When we passed the kitchen, I saw a closed door and asked, “What’s in there?”
“Bathroom number one.”
I nodded but kept shuffling along. “And that one?”
“Bathroom number two.”
We made it to an area that was self-explanatory. I couldn’t help but smile. “Bunk beds?” There were three rows on each side, and each row held two bunks. Some already had their curtains closed, indicating they’d already been claimed.
Noah looked insulted. “They’re not bunk beds.” He smiled tightly. “They’re cubbies.”
“They’re bunk beds,” called Hell, poking his head out from one of the top bunks, and a bubble of laughter shot up my throat.
“Whatever,” Noah griped, then handed me my duffle. “Pick a cubby and choose carefully because it’ll be yours the entire tour.”
Okay. That seemed simple enough.
When Noah walked away, I looked over at a bunk to the right. I put my duffle on it and moved to jump on in. That was when Connor appeared out of nowhere. “That’s my cubby.”
Sure. Of course, it was.
“Oh, sorry.” I slid out, taking my bag with me.
I then peered into the cubby directly behind it but Connor made a noise, lightly shaking his head. My brow lowered but my question was softly spoken. “That’s also yours?”
He folded his arms across his chest which somehow made his muscular arms look all the more muscular. When he smiled at me, the tattoo on his cheekbone lifted and I almost choked on my tongue. “Okay, then,” I whispered and moved to the back of the line, dropping my bag onto the very last bed in that row.
I shouldn’t have been surprised when Connor snatched up my bag. “That one’s mine.”
What?
How many beds did one man need?
Don’t get mad. He’s a rock star. He has more stuff than you and probably needs the space.
“Right,” I muttered, my lips thinner than they’d ever been in my entire life. When I heard his snigger, I peered up at him but his face was completely neutral.
I tried the left side, taking my bag from Connor’s hand and putting it on the middle lower bunk just beneath Hell.
My insides shriveled when he opened his mouth. “That’s mine.”
For the love of God.
I turned to him and huffed out a breath. “Are you messing with me?”
His reply was honest. “Yes.” And when he bit the tip of his tongue, my insides did a funny little shimmy.
I let out an annoyed sigh that immediately transformed into an embarrassed laugh.
“You like people bossing you around, huh? You a sub or some shit?”
Sub.
Submissive.
I suppose I was, not deliberately though. I just didn’t know how to speak for myself when I needed to. I wasn’t sure about submissive but I could admit readily that I was a pacifist.
“No, I don’t like people bossing me around,” was all I could say, because Connor was too close to me and my lungs had since forgotten their primary function.
His inquisitive regard, narrowed eyes, and sly little smile matched with the silence surrounding us was mildly uncomfortable to say the least.
I croaked out, “Okay, well, goodbye,” then went to disappear into the cubby.
Deft fingers held the back of my tee and I fought a groan. If he told me I couldn’t have this bed, I swear I would cry or scream or vomit, or all three at the very same time.
Connor shook his head slowly then jerked his chin to the bunk above, muttering under his breath, “Don’t take that one. He’s got stomach problems.” At my confused glance, he added, “Always bloated.” When my confused glance turned to bafflement, Connor deadpanned, “He farts.”
My mouth rounded. “Oh.”
Connor took my duffle, placing it on the bunk I’d settled on in the first place. “You should be safe enough here, far away from Hell’s notorious flatulence.”
Hell called out, “I heard that, asshole.” He quickly added an injured, “You know I got stomach issues.”
Much to my own chagrin, I spoke up. “Peppermint tea.”
Hell poked his head out of his cubby, frowning down at me. “What did you call me?”
“No. I, um…” A surprised laugh escaped me and I tried again. “Peppermint tea is good for soothing an upset stomach. I brought a box with me if you want some.”
Hell’s lips pursed. “Not exactly a tea drinker.”
Fair enough. “I’ll put it in the kitchen if you change your mind.”
Hell’s head retreated and he uttered, “Thanks, Emmy.”
