by Katie Ashley
“No, it’s just I’m surprised that’s all.”
He arched his brows at me. “That I want to eat pancakes with you over hooking up with some random bimbo?”
I drew in a sharp breath at his summation. “Yeah, pretty much.”
Jake grinned. “Well, believe it, Angel because it’s the truth. You’re all I want or need at the moment.”
Turning my head, I tried to hide the goofy grin that spread across my cheeks. Jake Slater wanted to be with me over groupies. That was a pretty amazing feeling.
***
Even though I fought hard against it, the next four days moved at warped speed with back-to-back shows. I would have given anything to have stopped the clock, so my time with Abby could have been savored and lasted longer. She was everything I could ever want or need in a girl, and the longer we spent together, the more I realized I hadn’t been shitting Abby when I told her I’d never met someone like her.
I mean, what other girl would just sit around with me, talking all hours of the night about music, life, and family? She was the only girl I had ever been able to drag to an IHOP after a show and then go back to the bus for a jam session. We sang duets to crazy songs like Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn’s Mississippi Woman, Louisiana Man and then Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford’s If I Close My Eyes Forever.
When Abby managed to one-up me by learning and singing some of our songs, I swore to her that I would drag her on stage with me at the next show. “Oh hell no!” she had replied.
For her last night on the bus, I’d asked Abby to sleep with me again, but this time we had the bed to ourselves. Nothing happened more than spooning, but I was glad to have her by my side.
But all too soon it was Sunday—the day she had to finally meet back up with the boys. We stopped for a somber breakfast at Cracker Barrel—Abby’s favorite place to eat. She barely ate though. Instead, she pushed her food around while looking between us and tearing up.
With a frustrated grunt, I dropped my fork, and it clattered noisily onto my plate. “Would you stop that? These people are going to think we’ve abducted you or are abusing you or something because of how sad you look.”
She sniffled and swiped her nose with her napkin. “I can’t help it. I’m going to miss you guys.” Although she said “you guys”, she stared pointedly at me.
“We’regonnamissyoutoo,” AJ muttered through a mouthful of pancakes. At her disgusted expression, he poked his lip out. “What can I say? I’m feeling your loss, Angel. I just gotta pack it in because I’m an emotional eater.”
His comment brought a fleeting smile to her face, but all too soon it was gone. Once we finished eating, Abby called a cab to come pick her up.
“We can take you to the hotel.”
“It’s out of your way. I’ve imposed enough already,” she argued.
With a grin, I replied, “Yeah, but you’re an awfully cute imposition.”
She laughed. “Thanks.”
It was then that I hung back and watched Abby go through her goodbyes with the guys. Rhys went first. He hugged her and whispered something in her ear that made her giggle. When Brayden stepped forward, tears shone in Abby’s eyes. Taking her hands in his, he spoke softly to her to which she bobbed her head in agreement. She leaned up and kissed his cheek before he pulled her into his arms. He rubbed wide circles over her back as she sniffled. When she finally pulled away, Bray kissed Abby’s cheek.
As AJ stepped up to her, Abby couldn’t stop the grin that formed on her lips. In a low and tender voice, he started speaking to her in Spanish. She tilted her head and listened to him, sometimes laughing, sometimes tearing up. When he finished, he wrapped her in his arms and squeezed her tight.
The longer Abby lingered in AJ’s arms the harder I had to fight the jealousy that ricocheted through me. When he finally released her, he kissed both her cheeks. Then Abby turned to me with tears shimmering in her eyes, and I felt like I’d been kicked in the gut.
This was it. The moment I’d been dreading for days—the moment I actually had to say goodbye to my Angel. Taking her hand, I walked her away from the bus, so we could have a little privacy. When we’d put enough distance between us and the guys, I turned around. Dark circles formed under Abby’s eyes, and last night I had felt her sobs even though she thought I was asleep.
Rocking back and forth on my heels, I shoved my hands into the back pockets of my faded and holey jeans. “So…”
“So,” Abby repeated lamely.
