“No. Absolutely not. Look how far you’ve come! You’ve already got his phone, you need to go through with it. Besides, this plan is epic.”
Daisy frowned. Lena was right. She couldn’t just throw away her whole plan because Trevin had been nice to her, could she? “You’re right. Just ignore me.” Daisy traced the wood grain in the bathroom door. “When you see his messages go live, make sure to spread them.”
“You know I’m in. Girl, you’re so devious.”
Even with Lena’s encouragement, Daisy still didn’t feel 100 percent about all this. “Absolutely. But listen, I need to go, my dad is having a conniption.”
“Call me soon, I miss chatting.”
“I will. See you.” Daisy hung up and finished packing. Before she left the bathroom, though, she got on Trevin’s phone. And wouldn’t you know it, he didn’t have a passcode blocking her. In fact, all his social media apps were right there on his main screen. All of them open, which made her job a whole lot easier. She typed the message on all his boards that read: Hey sexy girls, if ur coming 2 my concert in Miami tonight bring extra panties to throw my way. Fan who brings me the most will get a prize.
“Try and fix that one, Trevin Jacobs. You’re about to become public enemy number one with all the parents in the audience.” She put his phone in her purse, then went with her dad down to the tour buses.
Let the fun begin.
Chapter Twelve
Trevin hopped off the bus and followed the guys inside the stadium for a quick rehearsal. They were adding “Let Me Make You Smile” to their set list for the next few shows so they could do a world premiere of their new video when they hit Tennessee at the end of next week. He’d never get sick of this. Performing almost every night, doing what he loved most. He still got butterflies before he took the stage, a feeling he hoped would never go away.
He slid off his sweatshirt and opened his backpack to throw it inside when Daisy’s shorts and shirt fell out onto the floor.
“Something you’re not telling us, mate?” Miles grinned. “Either you’re taking up cross dressing or those clothes belong to a certain redhead.”
“Shit.” He shoved them inside.
“Uh-oh, is our goody-goody Trevin being naughty?” Ryder snatched her shorts from him and held them up.
“Hey, wasn’t she wearing those when she left this morning?” Will circled around them too.
Nathan’s eyes widened. “Wait, you didn’t, I mean, you guys didn’t—”
Trevin’s face got hot. “No, we didn’t have sex. Now give those back to me.” He jerked them from Ryder. “Are you guys trying to get me in trouble? You know how many lies Daisy and I had to tell today in order to hang out?”
“Chill, man, we’re kidding.” Ryder held up his hands as if to fend off a fight. “Besides, I’m the one who had your back with LJ, so don’t freak out on me.”
“Sorry.” He shoved her clothes back into his bag. “I just want to win this bet, so I’m trying not to blow it.”
“Be careful with her,” Nathan said.
Trevin’s jaw tightened. “Why do you care what I do?”
Nathan shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. “Because she’s really nice, and she’s become one of my friends.”
Ryder sat down on a chair and slid his tennis shoes on for their rehearsal. “Sure, the old ‘just friends’ line. Bet little man here is trying to move in on your girl. Might screw up our bet.”
“It’s not like that.” Nathan held up his hands. “I’m not trying to do anything with her. I mean, I don’t think of her like that.”
Ryder chuckled. “That’s too bad. But don’t worry, someday you’ll think about more than just Legos.”
Nathan’s blush deepened. “Sometimes you’re a jerk.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Miles said.
Trevin frowned, watching Nathan. Maybe he did need to worry about the competition. Yeah, he was younger, but maybe she liked younger guys. Actually, he didn’t even know what type of guy she was into. After the kiss they’d shared he’d thought it was him. But maybe he’d read her all wrong. However, he couldn’t deny the connection they’d shared today when he’d taken her to lunch and played guitar for her. How close he’d come to kissing her again.
“Aw, our little Nathan is growing up. He’s actually got himself a pair of balls now. You better watch out, Trevin, he might steal your girl from under your nose,” Ryder said.
