were the right person for this job.”
I raise my eyebrows at him and he laughs. “Fine. After I got over my anger and Rachel talked some sense into me, I knew you were the person for the job. I’ll be honest. This will probably be a pain in the ass. We don’t get much down time on tour. We’re shoved on this bus and being this close to a bunch of disgusting men probably isn’t your idea of a vacation. We fight, we’re grumpy, we miss our women and we aren’t very censored. We’re not used to having anyone on the bus other than us. Just keep that in mind when you decide to write about us. We’re good guys but sometimes we forget how lucky we are to be a family.”
“I have a really good feeling about this, Max. Thanks for trusting me.”
“I don’t trust easily. Don’t make me regret this.”
Max closes his eyes and settles further into his seat. I’m happy he decided to join me so I wouldn’t be alone this morning. I yawn as his breathing changes and I know he’s asleep. I send a prayer of thanks up before I drift off to feeling the bus take the road to the first tour stop.