I cocked my head at her. “It’s kinda stupid saying good-bye because it’s not like we’re not ever going to see or talk to each other again. I’ve got your number, and you’ve got mine.”
“Yes. Regardless of what happens with us, we’ll always be friends.”
“Exactly. It’s not all ending just because you’re getting off the bus. Hell, we’re even song collaborators now.”
She bit down on her lip to keep the tears that pooled in her eyes from escaping. “Sure.”
I took a tentative step toward her. “Angel, what the hell is going on in that head of yours?”
Gazing up at me, Abby gave me a half-hearted smile. “It’s just I can’t help but wonder if that isn’t the line you use with all the other girls. ‘Hey babe, it’s not good-bye’. Not to mention your epically loaded statement of ‘I’ve got your number’. Kinda thinking there’s been a string of girls agonizingly staring at their phones just waiting for a call from you that never came.”
My brows creased in anger. “First of all, I’m not giving you some line. When I say I’ll see you again and that I’ll call, I fucking mean it. And second, there may have been a string of girls leaving this bus like you, but I sure as hell didn’t get their numbers.”
“You didn’t?”
“No, Angel, I didn’t.” I brushed the silky, blonde strands of hair away from Abby’s face to tenderly rub my thumb across her cheek. “Whatever it is that’s started between us, I sure as hell don’t want it to end.”
She sucked in a harsh breath. “So you feel it that strongly too?”
I smiled. “Of course I do. It’s like being zapped by a fucking lightning bolt each and every time you’re near me. You make me think things…feel things I never have before.”
“So have you,” she whispered softly. Her palms flattened against my chest. “Jake, I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I don’t know what to do with all I’m feeling, especially since I have no experience with men.”
“And I could argue that we’re in the same boat here on being totally fucking clueless about what to do.”
Bringing her hand up, she covered mine that was cupping her face. “I know people would tell me that because I’m inexperienced with guys, I’m wrong about what I’m feeling for you.” She shook her head. “But I know without a shadow of a doubt the intensity of what I feel for you is real.”
I feathered kisses along her hand and fingers. “Mmm, do you now?”
“I’ve fallen for you, Jake.”
For a brief instant, it felt like she had nailed me in the balls again. Her words hit me that hard. After a few calming breaths, I managed to grin. “Well, that’s good because I’ve fallen head over fucking heels for you, Angel.”
She laughed. “You have such a way with words.”
“What can I say? You bring out the romantic in me.”
The taxi pulled up to the bus, and I winced. My chest caved in at the prospect of her leaving me, and I had to fight to breathe. I felt like a complete and total pussy. Dammit, when had I become reduced to a codependent dude who needed a woman to survive? But as much as I hated to admit it, the truth was I needed Abby. She was living and breathing peace to my troubled soul—an angel sent straight out of Heaven. Just a look from her could calm me instantly. With everything happening with my mom, I didn’t know how I would make it without her.
Since she could read me so well, Abby threw her arms around my neck, and she pressed herself tight against me. “I wish I didn’t have to leave you. I ne
ed you desperately, but I know you need me more.”
“You’re just a phone call away, right?” I asked, hating the way my voice broke with emotion.
“Yes of course. Day or night. If anything happens with your mom or upsets you or if you can’t sleep, you can just call me, okay?”
I groaned. “You make me sound like an utter pussy.”
She giggled, causing her warm breath to heat my neck. “You just have an amazing, tender heart, baby. Because of that, you’re always going to feel more and hurt more than other people.” Pulling away, she stared up at me. “Besides, it isn’t a sign of weakness to need other people.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“So you’ll call me?”
“Oh hell yes, I will.” I leaned over to kiss her. Even though I wanted to press her up against the bus and ravage her mouth while running my hands over her amazing tits, I knew I couldn’t do that. Not only because I wouldn’t dream of disrespecting my girl by giving the cab driver or the guys such a raunchy show, but because I didn’t want to move too fast with her. It wasn’t just her lack of experience—it was because I wanted to make everything perfect for her…and for me.
