“Can I see?” Luke reached across the table, his fingers touching the edge of her hand and setting her on fire. Lenny hesitated but released it to him stiffly. How much was she supposed to deny him? She was already withholding the friendship she had promised wouldn't get awkward. It wouldn't hurt to let him read some old ramblings of a shattered girl in recovery.
Lenny held her breath as he leafed through the pages. She thought a few days apart would cool things off between them. Logically, it should have. She was wrong. Whatever they felt for each other had gained strength.
“These are really excellent, Lenny.” Luke was absorbed in the written words and Lenny was rethinking letting him read her most personal thoughts. Sure, not every single one of them was about her in particular. But she had never really shared them with anyone besides Scott. And that was just because Scott was so damn bossy.
“No, it’s just pointless…girl stuff…” she trailed off, finding it difficult to have this conversation.
Luke looked up at her swiftly, “Nothing about you is pointless.”
Lenny licked her lips nervously. Why did he make her feel like this? She wanted to run away. She glanced at the door, planning her escape.
“Please don’t go.” Luke pleaded, reading her thoughts. Her chest burned at his request.
“I should get back, Carl wants me to…” She was trying to come up with a plausible lie.
Just then her cell phone rang and she jumped. She hurriedly pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the call screen. Speak of the devil, it was Carl. She answered it, ignoring Luke’s heavy sigh.
“Hello?”
“Hey, have you seen Luke? He won’t pick up my call.” Carl sounded irritated.
“Yeah, he’s right here” She handed him the phone, thankful for the interruption.
“Hello?…What?…Right now?…” Luke closed his eyes in frustration and brought a hand up to rub his forehead. “Yeah, okay. I’ll be right there.” He hung up the phone and handed it back to Lenny, “You shouldn’t have answered that.” Luke’s demeanor had shifted dramatically.
“What was it about?” Lenny wasn’t sure she wanted to know based on the clench in his jaw and the narrowing of his eyes at the center of the table.
Luke stood up and grabbed her hand pulling her to the door, not worrying about her reaction. “Just some garbage I have to deal with,” he growled.
He tucked her notebook under his arm and pulled her down the street possessively. Gone was the Luke who was trying too hard to not cross any lines. Lenny was thrown off by the sudden alpha-male, take-charge Luke that was striding purposefully down the sidewalk. She half expected him to toss her over his shoulder if she didn't comply. He didn’t release the firm clasp on her hand until they were climbing up into his bus, more agitated than Lenny had ever seen him.
As Lenny’s eyes adjusted to the darkened inside of the lounge she made out the figure of someone sitting on the couch. A tall, leggy, buxom brunette was filing her nails. She had on a severely short skirt and a cleavage baring top. Alarm bells started to go off in Lenny's head when she saw Carl standing a little ways away with his arms crossed.
“Hey, baby,” the boobilicious girl lilted when she saw Luke. She smiled and showed too many teeth, reminding Lenny of the shark from Jaws. Her stunning blue eyes were half-lidded, as if in a sleepy, sexy daze.
“What are you doing here, Ashton?” Luke got right to the point.
“She’s our opener for the next month.” Carl said, not hiding his displeasure. “The label told me a few hours ago.”
“That doesn’t answer why you’re here.” Luke emphasized “On my freaking bus!”
Lenny was too stunned to say anything. Luke never lost his temper. Ever. And he was beyond livid. She felt like she shouldn’t be here except that Luke had brought her. She knew her eyes were wide but she was pretty sure no one was paying attention to her.
“Aww, baby, I thought you’d be happier to see me.” Ashton wasn’t fazed by Luke's shouting or the angry glares focused on her. Her full, pouty lips made it impossible to look away from her mouth while she spoke. She went on to explain nonchalantly, “My band is riding with Sway and them. I’m gonna bunk with you.” She winked.
Lenny almost threw up. She had finally placed who the bimbo was. Ashton James was a recording artist, which was the simple explanation. The more detailed version included her being Luke’s ex-girlfriend. Their relationship had been very public and fans blamed her for a lot of the problems between the band members two years ago. Including Mike’s overdose and following hospitalization. Modern day Yoko.
“No,” Luke said, deadly quiet, “You can ride with the crew.”
“Ew.” Ashton rolled her eyes and pushed her flawless, chocolate hair back over her bare shoulder on one side. “Carl already said it was okay.” She didn't even pause her filing and looked at Luke. “It’ll be just like old times.”
“I never said it was okay,” Carl was trying not to rage. “You backed me into a corner, you she-devil.” He turned to explain to Luke who hadn’t stopped glowering at Ashton. “Her entourage filled the empty spaces of the crew buses and the Red Bus. Your bus is the only one with room until we get to Denver, then the label will have one for her.”
“Who’s the groupie?” Ashton suddenly narrowed her eyes at Lenny and Lenny immediately felt her body shift into a defensive stance.
“She’s their assistant.” Carl answered automatically, still caught up in his own frustrations.
Lenny felt her face start to redden as Ashton looked her up and down with a knowing smirk. She didn't even know this girl and she already hated her.