“Ah, don’t listen to him.” Miles caught Trevin’s eye. “She snuck out with you today. And a girl isn’t going to risk getting in trouble unless she really likes you.”
Just then, LJ came bounding over. “Come on, boys, we’re wasting time.” He clapped his hands. “You need to focus on getting things down on this song. We’re burning daylight.”
The stagehands brought out some stools for them to sit on, since this song was slower. They positioned them in a half circle to give a more intimate feel. Trevin grabbed his guitar and plugged it into the amp. Once he tuned it, he sat down between Miles and Will.
“Let’s take it from the top,” Ryder said, setting a bottle of water next to the leg of his chair.
Trevin strummed the first chords of the song and closed his eyes, listening to the melody, then he picked up the first verse.
“I see you standing there, your friends all around
I just want to tell you how I feel, that everything I thought I knew was wrong
But you walk away, thinking that I’m like every other guy.
But I won’t break your heart—I won’t let you down.
I’ve been living too long in denial.
Baby, just let me make you smile…”
Ryder, Will, Nathan, and Miles joined in on the chorus, their voices blending in perfect harmony. This is what it was all about for him. Being able to sing and share his music.
Their choreographer popped out in front of them, waving his arms. “Okay, how about when you get to the chorus, you all stand and move closer to the edge of the stage. Let those girls think you’re singing this song for them.”
For the next hour, they worked through “Let Me Make You Smile.” When they finished, Beau ushered them to their dressing rooms for hair and makeup.
Daisy stood backstage watching them exit. She met Trevin’s eye and he smiled. “Hey, so what did you think of that?”
“It sounded good. I really liked the acoustic guitar in there,” she said.
“So are you going to let me make you smile?”
She snorted. “Oh my God, you did not just try to use a line on me.”
He grinned. “Did it work?”
“No.”
He fell to his knees in front of her and grabbed her hands. “What must I do to win you over?” He gave her a dramatic sigh.
“Hmm… I’ll have to get back to you on that. But I think a lot of groveling is in order.” Her lips turned up into a beautiful smile that nearly stopped his heart. “You do know what groveling is, right?”
“Yes.”
“Trevin, you need to get moving,” Beau came up behind him.
He dropped Daisy’s hands and hopped to his feet. “I’ll have to grovel later, otherwise your dad might send a fist through my mouth. And I kind of need that to sing tonight.”
“Mouths are overrated.”
“Says the girl who gave me the most perfect kiss.” Trevin winked. “See you later.”
…
The guys went to get ready, and her dad followed after them, leaving Daisy alone backstage. She was glad she’d delivered Trevin’s phone safely to his dressing room before she’d come to watch him. Last thing she wanted to do was make him suspicious. As she looked the set over, she saw a grand piano and wandered onto the stage near the set of a cityscape. She glanced around to see a couple of technicians messing with the lights. Other than that, she was alone.
With a sigh, she sat down on the bench. Her fingers moved across the keys as she played one of her grandpa’s songs. He’d taught her to
play when she was in kindergarten. Every day after school he’d sit her down and teach her how to read music and show her all the types of songs she could master.
He kept up this tradition all the way into high school. She hadn’t played much since he died, though. It was like when he left, he’d taken a piece of her with him. The piece that thought things mattered. She remembered the recitals he’d have her play for his friends and for her mom. He’d made such a big deal of it, of her.
He was the one person who made her feel special. Like she mattered. He never forgot a birthday or had to work over a holiday. He was always there for her. Well, until he wasn’t.
Daisy bit back the tears that threatened to spill over. In a little over a week, it’d be the anniversary of her grandpa’s death. In his last days, she’d sat in his house and played songs for him, while he struggled to hold on. Then hospice came in to make him more comfortable. Even through all that, he still told her to play songs for him.
He’d slipped away while she put on her last recital for him and their family. She’d gotten all dressed up for him. Somehow, they’d all known that day would be his last.