So with all the restraint I could muster, I brushed my lips chastely against hers. When she sighed in frustration, I pulled away. At her disappointed expression, I couldn’t help laughing. Cupping her cheeks in my hands, I asked, “What was your first part of the duet we sang, Angel?”
“Um, it was about not moving too fast and making it last?”
“Nice rhyming, but yeah, that line.” When her brows furrowed, I grinned. “I haven’t had a relationship with a girl since the band hit big. I’m used to loving in the fast lane, and well, you’re the emergency lane at best.”
“Hey now,” she giggled, smacking my arm playfully.
“So we gotta take this slow. I want to savor what I’m feeling and not ruin it with getting too physical too fast.”
Abby pursed her lips at me. “And what if I want some parts of a physical relationship with you? I’m not talking the full deal…well, not yet anyway.”
I threw my head back and groaned. “Thanks for trying to kill me, Angel. You’ve known me a week, and your rules are to be in love with the person, remember?”
She nibbled my bottom lip. “Yeah, well, maybe I’m on my way to falling in love with you.”
At the honk of the cab’s horn, I let out an exasperated breath. “We both have the worst fucking timing.”
“But we’ll at least continue this conversation later, right?”
“Yes, we will.” I grabbed up her suitcase and guitar case.
“Wait, you don’t—”
“Yes, I do. It’s the gentlemanly thing to do.”
She shook her head and then fell in step behind me. I eased her stuff into the trunk and then closed the lid. “Be careful.”
“Thanks. You too.”
“And knock em’ dead tonight.”
“I’ll try.”
I grinned as I opened the backseat door for her. “You will, and you know I’m always right.”
She rolled her eyes but then smiled. “Bye, Jake.”
“Bye, Angel.”
As she started past me to get into the cab, I stopped her. Sometimes there were just moments you knew you would regret if you didn’t follow your heart. Grabbing the back of her neck, I tipped her head up to mine. Then I brought my mouth to hers. This time I let the warmth of my tongue slide her lips open. When she made a little moan in the back of her throat, I tightened my arms around her waist. God, she tasted good. I could’ve kept on kissing her the whole afternoon, but a symphony of whistles and catcalls interrupted my moment of pure bliss.
I jerked away to see AJ, Brayden, and Rhys standing beside the bus. Warmth flooded Abby’s face as I growled, “Thanks a lot, guys.”
“¡Agarrale el culo, chica!".
Abby’s eyes narrowed before she shouted, “Callete, cabron!”
“What did he just say?” I questioned with a grin.
“Grab his ass, girl,” she replied.
“And what did you say to him?”
She grinned. “I told him to shut up and called him an asshole.”
I laughed. “I’ll make sure to knock the shit out of him for you.”
“Gracias,” she replied. Glancing at the guys, she shook her head. “I’m tempted to give you all the finger, but I’ll just wave instead.”
“Bye, Abby,” they called in unison.
She turned back to me. “Talk to you later.”
“It’s a promise.”
Without another show of affection, she dropped down onto the seat. “The Hilton, please,”
Abby commanded politely.
“Fine, but just so you know, the meter’s been running, sweetie,” the cabbie replied.
“It’s okay.” She glanced up at me and smiled. “It was worth it.”
“Damn straight,” I replied before closing the door.
Like a love-sick teenage girl, I stood waving at her until the cab disappeared over the hill.
***
When I arrived at the hotel, all three of the boys were waiting on me in the lobby. I rolled my eyes but grinned in spite of myself. “Don’t tell me you were afraid I might get lost and take up with another group of unruly rockers?”
Gabe chuckled as he pulled me into a bear hug. “Nah, we just wanted to do right by you this time and welcome you in person.”
“Aw, that’s sweet.”
Eli’s blue eyes twinkled. “There’s also the fact we have to be over to the arena in an hour for sound checks and all.”
I shook my head. “Just when I thought you guys were playing overprotective big brothers, you crush my dreams.”
