See, that's how much my life ruled. I'd be onstage in Paris. Not that Brussels wasn't awesome, too. But Paris would be extra-special.
When I left home, Mom had told me to defer study for the year so I had something to come back to. I'd agreed, but I had no intention of ever going back. I'd have to be dragged kicking and screaming from this life.
We checked into the hotel, and I went to my room.
I'd only had time to shower when Polly called to say everyone was going to dinner. Yikes, I needed to find something to wear. Something sexy but not too sexy. Jeans and a tight t-shirt fit the bill.
We got to the cafe, just a standard burger bar with pop art prints on the walls and bright colors everywhere. Jax and Damo pushed a couple of tables together to fit us all in. While they did that, I moved closed to Crow. That way, when Damo and Jax finished, I'd be sure we'd be sitting together. If only Damo would stop his fussing.
Sitting together at dinner wasn't such a bit deal, but maybe I could convince Crow that the two of us should go out drinking afterward. Just the two of us, not in a group.
Before we seated ourselves, Polly wedged her way between Crow and me. She put her arm around my neck.
"How's it going here, kids?" she asked. Then she pushed us toward the table, making sure she sat between us.
I groaned. Every single time I started getting close to him, she did that. It wasn't that she didn't like Crow; she just didn't approve of the two of us together. But Polly should just mind her own business instead of interfering with mine all the time. Even though I appreciated her asking me to join Wreckage, the way she tried to rule my life was proving a real pain in the butt.
"What do you think?" she asked, handing me a menu.
I handed it back to her. "Whatever," I said. "I'm not that hungry."
My stomach rumbled. I could eat a horse. I just didn't want to say that to Polly. And, sure, that probably proved my immaturity to her, but I wanted her to know I was annoyed. Instead, she ignored me and discussed the burger options with Damo, leaning over Crow to do it.
When the waitress came over, I folded my arms and didn't order, but no one noticed. They were too busy ordering their own food. Even Crow put in an order. I could die of starvation before anyone cared.
When the waitress started walking off, I called her back. I grabbed one of the menus off the table.
"The double beef bonanza," I told her. "Cheese and bacon fries on the side."
Starving myself wouldn't hurt Polly, just me.
I hated the way Polly made me feel like the naughty kid. She didn't need to watch me constantly or monitor my behavior. I was more tightly controlled on tour than I was at home. So much for sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. This was more like work, work and work. Things were easier when Elijah was around. He became a buffer between Polly and me. When sparks started flying, he'd make some stupid crack and totally defuse things. But Elijah had rushed off to win his lady love and wouldn't be back tonight.
While Polly was distracted, I managed to get in a glance at Crow.
No matter what Polly or anyone else said, Crow didn't have any malice in him. He was the sort of guy who looked tough but would cry if he saw a puppy get hurt. Other people didn't notice the way his dark eyes sparkled when he was happy or the way they dulled when something bad happened. Just because he didn't like to mouth off didn't mean he was hard to communicate with. He just didn't like talking too much.
And then, when he was really happy, he got those crinkles around his eyes. Every time, that made my heart leap. I wanted to make him especially happy so I could see those crinkles as often as possible.
Crow would never be considered as mainstream good-looking as Elijah, but he had a depth to his face that Elijah lacked.
Crow looked back at me. That glance zinged right through me, making my toes curl and my hair stand on end. He could say what he liked about wanting to stay friends, but that glance told a whole other story, and that story would have "X-rated" slapped all over it.
Then Polly moved to block my view of him. As much as I loved my cousin, I hated her sometimes.
When my burger arrived, I cheered up. That was one awesome-looking burger.
"You're quiet tonight, Firecracker," Jax said from across the table.
I wanted to yell at him for calling me Firecracker. That was Elijah's nickname for me, and I hated it. But I had a mouthful of burger.
Finally, I got it down and could speak.
"The name's Fay, to you, mister," I said. "And, yeah, I'm tired from all the traveling today."
"Not going out drinking with the rest of us? We're thinking about hitting one of the rock clubs in town."