My smile was small but sincere. “You’re welcome.”
Well, look at me, already helping out.
This was nice.
I felt good.
And Connor remained there, watching me curiously. I stilled at the realization. My eyes darted around anxiously. “Is there…” My voice wavered nervously. “Is there something you need from me?”
Connor’s brows lowered and he made a thoughtful noise low in his throat. “I’m not sure yet.”
That was a relief. I climbed into my bunk. “Well, you know where I am.” I heard Connor move away and I was grateful for the brief respite.
Some minutes later, the bus came to life with a harsh grunt and low rumble. A little while passed and then Craig was talking through unseen speakers. He started off rather professional. “Good morning, lady and gents. We’re going to start the first leg of our journey in just a moment. Let me start by asking…” I was not expecting what I heard. Craig shouted, “Are you ready to rock?”
The guys cheered, but Craig wasn’t satisfied. “Oh, c’mon. That was lame. I said…” A moment, then, “Are you motherfuckers ready to rock?”
The guys whooped and hooted, and my eyes widened at the vulgar language. Craig chuckled into the mic. “That’s better. Oh, and lights out at ten.”
The collective grumble caused Craig to laugh harder. “Kidding, kidding. This is a goddamn party bus and we don’t ever stop. There’s only one rule, and that rule is—” He paused. “—puff, puff, pass.”
I didn’t know what that meant but it must’ve been funny because the guys laughed in response.
“A couple of things though,” Craig continued. “Dean’s napping in the back, getting his beauty sleep and charging up for the next shift. I hope none of y’all get car sick because we’re going to be driving for a solid thirty-four hours.” The gears crunched and the bus started to move. “And we’re off.” I looked out the window just as we pulled out of the depot. “Next stop, Texas!”
It was strange, what I was feeling.
Heavy yet weightless.
Shackled but free.
My heart told me this was a great opportunity.
My head lectured me, telling me I was a little girl trying to do big things and that when something went wrong the only person I had to blame was me.
At war with myself, I took a deep breath whispering out on an exhale, “Here we go.”
So, here I was, spending the next thirty-four hours on a bus with four rock stars.
My brows lowered.
I mean, really.
How bad could it be?
Chapter Five
Getting to know you.
Emily
From my cubby, I could hear the guys talking.
“I’m so bored,” Connor complained.
Lee chuckled. “It’s literally only been twelve hours.”
Noah sounded miffed. “I warned you this would happen.”
“Oh, c’mon. Give him a break. He can’t help it. He’s got A.D.D,” Hell stated but was clearly amused.
“If I don’t get off this fucking bus, I’mma start a riot.”
The irritability in Connor’s voice was a little alarming and I mustn’t have been the only one who thought so because when I peeked out my cubby, down the aisle, I saw Noah get up and head down t
o the driver’s door.
It opened and Noah spoke to Craig for a moment. When Noah returned, Craig spoke over the speaker and he sounded snappy, “What don’t you little bitches understand about nonstop?” A moment’s pause then a sigh followed. “There’s a rest stop coming up in an hour. We’ll take a short break and when I say short, I fucking mean it. Craig, out.”
Connor’s jaw was tight and when Noah came to sit back down, he frowned down at the table and spoke quietly. “Thanks, man.”
“You know I got you,” was all Noah returned. And I couldn’t help but think it was a sweet exchange.
An hour later, the bus pulled into a rest area and stopped. A soft knock sounded outside my bunk and I pulled the curtain open to find Noah standing there, peering in. He smiled carefully. “You okay in there?”
I nodded.
“You sure?”
“Yes.” Another nod. “Why?”
He moved to sit at the foot of my bed. “We haven’t seen you, is all.”
Oh, that. My brow knitted when I revealed a quiet, “I don’t want to be in the way.”
It was Noah’s turn to frown. “What? You’re not in the way. Are you—?” He smiled guardedly. “Are you hiding in here? Is that what it is?”
I sure was. “No.” The word was said too loud, too quickly.