“So you guys finally hired a professional to keep you happy? The groupies too inexperienced for you now?” Ashton ran her tongue over her teeth and arched an eyebrow.
“Are you implying that I'm a whore?” Lenny bristled, causing Luke to take a step in between the two women.
“No, I was calling you one outright.” Ashton's eyes flared slightly, daring Lenny to react. “You're not?”
“Lenny is our personal assistant.” Everyone looked up to see Mike standing calmly in the doorway to the back lounge.
Ashton rolled her eyes and looked back to her nails.
“Lenny,” Mike addressed without taking his glare off Ashton, “You don’t do anything she says.” He took a few steps across the room and stood in front of Lenny with his back to Ashton. “I moved your things for you from the crew bus when I heard Lucifer was joining the tour, you’re staying with us. Permanently.”
“I knew it, you're all addicted to blondes. I hope she's at least clean. You had her tested, right?” Ashton’s voice dripped with disdain.
Mike grabbed Lenny’s shoulders to stop her from charging forward. His jaw clenched visibly and he pushed Lenny towards the door. He looked over his shoulder at Luke who was visibly shaking with anger. “Sound check, man.” Luke nodded but didn’t respond.
When they got out into the parking lot, Lenny yelled to expel her frustration, “What…The…Hell?!” She had never hated anyone instantly before.
A few seconds later Carl stormed off the bus grumbling, “Never hit a woman! Never hit a woman!” Guess Lenny wasn't the only one with self-control issues at the moment.
Mike kept walking; he motioned for Lenny to join him. She got close enough and he hooked an arm around her neck, pulling her towards the stage area.
“Don't let her get under your skin.” His jaw was working furiously but his voice stayed even. “She's gonna say and do all she can to make you want to...well, kill yourself.” He snorted and shook his head. “No one knows better than me how effectively she can get into your head. Just don't listen to anything she says, okay?”
Lenny was mad. She was mad because Ashton James shouldn't be anyone to fear. She was mad because this person had hurt Mike in the past. And she was mad that Luke was alone with her.
“What about the rule? She can't stay on the bus.” Lenny was grasping and she knew it.
<
br /> “I agree. If I can't have heroin on the bus than the devil sure as hell shouldn't be allowed either.”
***
Luke took a deep breath and tried to calm the adrenaline coursing through his body. He paced back and forth across the floor and rubbed the back of his head with his palm.
“What’s wrong with you?” Ashton asked, focused again on her nails.
Luke stared at her for a minute, not really believing she was back in his life. Just when things with Lenny were…Were what? I mean really, what’s going on with Lenny anyway? Every time I try to make a move of any kind she runs away. Luke shook his head, trying to focus on the present problem sitting in his view.
“You look good.” Ashton eyed him seductively, attempting to change the subject.
He heaved out his breath and sat down in a chair across from her.
“Ashton, look,” he began calmly; they’d had this conversation many times. “Please try to listen to what I’m saying.” She raised her eyebrow and gave him a bored expression.
“This tour is different; there will be no ‘like old times.’ At all.” He tried to decipher her blank look. “No drugs, no sex, no wild parties. You understand?”
Ashton squinted her eyes as she tried to decide which part to argue with and made a face. “Ugh, you’re boring.” She flipped her nail file onto the table and crossed her legs. “Any other ‘rules’, Headmaster?”
That was the thing with Ashton, when they were alone together she could almost be reasoned with. If he approached it right.
“Lenny is our personal assistant, you can’t talk to her like that. She deserves respect and she's going to get it.”
Ashton leaned forward, her eyes glinting with mischief, “Why, is she your girlfriend?”
“No.” Luke knew that Ashton’s jealousy could take a nasty turn if she found out he had actual feelings for Lenny. It would be so much worse than if Ashton believed they were only sleeping together.
“Then why do you care how I talk to her?” Ashton's lip curled in a disbelieving smirk.
“She’ll kick your ass, Ashton.” Luke answered honestly. “And if you don't tone down the attitude, I'm pretty sure no one will stop her.”
“Aww, you're worried about me?” Ashton sat back and pouted like a child. Luke’s stomach churned. He couldn’t believe he had been with her for so long. He had definitely underestimated how wasted he had kept himself two years ago.
“Not exactly,” Luke grumbled.
***
Luke was late to sound check and completely distracted. But he promised the guys he would be on for the show. Lenny fidgeted nervously in the sound booth, waiting for Ashton to grace the audience with her presence. She hadn’t talked to Luke since leaving him on the bus with her. What could she say? Hey, your ex is a piece of work, mind if I smother her in her sleep? Yeah, that's all she could come up with.
The lights dimmed and the band started playing a slow ballad. Ashton appeared in the spotlight. Her body seemed to be completely proportionate and Lenny had to wonder how much of that was credit to an experienced surgeon on the west coast. She worked the crowd over and brought them to their feet. By the time her set was done, even Lenny was clapping. That tramp could really sing. It was completely unfair.
