Chapter Nine
Aiden
“Call her uncle and get me an address,” I barked the moment Steven picked up the phone. Pacing seemed to be the only thing I could do as my worry increased.
Kit had finally opened up and told me about her life. Well, the most important parts, at least. God, how did she live every single day worrying about where her baby sister would find her next meal? How the hell did she survive living with a drug addict for a mother?
“What’s wrong with Kit?” he asked, worried. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine.” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Did you know that she has a baby sister?”
“No.” Steven paused. “She never told me anything about her family.”
Thankfully, Kit was in the shower, taking her time. I needed a few minutes alone to figure out what I needed to do to make sure her sister was taken care of so Kit didn’t need to worry about anything at home while we were on the road.
I laid out my plan for sending some money back home for Kit’s family. Her sister wouldn’t want for anything as long as I had something to say about it. Steven took the information I gave him and promised to get in touch with her uncle. I told him we’d be back at the bus within the hour.
“I’m ready,” she said, walking out of the bathroom in a pair of shorts and a black and white bikini top that should’ve been illegal. My dick hardened instantly, and I had to tell it to calm the fuck down because we had to get back to the bus and head out for our next stop in a few hours.
“Come on,” I said, taking her bag and slinging it over my shoulder. She took my hand when I offered it and walked quietly to the elevators.
The ride back to the venue took about twenty minutes, and the cab dropped us off by the backstage gate. We showed our badges and walked toward the bus. When she made a move to release my hand, I held on tighter, pulling her to my side.
“I think we both need a drink and something to eat,” I offered as we approached the bus. She looked nervous. I didn’t need to be told that she was still having second thoughts about us being seen as a couple. I’d already resigned myself to tell the band and our crew that she was mine. “Let’s set your bag down and hit the tent.”
“Okay,” she said, nodding. I boarded the bus behind her and waited until she returned from her bunk. Our driver was just waking up from his nap, sipping on coffee at the small dinette. He gave me a short nod with a reminder that we had to leave in less than three hours.
The tent was bustling with activity. Almost every band that had played that day, and others that were due to perform the next day, were raising hell as they mingled. Someone was buying a round of shots when we approached the bar. Kit ordered a mixed drink, and I did the same. She didn’t sip her drink politely. No, she turned it up and swallowed down the dark liquid, dropping the empty plastic cup in the trash bin at the end of the bar before ordering another one.
I wanted to be close to her, but I had a feeling she wanted some space. I’d come at her like a raging bull, not giving her a chance to think through what had happened at the casino. I’d paid for a room for the night, but only ended up using it for an hour and a half, leaving the key cards laying on the rumpled sheets as we left after getting lost in each other.
I took a seat on a tall stool as she waited for her second drink, turning around to lean her back against the bar top. She sipped her drink slower this time, her eyes roaming the area. She didn’t say anything, but I had a feeling she was calculating her words carefully before she said something to piss me off.
“Aiden,” she began, but my hard glare cut her off.
“Not now, Kit,” I warned.
“Then when?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.
Before I had a chance to tell her to stop overthinking, her phone rang. I cursed under my breath when I heard her say her uncle’s name. I knew that he was calling about the little surprise I’d dropped in his lap, and I felt the anger rolling off of her when she turned her hard glare on me.
“What the fuck, Aiden?” she roared. I didn’t mistake the tears that had gathered in the corner of her eyes as she tossed the remainder of her drink in my face before she ran away.