“I think you are.” He folded his arms across his chest and peered at me, begging me to disagree.
So I didn’t. I just needed him to understand. “The guys,” I stated quietly, pushing my glasses up the bridge of my nose. “I just want them to like me.”
He was clearly confused. “And you think the best way to achieve that is to avoid them?”
Yes, I did.
My nod was solemn.
Noah looked at me a long while before he said, “Tell you what. I’ll make you a deal. You come out of your hidey-hole for an hour every leg of the trip, and,” he looked ashamed of himself when he said, “I won’t tell anyone that St Jude’s called the label, needing to secure a guarantor for your Nanna, because you can barely afford her care.”
I felt the blood drain from my face and my heart started beating faster.
Oh, God.
I was finding it hard to breathe and Noah must have seen this because he put his hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay. Micah sighed the papers. It’s all good.” His eyes softened. “I just wish you would’ve told me.”
My mouth bone dry, I attempted to lick my lips and avoided his gaze. “Please don’t tell anyone.”
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Emmy. What you’re trying to do is admirable.”
He didn’t understand. No one did. This was my battle and I wanted to fight it alone, just as my Nanna did when Mom died.
My voice was barely there when I repeated, “Please don’t tell anyone.”
Noah’s face gentled and he let out a soft sigh. “I would never. I’m just begging you to give us a chance. Get to know us. Come out and talk to us. We’re going to be with each other every day for three months. We want to get to know you too.” He took a moment. “I know the guys look a little rough around the edges but I swear to you, you’ll never meet a more genuine set of people.”
Oh no.
I was wavering at an alarming pace.
“C’mon.” Noah grinned. “What do you say?”
Noah was a sweet guy and I was grateful for his tact. The truth was, these men scared me. They were so far from the norm that I already knew we had nothing in common. It wasn’t their fault, nor was it mine. It was just the way things were.
But I could try.
You can do it.
Yes. I would try.
“Okay.” A small smile graced my lips and finally I let out a quiet, “I’ll get to know them.”
Noah gently bumped my shoulder. “All right. Atta girl.” He held out his hand to me and I stared down at it a moment before I took it. Noah helped me out of my hidey-hole, put his hands on my shoulders and thrust me forward. “Take this opportunity, Emmy. Take it and hold onto it with both hands, you hear me? It could be life changing.”
It could be life changing.
A prophecy spoken, one neither of us would fully come to realize until both our worlds had been rocked so hard our heads would rattle.
Once off the bus, I stretched my arms up and over my head. I didn’t know where we were but I’ll admit it was nice to get out of the cramped space that was my cubby. Noah walked toward the convenience store and I followed him inside. Aisle by aisle, I took my time browsing and settled on a pack of Twizzlers, knowing I only had fifteen dollars in my wallet. That fifteen dollars had to last me until my next paycheck. I was sure I could make it stretch some, but by two weeks?
It was asking a lot.
As I approached the counter, Connor stood there talking to the cashier.
“Yeah, I’ll take all this junk.” He placed a bunch of candy bars, drinks, and gum onto the counter. “And what do have in a gentleman’s magazine? The porno kind.”
The second I heard that, my eyes widened and I turned to walk away. But a hand on my shoulder pulled me back. Connor dragged me in, taking the Twizzlers out of my hand and placing them on the counter with his stuff. The cashier came back with a variety of plastic-wrapped, suggestive magazines.
My heart went from flatlining to drumming up a storm and my cheeks heated so quickly I thought I might faint from the sudden head rush.
Connor went from magazine to magazine. “What would you suggest, my fine man?”
The mature cashier pointed to a magazine called Lux, and when I opened my mouth to speak, Connor put a finger to my lips, squishing them in the process. “Sssh, baby. The adults are speaking.”
Connor looked at the magazine and umm’d and ahh’d. “I don’t know. I mean, sure, she’s hot but I’m looking for something with a certain mystique to it. Know what I mean?”
The cashier disappeared then returned with another magazine. He placed it on the counter. It was called Moi.
