She nods, “She’s been everything to me since I was thirteen. I can’t let her lose the bar. Did you realize that when we had to move to a smaller apartment, she took the couch, she gave up a bed and a room for me?”
“She sounds amazing. She must love you very much.” I’m now thinking of Karen and a way to thank her for all that she has done for Elaina.
“Cam, what’s going to happen after the tour?”
I frown and before I have a chance to answer the uncomfortable question, Roy rides up. Thank god because I don’t have an answer to give her yet. “You two kids ready to head back?”
“Yep,” I reply as we stand up and start to gather the blanket and cooler.
“You can leave ‘em, I’ll send my boys up later to fetch ‘em.”
I help Elaina onto her horse, though I know she doesn’t need my help. I mount my horse. I watch Elaina on the ride back and I can’t help but to think that I’m unworthy of her. I have no idea the right thing to do here. I’m going to have to make some tough decisions.
Chapter 31
Elaina
“Yee-haw,” is the first thing I hear when I get out of the van. The band is all in the tour bus. I thought they were supposed to be working on a new song, but it sounds like they are messing around.
My jaw drops to the floor as I step on the bus. Ryder, Eric, Alex and Caleb are all dressed in western-type shirts, cowboy boots, jeans and cowboy hats. I wouldn’t have even recognized them. All crazy hair and tattoos are covered.
“What are you guys wearing?” Cam asks, laughing.
“Now that we have a real life country girl with us, we thought we’d make her feel at home by going to a honky-tonk bar tonight,” Ryder replied coming over to put his arm around my shoulder.
“You guys, in a country bar?” I laugh. “Besides, I’ve never lived in the country in my life and I don’t listen to county music.”
“Ellie, you grew up with a cornfield in your backyard, it doesn’t get much more county than that,” Alex says.
“Look, we had the sales lady get you something too,” Caleb assures me, holding up a bag.
“Fine, but no cracking jokes at my expense all night,” I warn.
I grab the bag from Caleb and head towards the bathroom to take a shower and get ready.
After getting out of the shower, I decide to put on a little make-up and put my hair into two braids. I eye the shirt and shorts wearily as I pull them out of the bag. The shirt is a black and pink, plaid button-down shirt. There are only two buttons, because this shirt is so short, it will show off most of my midriff. The shorts are just long enough to cover my ass. I’m going to kill these guys. I decide that I may as well wear it since I have nothing else that is really appropriate for line dancing. I tug my shirt and shorts down willing them to lengthen.
I slip the clothes out and head back out to the living room. I can hear Ryder and Cam auguring about something. “Dude, you have to wear the cowboy hat and boots. We’re going country.”
“Ugh, fine Ryder. How did you all have time to go get this stuff? I thought you were all working.”
“We were, but we finished early.”
When I see them, I now notice that Ryder is wearing a belt buckle that says, “The man” with an arrow pointing up and “the legend” with an arrow pointing down. I roll my eyes.
They all look over when they notice my approach.
“Remind me to send a thank you to that sales lady,” Eric says.
I blush a little at everyone’s attention. Cam is eyeing me in a way that makes heat rush through my veins. I play with a string at the bottom of my shorts and blush.
“Here,” Caleb says handing me another bag, “We also got you some boots and a hat.”
I pull a black cowboy hat with pink embellishments out of the bag and put it on, it is actually cute. Then I pull the shoe box out of the bag and open it up. There is a beautiful pair of pink and black cowboy boots to complete my outfit.
I pull them on and I’m ready to go. “I’m going to kill you guys for making me wear this,” I mutter.
Ryder laughs and wraps his arm around me again, “But babe, I think we’d all die happy after seeing you in that. So it would be worth it.”
Cam grinds his teeth and I shrug out from under Ryder arm. “Let’s just go get this over with.”
Cam ignores the clothes they bought him and changes into jeans and a t-shirt. He puts on the boots and places the hat on his head. He decides to drive instead of hiring a driver; hoping to avoid a scene when we arrive at the bar.