“Wow, I didn’t realize you played piano,” Trevin said, sitting on the bench next to her. His hair was styled with gel and he wore a pair of skinny jeans, a Beatles T-shirt, along with a pair of black skater shoes.
“It’s been awhile,” she said softly.
He glanced down at her, his fingers once again wiping the tears from her cheeks. As if it’d become his part-time job. “Do you want to talk about it?”
She sucked in a deep breath. “My grandpa, he taught me to play. I haven’t done it since he passed away. I don’t know, something just came over me tonight, and I felt like I wanted to try one of his songs. I wish I could do something to honor him, you know, to keep his memory alive.”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Just because he’s gone doesn’t mean you can’t make music anymore. You keep his memory alive by doing the things you guys loved to do together when he was with you.”
Why did it seem he always had the right thing to say? Was it all part of a game? Was this how he lured girls in? But the sincerity in his voice made her second-guess that thought. Daisy leaned against him, letting him comfort her. “It just hurts. Grandpa was always there for me, when my mom worked too many hours, and my dad missed coming to see me. He was the one constant. And I miss him so much. But he left me. Just like my dad did. And he’s not coming back.”
She sobbed, burying her face against his shirt. And Trevin just held her, letting her cry. He rocked her back and forth in his arms, saying soothing words. When she’d finished, she drew back from him. “Sorry, I made a mess of your shirt.”
He looked at the wet spots on his T-shirt and shrugged. “It’s fine.”
“I should probably get off the stage now,” Daisy said. She stood, wiping her face on her hands.
He caught her arm. “Do you sing too?”
“No—I can’t carry a tune to save my life.”
“You can’t be that bad.” Trevin tugged her down next to him again. His fingers flew over the keys as he plucked out “Imagine” by The Beatles.
She laughed. “Yeah, I’m that bad. Ask anyone who knows me. I might’ve gotten my grandpa’s ability on the piano, but the singing part skipped right over me.”
“C’mon. Sing one line for me.” Trevin turned his million watt smile on her.
“Ugh, fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She belted out the chorus.
When Trevin busted up laughing, she stopped. “Okay, in all fairness, you did warn me,” he said. “That was, well, I think it needs a little work.”
“A little?” Her eyebrows raised.
“All right, a lot.”
“And does this deter you from wanting to hang out with me?” Daisy’s heart bombarded her chest like someone pounding on pots and pans.
“Nope. Is that what you were hoping for? To scare me off with your singing?” He wound his fingers through hers.
“Maybe.”
“You might have to try a little harder than that.”
That’s what she was afraid of. She was a fool to get caught up in something with Trevin. Problem was, the more time she spent with him, the more she felt her shields falter. If she wasn’t careful, she’d not only bring Trevin down, but herself right along with him. Good thing her next revenge scheme was underway. It’d at least give her something else to focus on.
Chapter Thirteen
Trevin rolled out of his bunk the next morning, trying not to wake the others. He tugged on a T-shirt then went to the fridge to grab a bottle of chocolate milk. Last night had definitely been bizarre. More than a thousand pairs of underwear had been tossed on the stage at him. The crew had counted every pair, per Ryder prodding them to. When they were done, Trevin insisted they get thrown away. He’d never been so embarrassed in his life—and LJ wasn’t exactly happy about this, joke or not. He thought it’d made Trevin look like a womanizer…
Of course, Ryder had given Trevin a hard time about it. Trevin wondered if maybe he had something to do with it. Maybe this was Ryder’s way to try and make him look like a playboy so Daisy wouldn’t like him? But who knew. After another swig of milk, a loud pounding sounded on the tour bus door. Only one person was that annoying this early in the morning. Shit, they’d only gotten like four hours of sleep.
“Tell Lester to go the fuck away,” Ryder said, jerking the curtain on his bunk shut.
“I’ll deal with him, you guys just stay in bed.” Trevin set his drink on the table then went to unlock the door.