I tried to check Crow's reaction to that. If he wanted to go, I'd go, but otherwise, I wasn't too keen. And maybe if he stayed back, I could get him alone. Nothing would ever progress between Crow and me without us having some alone time. Not that alone time had been that productive, either. Like everyone else on this tour, Crow treated me like a kid sister. If that was all, I'd leave him alone, but he didn't really think of me as a kid sister, not one bit.
"What about you, Crow?" Jax asked. "You'll be up for a drink, yeah?"
I couldn't see his face. Not with Polly blocking me. I'd have to squirm around in my seat, and that'd look obvious.
"Yeah, maybe just a couple," Crow said.
Damn, if I changed my mind about going to the bar now, Polly would watch me like a hawk.
That was when I had my brilliant idea.
If I went back to the hotel alone, she'd think I was having an early night. But I didn't have to go back to my own bed. That desk clerk at the hotel would give me the key to Crow's room if I batted my eyelashes at him.
Luckily, I no longer had to share a room with Polly, so she'd get back to the hotel and think I was sound asleep.
I just had to prove to Crow that I was serious. I mean, what man would say no to a hot chick naked in their bed? Not many, that's for certain.
I hugged myself over the brilliance of my plan. Okay, there might've been a few flaws, but I didn't want to think about that. I'd focus on the important stuff, like Crow realizing I was much more than the kid sister type. Once we were established as a couple, there'd be nothing Polly could do about it.
I could barely eat my cheese and bacon fries with the excitement welling up in me, and it took a lot to turn me off cheese and bacon fries.
"So, you going?" Jax asked me again.
"Nah, I really need an early night. It's okay for you guys, but I have the spotlight on me. I can't look old and decrepit out there onstage."
Ha, just like I'd intended, that got them all fired up. They were too busy arguing over who the decrepit ones were that I could plan this out in peace.
"You okay to get back to the hotel alone?" Polly asked as they were leaving. "I could walk back with you."
I rolled my eyes at her. "It's a couple of blocks. I'll be fine."
I shot her a sweet smile. I'd be totally fine, no doubt about that.
Fay
RATHER THAN GOING STRAIGHT to the front desk, I lingered around the reception area. The clerk I wanted had another guest with him, and the other girl working didn't look like she'd fall for my charms. She had serious business written all over her.
Finally, the other guest moved off. I walked up and leaned on the desk, telling the clerk my room number.
"Can I grab the key to 1201 too?" I asked. "Damn dopey drummer thinks he left his music on quite loud. He doesn't want to disturb the other guests, so he asked me to turn it off for him."
The clerk grinned. "It shouldn't be a problem. We have top-class soundproofing."
Drat. That wasn't part of my plan. I leaned over farther, like I had something really confidential to say.
"Dude, you have no idea. This guy's half-deaf, you know, from all that drumming. He has his music really loud. Maximum bass, too. My room's near his. It's going to be a total pain in the butt for me if I can hear it. I'm a really light sleeper. I'll just
run up, turn it off, and bring the key right back down."
He hesitated, so I grinned. That sweet grin that showed up my dimples.
He grabbed the key out of the slot behind him and handed it to me. "Don't tell anyone I did this. It's strictly against hotel rules."
"No problem," I said, and I winked. "I'll be right back with it."
I acted cool until I got in the elevator, then I did a happy dance. So far, so good.
When I got to our floor, I opened Crow's door, then put the latch over to keep it open while I ran back downstairs. There was no one else on our floor except the bands and crew, and they were all out drinking. That'd be no safety concern at all. Were there security cameras on this floor? Would they see me sneak back there? I'd worry about that if I got sprung.
I got straight back in the elevator and returned the keys.
"He's a damn fool," I said to the clerk, rolling my eyes. "He hadn't even left it on. Damn brain-addled musos."
The clerk laughed and took the key out of my hand. "Better safe than sorry, I guess."
I nodded and rushed back upstairs. If I sent a text to Crow, telling him there was a surprise waiting in his room, he might hurry back, but that could backfire badly. I didn't want Polly getting suspicious and following him back here. He'd said he'd only stay out for a drink or two. Crow was no party animal.