Micah threw his arm around my shoulder. “I’ve missed you, Baby Girl.” He planted a kiss on my cheek. “Are you excited about tonight?”
Just the mention of performing caused my stomach to lurch. “Yes and no.”
He nodded as we swept through the hotel’s revolving doors. “I remember the first time I played in front of a packed crowd of tens of thousands of people.”
I elbowed him playfully in the ribs. “Not helping, brother dear.”
He grinned down at me. We were the matching bookends of the family with our blonde hair and blue eyes. Gabe and Eli were true fraternal twins in the fact that Gabe had about three inches on Eli while Eli was the more muscular of the two. The only matching trait was they had our father’s jet black hair while we all shared the blue eyes of our mother. Even if they were my brothers, I had to admit they were good-looking. Of course, Micah had been engaged for six months to a girl named Valerie who worked at our dad’s church. Like Brayden, he never even looked at other girls. Now the twins…that was another story.
“You’ll be fine, Abster. After all, you’re only singing one duet with Garrett and one song with us,” Eli said as he held the limo door open for me.
As I flopped inside, I huffed out a frustrated breath. “Oh sure, just two songs. That’s two prime opportunities for me to sing off-key, fall off the stage, etc.”
Gabe sat next to me. “You worry too much. Just go out there and have fun. Pretend it’s like when we were kids.”
“Or you could do the old adage and pretend everyone’s naked,” Eli suggested while waggling his eyebrows.
I nudged his foot with mine. “You’re so disgusting!”
After we made the short drive to the arena, the limo pulled up to the back. The boys’ head of security, Manny, opened our door and gave me a beaming smile. “Good to see you again, Abby.”
I gave him a hug—all 6’5”, three hundred pounds of him. “Good seeing you again too.” I motioned back at the boys. “You keeping them in line?”
He grinned. “Trying to. It’s a hard job.”
Giggling, I replied, “I can only imagine.”
As Manny ushered us inside, someone outfitted in black with a headset came rushing up to me. “You’re wanted on stage right now for your rehearsal w
ith Garrett.”
“Oh, okay.” I turned back to the guys. “See you in a few.”
“Knock em’ dead, Baby Girl,” Gabe called.
When I got to the stage, Garrett sat perched on a stool with his guitar, doing a run through of his other songs. After finishing the song, he glanced over and caught my eye. His face lit up. “Abby!” he cried before hurrying over to pull me into his arms. We’d only met a couple of times before, but by the way he was acting, you would have thought we were long lost best friends or former lovers. Jake would have gone for the second scenario.
“I see you made it safe and sound.”
I laughed. “Yes, I did.”
“Great. I’m stoked as hell to be singing with you.” He waved at a technician who came to deliver my microphone. “Ready?”
“Sure.”
After rehearsing with Garrett, I watched the boys go through their run-throughs before joining them onstage. For the first few shows, I’d only be singing a cover of The Band Perry’s If I Die Young. Then the guys planned on me taking over some of the vocal leads Micah usually did. Once we went through everything, we were ushered back to our dressing room. While the boys chowed down on the catered food, I could barely down a slice of my mom’s homemade pound cake.
The closer it got to show time the more the small space filled up with people. It felt like an out-of-control bee hive with all the conversions buzzing around me. Hair stylists, wardrobe people, management, and roadies streamed in and out. There was no privacy or time to catch my breath with all the madness.
When my mom and dad entered the room, they rushed over to me like I was a hostage who had been released from captivity. It was incredibly ironic considering I had Face-timed, talked, or texted with them every day that I was with Jake and the guys. “How are you sweetie?” Mom asked.
I laughed. “Just as good as I was earlier today when we talked.”
“You look fine,” Dad surmised.
“Jake and the guys took good care of me.”
Mom and Dad exchanged a glance at my mention of Jake. “What?” I asked.
Shoving his hands in his khaki pants pockets, Dad cleared his throat. “Well, your mother and I were just talking about how you seemed to mention this Jake guy a lot when we talked.”