“About time you got up. You guys have an interview with the local morning show. Tell the others to get dressed.” LJ went down the narrow hallway to their bunks. “Up, now. You can sleep after your show tonight.”
“I thought you were going to tell him to go away.” Ryder poked his head out of his bunk. “Can’t we have another hour of sleep?”
Miles stumbled out of bed, wearing only a pair of boxers. “It’s too bloody early for interviews. I might slip up and tell the paparazzi something we don’t want them to know. Like how Will sprouts devil horns every full moon.”
Will hit Miles in the side of his head with his pillow. “Or how Miles is only faking a British accent and he’s really from Alabama.”
“Boys, it’s too early for this,” LJ said. “Now get up. Trevin, come on out here with me a second. I want to go over a few things with you.”
Trevin groaned. “Just let me put on some shoes.”
He slid his feet into a pair of flip-flops then stepped out into the chilly morning air. Fog seemed to float across the stadium parking lot, like puffs of cotton candy.
LJ paced back and forth, holding a mug of coffee. “Ryder and Miles seem to be fighting again lately. I thought you were going to nip that in the bud.”
He sighed. “Look, they don’t fight all the time. Most days they get along—but when we get cooped up for too long, we can get irritable. Trust me, their little spats aren’t going to break up the band. You have nothing to worry about.”
“I hope you’re right. There are a lot more years left in this band; I want to make sure you boys get the most out of them. We don’t need anything controversial going on, nor do we need the band breaking up because you can’t get along.”
“Like I said, everything will be fine.” Trevin hated these talks. Every couple of cities, he got pulled aside and told what he had to do for the band. It was tiring. But he took it to heart, because he was the oldest, he was the front man. He was the one everyone came to. And right now, it totally sucked.
“Good, good—I know I can count on you. You understand where I’m coming from. You already know about my last band. They fought all the time, and look what happened to them.”
“I know. Things will be fine. What time do we need to be ready?”
“The interview starts at nine, so I want everyone loaded into the buses by eight a.m. Got it?” He patted Trevin�
�s back. “Oh, and one more thing. I noticed you and that redheaded daughter of Beau’s hanging out. Anything I need to worry about?”
Trevin had no idea where he was going with this, so he gave a noncommittal shrug. “No. She’s really nice. We actually have a lot in common.”
“I think you should try to date her while she’s here this summer.”
“What?” Not that he wasn’t already thinking about it, but if Lester brought it up, it meant he had some sort of angle he was working. He’d given Ryder and Miles total shit when they wanted to date, so why the sudden change?
“Let’s just say I think it’s important for your fans to see you like regular types of girls. Dating ‘the help,’ so to speak, will be really great for your image. And, if you ask me, it’ll look strange if you’re the oldest in the group and you’re not showing interest in anyone. I’m not saying get married or start something serious, but show that girls like Beau’s daughter have a chance with guys like you. You know, girl from the other side of the tracks, hooks up with boy band member.”
Trevin’s jaw tightened and his fingers dug into his palms. His hands shook and it was all he could do not to punch LJ in the face. “Daisy is not the help.”
“I know, but her dad does work for us.” He grinned at Trevin. “Don’t take things so literally. I’m just saying, I think it’ll be good to date a down-home kind of girl. Now go on and get the boys ready; I’ll see you in a few.”
As LJ walked away, Trevin threw his chocolate milk container at the bus. Sometimes he was such an asshole. Calling Daisy “the help”? Suddenly, though, Trevin wasn’t sure he was any better. Maybe he should call off the bet. Did he really have to work with Pierce? It’d been a dream of his, but it wouldn’t exactly kill him if he couldn’t.
Why did LJ have to say anything at all? If he wanted to date Daisy, it’d be on his terms, not LJ’s or anyone else’s. He was sick of him trying to maneuver every aspect of their lives. Date this person, don’t cuss, keep a smile on your face—give that girl a hug because her parents are famous and it’d give you good publicity…
Daisy and the Front Man (Entangled Crush) (Backstage Pass) Page 12