While I waited, I looked around his room. He kept his room really neat. Well, barren more than neat. My room was a disaster. I'd thrown everything out of my case trying to find an outfit to wear to dinner, then I'd upended my makeup bag on the dresser. As soon as I arrived at a new place, all the photos had to go up wherever I could prop them in the room, too. Photos of my family and friends. I loved having those reminders close to me.
Crow didn't seem to have much in his room. Just his clothes and some spare drumsticks. Not one personal touch. If it hadn't been for that faint smell of his, I could be in any random room.
I gave the room a quick scan. It was his room, wasn't it? I hadn't gotten the number wrong? This could be a world-class disaster if I'd screwed up.
Without one personal item to check, I went to the wardrobe and took out one of his shirts. I put it to my face and breathed in the smell of it. Happiness crept through my body. That smell always reassured me.
I wasn't in his room to snoop, though. I had seduction to plan.
Should I be fully naked or just half-dressed?
Fully naked would be more comfortable.
I quickly got undressed and jumped into his bed. I lay on my back, my hair artfully arranged on the pillow, but that lasted about two minutes. Waiting for someone in their bed wasn't exactly that exciting.
I hopped back up and got my phone out of my jeans pocket. I could put it away when I heard him coming and go back to my seductive poses.
Hopefully, Crow wouldn't be much longer. I wondered what it would feel like when he kissed me, that bushy beard pushed against my face. I'd never been kissed by a guy with a beard before. Would it be bristly or soft? Maybe soft like a hairy cloud. Then he'd kiss his way down my body, and that beard would tickle my skin.
I squirmed just thinking about that. Oh, it would tickle so nicely. I'd have to keep quiet too and not giggle out loud in case the others heard me. Maybe I'd have to get him to gag me, or at least put his hand over my mouth.
Just the thought of those kisses made my body rush with heat. My stomach fluttered. Oh, tonight would be perfect.
Surely, he'd be back soon. How long did a couple of drinks take? An hour, maybe?
I checked the time. I'd been here for twenty minutes. Damn. It seemed much longer. I hoped my lipstick hadn't smudged. If I got out of bed to fix it, he'd surely come back, and I'd be naked and in some weird position. I didn't want to risk that, but staying in bed was boring.
None of my friends were online because of the time difference, so I couldn't chat. I'd read a book. That would give me something to do until he got back.
Only, I must've drifted off to sleep. A noise just outside the door woke me. Where was I? Strange bed, strange room. Oh yeah: Crow. My phone must have slipped out of my hand onto the bed beside me. I put it on the nightstand, then propped myself up on my elbows with the sheet covering me. Covering me a bit too much. I nudged it down a little.
I tried arranging my hair again. I wanted his first sight of me in this bed to be perfect. I turned on the bedside light so it hit me like a spotlight.
The door opened. I bit my bottom lip. This would be the moment. He had to be happy to see me here--he just had to.
"Hello..." I said as he walked into the room.
Only it wasn't Crow. It was Polly.
Damn shit.
I screamed.
She screamed.
This was not the night I'd had in mind.
Fay
"GET DRESSED AND GET back your own room," she said. She didn't shout, but her voice had a cold, sharp edge.
I was going to explain that she really had no right to tell me what to do. I was an adult and responsible for myself. But one look at her face made me forget that. A word out of place, and she'd start swinging punches.
I jumped up, covering myself with my hands. I grabbed my clothes and ran into the bathroom.
I ran the cold water and splashed my cheeks, but cold water wasn't enough to stop the burning. If I took my time getting dressed, I could delay facing Polly, but then I risked Crow returning to find a very angry Polly in his room. That would be worse than any punishment she could inflict on me.
After she'd dragged me back to my room, instead of leaving, she stayed with me. I sat on the edge of my bed, trying to ignore her pacing around like a caged tiger. If she just yelled at me and got it out of her system, it'd be much better than that pacing.