“Shotgun,” Alex yells running for the passenger door, but I was closer and beat him to it.
“I don’t think so; a lady should get to sit in the front. We’re in the South, so you have to act like a gentleman,” I tell him.
“Fine,” he grumbles, “but you owe me one dance tonight.”
“Sure, as long as you can keep up,” I tease.
He climbs in the back and sits next to Eric. “I get a dance with Ellie tonight,” he brags.
“Once she sees my amazing moves, she’ll want to dance with me instead. Your dance moves could cause bodily harm.”
“Whatever.”
The two spend the rest of the ride arguing about who’s got the better moves. While, I pull on my shirt and shorts, trying to make them longer somehow.
“You look sexy as hell,” Cam whispers, making my cheeks flush. “I just wish I was the only one that got to see it.”
“I’ll keep it and wear it just for you sometime,” I whisper back. The band is talking so loudly that they have no hope of hearing.
Cam lets out a low growl as we pull up to the bar. We find a parking spot and Cam walks around the car and opens my door.
My feet barely hit the ground, when I feel myself being lifted. Ryder is carrying me over his shoulder and starts walking towards the bar.
“Oh my god. Let me down. What if someone sees, I don’t really want my ass on the cover of a magazine.”
Ryder sets me back on my feet at the door. “Relax, no one is going to recognize us tonight. I mean look at us. Plus the people in here, probably aren’t the type of people that listen to our music.”
Good point. “Okay fine, but that means I don’t have to be your girlfriend tonight.”
“Ouch, you say that like it is a good thing.” He pouts.
The guys catch up to us and we all enter the bar. There are animal heads on the walls and people line dancing on the dance floor. This is far from anywhere I ever thought I’d see the band.
Cam tries to find a table and Eric offers to go get us all drinks from the bar. I’m not surprised that he volunteered to go, when I see the bleach blonde behind the bar in the tight half shirt.
Alex grabs my hand and leads me towards the dance floor. I quickly realize that he has no dance moves. I’m thankful, after the fifth time Alex steps on my toe, Eric walks up and tells Alex it‘s his turn. A slow song starts and he holds me, but at arm’s length.
“My toes thank you for coming over when you did,” I complain.
He laughs, “I told you, he could cause bodily harm out here.”
“That you did, I should have listened.”
After a few songs, I can feel him behind me before he says anything. “Mind of I cut in?”
“Come on Cam, you don’t dance.” Eric starts, but I say, “Yes.”
Eric sulks on his way back to the table, but I barely notice because Cam has wrapped his arms around me.
“I’ve barely gotten any time with you tonight.” Cam mumbles.
“I know, I’m sorry. I just thought, it might seem weird to the guys if I turned them all down and spent time with you all night.”
“I know, it just sucks that I can’t just have you by my side and let everyone know that you’re mine. This tour can‘t end soon enough.”
I’m elated at his possessiveness. He’s close now and I can feel his warm breath on my lips. Right now, I want nothing more than to lean in a little and let the
world know that he’s mine, but I gather whatever restraint I have left and take a step back.
“Okay, if I don’t get some air to clear my head, I’m going to be making out with you in front of an entire bar,” I laugh.
He loosens his hold on me and nods. “I need a few minutes too.” He gives me his sexy half smile.
I make my way to the exit and see Eric, Alex and Caleb laughing about something at the table. Ryder is in the corner of the bar on the phone, whatever is being said, he doesn’t look happy. His good mood is quickly gone.
I step out into the cool night and find a quiet place on the side of the building. The light breeze leaves me with goose bumps, but it feels good after the flush of my skin from dancing with Cam.
“I was wondering when I would get a few minutes alone with you tonight,” Ryder says a few feet away from me. He’s clearly drunk and a little pissed off.
“Oh, hey Ryder. Is everything okay?”