“That’s it,” Connor said, tapping the plastic-wrapped cover. “That’s the one.” He took the magazine from the clerk. “She looks like a nice girl. Helpful. Like, she’d keep her bed made but the shit she does in it would disappoint her mom. Yep.” He nodded, putting it back down on the counter. “I’ll take it.”
The cashier wrung it all up and when he gave the total, Connor reached into the fridge beside us and added something to the pile then smirked at me. “And a Yoo-hoo for the baby.”
I felt it might’ve been an insult.
The joke was on him though.
I loved Yoo-hoo.
The cashier packed it all in a bag and handed it to Connor, who thrust it into my arms. I held it fast but when we made it outside, Connor threw his arm out to stop me. “There’s a hoop,” he stated, then, “We need a ball.”
He went back inside, leaving me holding a bag full of junk and a nudie magazine, and when he returned with an old, crusty-looking basketball, I looked up at him curiously.
Smiling, he started to nod as he bounced the ball. “One-on-one?”
Was he serious? “I don’t know how to play.”
“Hmm. Okay,” he called out to Lee. “Yo, Lee.” When Lee turned, Connor pointed down at me. “Emmy wants to play ball. Says she’s real good. You in?”
Okay. Looked like they were all calling me Emmy now.
Also, what?
No, I didn’t!
My face void of all emotion, I blinked at him. All he did was grin and wink in return.
God, he was a jerk.
Lee jogged over and when Hell joined him, I stuttered, “I-I-I can’t play.”
Connor chuckled low in his throat, putting his arm around me, pulling me into his side and stuffing my face into his chest. “You’re so funny, Emmy.” He slowly shook me by the shoulders then said, “Don’t listen to her. Emmy’s got moves.”
Lee smiled. “You literally don’t know how to play, do you, kid?�
��
I shook my head and Connor’s mouth gaped. “Liar. I’ve seen her. She’s good. I swear.”
Hell chuckled, knowing full well Connor was talking a bunch of baloney. “C’mon, are we doing this or not? We gotta get back on the bus in a few.”
Apparently, we were playing something called half court. When Lee managed to get the ball from Connor and pass it to me, I gripped it hard and ran.
“Hold up, kid.” Lee laughed. “You’re traveling.”
I held the ball tightly. “Am I not supposed to do that?”
“No.” Lee explained, thoroughly amused. “You have to bounce the ball as you run. If you don’t, it’s called traveling and you have to hand the ball over to the other team.”
Ah. I see. “Right. Okay.” Then I peered up at him, squinting, and asked a quiet, “Can I have a do-over?”
Connor called out, “Hell no.”
Hell spoke up and he did it kindly. “You’re doing fine. Try again.”
I uttered, “Thank you, Hell.” But the second I started bouncing the ball, Connor took it from me and I stilled, pointing at him. “Hey, that’s not fair!” I turned to Lee, affronted. “He took the ball from me!”
Lee grinned. “He’s allowed to do that.”
“It was legal,” Hell confirmed, chuckling.
It was?
Connor flipped me the bird and did it smirking. I was mad. More embarrassed really, but still, mad.
My competitive streak thrumming, I chased Connor. Every time I tried to grab the ball, he maneuvered it away from me. Again and again, he put the ball out of my reach, and when I let out a sound of pure frustration, he sniggered. “Give it up, yo.”
Never!
Seeing red, I slammed my body into Connor’s side, taking him by surprise, and managed to get the ball. An excited “eeep!” escaped me, and I ran the ball over to Lee, bouncing as I went. I heard someone coming up from behind me. I panicked, throwing myself onto the ground, over the crusty old ball and guarding it with my life.
Lee and Connor let out equally loud laughter as Hell picked me up by the waist and shook me, sniggering. “Drop it.”
I couldn’t help it. I quaked with laughter. “No!”
Hell shook me a second time but I held the ball with my Kung Fu grip, giggling quietly.
Clash Page 6