When she got out her phone, I asked who she was calling.
"Crow. I want to know what the hell he was playing at."
"He didn't know." I didn't look up, but I needed to tell her that. He had no blame in this.
"What?"
"I decided on my own. I wanted to surprise him."
She slammed her phone down on the table and spun around to face me. "Are you an idiot? Why the hell would you do that? You aren't some crazed groupie. Jeez, Fay, I don't know what to do with you. It's driving me nuts, having to constantly watch you in case you do something wrong."
Her jaw jutted in that way it did when she got stubborn. I knew it well. My mom was the same. I probably was, too.
"You could stop," I said, standing up to face her. "You could stop playing mother hen and actually let me spend some time alone with Crow. Why don't you worry about your own shit, like Damo, instead of hovering around me?"
My heart pounded but I had to have my say.
"Yeah, and if anything happens to you, I'm the one who'll have to face your mother. I wanted you on this tour, and I promised her I'd look after you. I have to make sure you're okay."
"What? You think I'm going to do something stupid, like get knocked up?"
"No, I think you're going to do something stupid like get your heart broken. You don't know Crow."
That was all she had. That I didn't know him.
"You don't know him. You've hardly spoken to him. He's a good guy, and you're judging him based on nothing."
"He has shadows. I can't explain it, but there are things not right with him."
My body grew tense. So tense I might snap. I didn't want to rile Polly up any more than she was, but I couldn't let her say things like that about Crow. It was so damn judgmental.
"Because he's quiet and keeps to himself? That's not abnormal, it's just the kind of guy he is. He doesn't need to pounce around like Damo and Elijah, proving what a big man he is."
Polly sighed. "It's more than that. Even Damo thinks there are secrets in Crow's past."
I resisted saying that I didn't give a fig about Damo's opinion.
"Does he know what they are? Does anyone? It's all tour rumors and bullshit. He's one of the sweetest guys I'
ve ever met. He wouldn't hurt a fly. So, get off his case and get off mine. This is all becoming a bore."
She raked her hands through her hair. "How do I get you to understand? He's not the man for you. You need someone more your own age and... I don't know. Just not Crow."
"There's nothing for me to understand. You don't make sense."
I huffed and sat back on the bed. Polly sat herself down on the sofa. We both folded our arms.
"I'm spending the night here," I said.
"Oh, no, you're not."
"Try to stop me."
I considered picking her up and throwing her out the door, but I wasn't sure if I was capable of that. Instead, I sat on the bed and glowered at her. She glowered back. The two of us would've sat like that all night if Damo hadn't knocked on my door.
"Polly, you there?" he asked.
She got up and opened the door. Damo came into my room.
"I found her in Crow's bed. Naked. She says Crow didn't know."
Damo faced me. I waited for another lecture, but the corners of his mouth twitched like he wanted to laugh but not in front of Polly. That twitching made me want to laugh, too. This might be as embarrassing as hell, but it was kind of funny too. I must've looked like such an idiot when Polly walked into that room.
"What am I going to do with her?" Polly asked Damo.
Damo shrugged. "She's old enough to make up her own mind. Just let her be."
Yes! Damo was on my side. I bet he'd had too much of Polly interfering in my life instead of being all lovey-dovey with him.
But then he turned to me. "Just, maybe, take it a bit easy. It could give a man a real fright walking into his room and finding someone in his bed. And what if he'd picked up some chick at the bar?"
"What? Is some bitch chatting him up?" I got up and grabbed my jacket.
Damo caught my arm. "I was speaking hypothetically. He and Jax are sitting in a corner talking drums."
I sat back down.
Then Fartstard, the tour manager, turned up. Was the entire tour going to end up in my room? And damn Polly poured the whole story out to him. She could shut her cake hole instead of letting everyone know what I'd done. I'd never hear the end of this. Being naked in someone's bed leading to hot, all-night sex was one thing. Being naked in someone's bed and being dragged out by your cousin was a whole other matter. An embarrassing one.
Rock Mayhem: 8 Complete Rock Star Romance Novels Page 63