“Do you know what I gave up to put on this big façade with you? I thought that in return, we could at least have a little fun. But no, you didn’t want that and now you’re all over my friends tonight, like they’re better than me.”
“You know I don’t think that Ryder. They just asked me to dance.”
My words are cut short when my body is suddenly trapped between him and the brick of the building, his lips are on mine. He tastes and smells like whiskey. I push against his chest, but he doesn’t stop, he just intensifies his kiss.
Suddenly, he is being pulled away from me. “Ryder, you need to stop, man.” Caleb is behind him, pulling him away. He looks at me, “Are you okay, Ellie?”
I nod, but tears are pooling in my eyes. Ryder looks surprised, like he doesn’t know how he got out here. He leans against the brick and slides down the wall. Putting his head in his hands.
“Can we leave?” I ask Caleb.
“Yeah, of course, go wait by the car, I’ll grab the guys. Cam will help me get Ryder to the car.” I look down and Ryder is already passed out. He must have had a few before we even went out tonight.
When Cam unlocks the van, I immediately climb into the back. From the looks of it, Caleb didn’t tell anyone what happened because Cam is helping Ryder to the van and not punching him. If I get into the front seat with Cam, I don’t know if I could keep it from him right now. I’m sure that Cam would beat Ryder if he knew and I didn’t want Cam to lose his best friend over a drunken kiss or cause problems in their working relationship. I mean, they live together and I don’t think Ryder will even remember it in the morning, he was so drunk.
Once back at the bus, I grab clothes and head straight for the bathroom to brush my teeth and change for bed. When I open the door, Cam is standing there, waiting for me.
“What happened back there? Caleb didn’t really say.”
“I was getting some fresh air and Ryder came outside to do the same thing I guess, I don’t know. He mumbled a few things and sat down on the ground and passed out. I guess he had more before we left for the bar than I thought.”
“Well, we got him to bed, but he’ll be feeling pretty crappy in the morning, I think.”
“I can imagine. I’m going to head to bed. Good night, Cam.”
“Night Elaina.”
Cam went into the bathroom and I’m not sure why, but I went and grabbed a glass of water and a few pills out of my purse and took them back to Ryder’s room. I set them on the nightstand by the bed and turned to leave. A hand reaches out and grabs my arm. I stop, though I don’t look back.
“I’m sorry, Ellie. You didn’t deserve that,” Ryder grumbles sleepily.
“You’re right, I didn’t deserve it.” I’m pissed. I know he was drunk and probably didn’t know what he was doing, but I’m not ready to accept his apology just yet.
Chapter 32
Camden
Tonight is the show in Denver. I’m backstage answering emails and Ryder is getting ready to go on stage. Elaina said she didn’t feel well tonight and asked to stay on the bus until she was needed. Dad thought it had been too long since Elaina and Ryder were spotted together. He wanted her at a meet and greet set up with the fans tonight after the concert. I know that they will have to kiss again and my stomach is already churning. I’m counting down the hours until they can break up.
After leaving Houston, Elaina has been a little distant. She’s spending a lot of time reading in her cubby. There’s only a few weeks left of the tour and I wonder if the upcoming separation is weighing on her mind as heavily as it is on mine. I’m not ready for the end of the tour, I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. I need more time. But in a way, the end of the tour can’t come soon enough because I don’t ever want to see my best friend kiss my girl again.
I glace at my watch and yell into the bathroom attached to Ryder’s dressing room, “Ryder, you have five minutes to get out there.”
I cringe when Ryder opens the door, I can tell he’s been drinking. He’s been doing that a lot the last few days. “I’m ready, let’s just get tonight over with.”
I want to berate him for drinking before a show, but instead I ask, “Is everything okay?” He is my best friend after all.
“Fine, I just can’t wait to spend a few weeks at home before going overseas. I need a break.”
