Taming the Storm

It’s late afternoon now, and I’ve been successfully avoiding Tom since we got on the road. I call that a great feat, considering we’re sharing a limited space.

I know we cleared this air, but I still don’t feel totally comfortable around him. Part of that is my own body’s reaction to Tom, not that he needs to know that. His ego is big enough without me contributing to it.

So far, in my avoid-Tom scheme, I’ve sat up front with Henry, chatting with him while he drives. I’ve learned that he’s got two grown-up twins, a boy and a girl, who both just started college. He’s a keen fly-fisher. He’s been married for twenty-five years, and he talks about his wife, who is a kindergarten teacher, with obvious affection.

Good to know there are some decent men out there.

After my chat with Henry, I go to take a shower. The guys are already on the PlayStation. Tom is on his cell, sitting at the kitchen table and having a quiet conversation. He doesn’t even look up as I pass. He’s probably having a sex chat with one of his many women.

I don’t want to use up all the hot water, so I don’t stay in the shower for too long, but I linger in the bathroom to kill time.

Then, I head to the bedroom and get dressed in my favorite ripped jeans and a T-shirt. I sit at the desk, my now makeshift dressing table, and sans makeup, I fix my hair into a messy bun on the top of my head.

I hear a knock at the door and then the sound of Cale’s voice.

“You decent?”

“No, I’m butt naked.”

I hear him laugh.

“You’d better be kidding ’cause I’m coming in.”

“Yes, I’m kidding,” I call out.

Cale comes in and closes the door behind him. He jumps on the bed and sprawls out flat on his back.

I finish tying up my hair and turn in my chair to face him. “Comfy?” I ask.

“Very.” He grins, stretching his arms above his head.

I’ve just dipped my finger into my face cream when Cale asks, “So, why are you hiding out in here?”

I look in the mirror at him. “I’m not hiding out.”

“Yes, you are.”

“Fine.” I sigh. “I’m hiding out.” I spread the cream over my fingertips and start to apply it to my face.

“I’m guessing you’re hiding from Tom. So, are you going to tell me what’s up? I know you haven’t been happy about him coming on tour with us. And you lack a filter, Ly, but you were rude to him before—”

“I wasn’t rude.” I see his unconvinced expression. “Okay, I was rude.”

“So, what don’t I know?” he asks with that Cale tone, meaning he won’t let this go until I tell him.

I twist in my seat and bring my knees up with my feet resting on the edge of the stool. I hug my knees to my chest, resting my chin on them. “Ages ago, Tom hit on me.” I let out a sigh. “He’s hit on me a couple of times.”

“What?” Cale practically shouts, sitting upright. “When?”

“Shh…” I admonish, eyes flitting to the closed door.

These walls are like paper, and I don’t want Tom to hear any of this.

“Keep your voice down. It doesn’t matter when he hit on me. Actually, he’s hit on me twice. The first time he tried it, I turned him down. He was fine about it”—I tug on my lip—“but then I saw him a few months later, and he hit on me again.”

I can see anger rising in Cale’s face, prompting me to say, “He never crossed the line. He’s never touched me or anything. It’s just that I haven’t seen Tom since the last time he hit on me, and I didn’t know how things would stand…if he’d try again.” I grimace. “So, my guard was up—hence, bitch mode.”

“Understandable. And has he gotten the message? Because if he hasn’t—” Cale is on full overprotective mode.

“Calm down, angry. We talked.” Yelled. “He apologized and asked if we could move past it and be professional. I said yes.”

“Okay…good.” Cale relaxes a little, resting back onto his elbows. “But if he does try anything—”

“He won’t. But if he does, you’ll be the first to know.”

There is no way I would tell Cale if Tom made a move on me again. Aside from being able to take care of myself, Tom is a lot bigger than Cale. It’s not that Cale isn’t muscular. He is, but Tom’s biceps are quite literally twice the size of Cale’s. Tom has always been a big guy, but he looks even bigger now, like he’s been putting in some serious gym time.

I see a smile creep on Cale’s face.

“So, you turned down Tom Carter?”

“I did.” I smirk.

He lets out an admiring laugh. “That’s my girl. I bet that was a massive hit to his ego. No guy likes to be turned down, and I’m guessing it’s never happened to Tom, so it would have dented his ego for sure.”

“I’m sure I didn’t dent his ego. He’ll have been turned down by a women before.”

I prod Cale in the thigh with my toes. He grabs my foot and yanks it, making me laugh.

“I highly doubt it. Most women will just lie down and spread their legs for him.”

“Too much info, thanks. And I’m not most women.” I look up at him, giving my best cocky grin.

“I know you’re not. That’s the problem.” He gets to his feet, concern etched on his face. “You’re gorgeous, talented, and smart. You’re a challenge for a guy like Tom, and you flat-out turn him down—”