“Almost there,” I tell him putting a hand on his shoulder. Usually at this point in a tour, the guys are ready for a night at home in their own bed. I can’t say that I disagree. Though, I would want Elaina there with me.
“Ready to go on?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
Surprisingly, Ryder got through the show with no mistakes, despite the drinking. I tell Ryder that I would meet him backstage for the meet and greet. I need to make sure Elaina found the room.
When I enter the room, Elaina is standing in the corner. I can see her muscles are tense. She’s biting her lip and pacing back and forth.
“Hey. How are you feeling now?”
“Hey yourself. I’m fine. How was the show?”
“Surprisingly well, considering Ryder was a little drunk. I’m not really sure what to do about it, he has been drinking a lot the last few days. He isn’t listening to me about it, maybe one of the guys would to talk to him.”
“I’m sure he’s fine and just ready to be home.”
“That’s what he told me, but I wonder if it’s something more than that. He‘s been like this since Texas.”
Our conversation is cut short when the band comes in. I gesture for Ryder to come join us.
“I thought when the fans come in, you could be over here talking to Elaina.”
They both nod. Neither says anything while we wait for the fans to make their way back; we just stand in uncomfortable silence. I’m not sure what happened to Ryder’s normal, cocky personality. This Ryder creeps me out a little.
People start to enter the room and I step back, leaving Elaina and Ryder in the corner. He says something to her that I can’t hear and she nods. He leans in and places his mouth to hers and I cringe and look away. His usual aggressiveness is gone from the kiss, but no one seems to notice. They are all too busy freaking out about the fact that they are in a room with rock stars. Several of them snap picture of Elaina and Ryder. They’ll be all over the internet in a few minutes.
When Ryder starts to mingle with his fans, Elaina walks up to me. “My headache is back, do you think it would be okay for me to head back to the bus?”
“Yeah, but wait here for a few minutes. I’ll text Mike to walk back with you, I don’t want you walking alone.”
She nods. “Thanks.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“You could sneak in to see me tonight if the boys go out. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ll be there, I’ve missed you too.”
**********
“Vegas, baby!” Alex and Eric shout as we enter the city limits.
“The concert isn’t until tomorrow night, so you know we’re going out tonight.”
Eric says.
Tonight is the last “date” for ‘Ryllie‘. The end of the tour is a week away. I’ve been sneaking in alone time with Elaina every chance I get, but it isn’t much.
“You’re coming out night, right Cam?” Caleb asks me.
“Sure, someone needs to keep you all in check. I trust Elaina can keep Ryder out of trouble tonight on the date.” I force myself to say the word date, but the word leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Elaina nods, “Yes, Ryder will be on his best behavior, won’t you?”
“What? Oh yeah.” Ryder is texting someone and not paying attention to the conversation.
I feel my own phone vibrate in my pocket and I fish it out and look at the screen. Elaina just texted me.
Elaina: I see that look
Me: What look?
Elaina: The look like you want to murder Ryder at the thought of another date. It’s just pretend and just for now. We have one more week then we can be together.
Me: I know, it’s just not knowing what you two are doing will drive me crazy, but I can’t stand to watch it either
Elaina: We aren’t doing anything that you have to worry about. I’m with you, he knows this is all an act.
Me: You’re right. I’m going to miss you tonight.
Elaina: I’ll miss you too. Just one more week of pretending
Once at the hotel everyone goes to their room to get ready to go out tonight except for me. I sneak into Ryder and Elaina’s suite to see Elaina. She’s in the bathroom, I can see her blonde hair through the open door. She’s standing in front of the mirror doing her make-up.
“You look great,” I say and she jumps. I walk in and shut the door behind me.
“Oh my god, you scared me,” she whispered and slapped me lightly on the chest.
I chuckle. “I wanted to see you before you went out tonight.”
“What about Ryder? He might come in here,” she whispers.
“I heard his shower running when I came in. Does he do that often? Just barge into your room?” I grit my teeth.
For Now (Forever Book 1) Page 12