When it was Double Blind Study’s turn to take the stage, they were delayed. Lenny started to chew on her fingernails, wondering what was going on backstage. Greg muttered something into his radio, someone muttered back. He cued the lights and Mike struck the first beat of a very shaky performance. They got stronger as they continued but it wasn’t great. Lenny was nervous for them. The guys seemed disconnected from each other. This had never happened before. At least, not on this tour.
During the encore, Lenny decided to make her way back to the bus. Her footsteps were heavy as she climbed inside. Ashton, not unexpectedly, was sitting in the lounge reading a Cosmo magazine. Her dark hair hung perfectly down her back, not a strand out of place. Her long, fabulous legs stretched out on the couch in front of her. She was wearing a mens t-shirt and lacy panties. That was all.
Lenny rolled her eyes and walked past her.
“You’re not special.” Ashton’s dig was unexpected and Lenny halted in her tracks.
She knew from Mike's warning that she should keep walking but she wanted to see what all the fuss was about. She faced Ashton, taking in her full lips and high cheekbones. Not one thing about this woman was even remotely flawed; and again, Lenny wondered how much of it had been paid for. Her eyelashes were even thick enough that Lenny guessed she probably didn't have to wear much makeup at all.
“You think they care about you and they’ll fight for you.” Ashton turned her wicked blue eyes to Lenny. “But they won’t.”
“I don’t need anyone to fight for me.” Lenny declared, knowing she was letting Ashton do exactly what Mike had warned her she would do.
Ashton laughed mockingly, “You’re so clueless. You really think you matter to them, it's actually kind of sweet.” She closed her magazine and set it aside. “But you don't have anything to offer they can't get somewhere else. You're a simple novelty, a shiny new toy. You're replaceable.”
Lenny took a step towards her but Luke and Mike came inside at that moment. Ashton jumped up and wrapped her arms around Luke’s neck, giving Lenny a great view of her perfect ass. Luke had eye contact with Lenny over Ashton's shoulder. Lenny rolled her eyes in disgust and went to the back lounge. Mike followed close behind.
“I didn’t have any clean pajamas so I borrowed one of your shirts, I hope that’s okay.” Ashton’s sing-song voice could be heard throughout the cabin. It made Lenny want to rip her ears off and throw them out the window. “I mean, I always used to wear your shirts to bed before…” Lenny gave Mike a look and pretended to stab herself and bleed out. Mike stifled his laughter.
Luke stuck his head the doorway, “What are you guys doing?”
“Probably watch a movie. Out there seemed a little, I don’t know,” Mike acted like he was searching for the right word, “whorish for my taste.”
“I heard that!” Ashton yelled.
“Good! Put some pants on!” Mike hollered back.
“Just a couple of days guys and she’ll be on her own bus.” Luke was trying to keep the peace but Lenny couldn’t figure out why. Why was he being nice to her?
“Yep, and I plan on treating her exactly as she deserves until then.” Mike stated plainly.
Luke let out a heavy sigh through his tired smile. He looked at Lenny apologetically, “I’m going to bed.” He climbed into his bunk and closed the curtain.
Ashton whined for a while before she, too, finally went to bed. Lenny half expected her to try to crawl into the same bunk as Luke but she didn’t. Thank God for small miracles, Lenny thought.
She and Mike stayed up watching classic movies, not speaking. After Humphrey Bogart put Ingrid Bergman on the plane bound for Lisbon, Mike coaxed her into trying to get some sleep.
She climbed into her bunk and tried to block out what Ashton had said to her. You think they care for you and they’ll fight for you. But they won’t. Lenny took that as a threat, Ashton was planning on getting rid of her. Well Ashton James might have gotten her way in the past, but Lenny didn’t lose. Ever. It was so on.
Chapter 7
Breakout
Lenny got up the next morning feeling invigorated despite her lack of sleep. She hadn’t had a challenge in a long time, and Ashton James just bit off more than she could chew. Lenny was determined to make her choke on it.
Ashton's presence on the tour was already oppressive. Lenny could sense it in the mood of the crew. It was like a black cloud hanging over each of them individually, waiting for the inevitable lightning strike. It pissed Lenny off to see that Bitch Face could have that kind of power over the people in her life. Not if I have anything to do with it.
She showered and dressed quickly, pulling her hair into a messy bun with a few wisps of hair escaping around her face. She
threw on her standard jeans, a snug, canary yellow tee and her trusty Chucks and quickly made her coffee rounds. She greeted Carl in their usual spot with a beaming smile.
“You look like sunshine this morning,” Carl eyed her suspiciously. “You didn’t kill Ashton by any chance, did you?”
“Not yet.” She said with a lopsided grin.
“That woman makes my skin crawl.” Carl took a sip of coffee.
“Are we sure she’s even human? I mean, isn’t there a separate classification for pure evil?”
Carl gave Lenny an amused warning glare. “You better steer clear of that little nightmare, Lenny.” He said in his worried dad voice.
“You have no idea how capable I am of handling her.” Lenny reassured him. No idea at all.
Carl flashed her a look that said he was still unsure but proceeded to change the subject.
“The good news is that I’ve arranged to get hotel rooms for us when we reach Denver. I booked you a nice suite since you’ll have spent the week in a viper’s nest.”
“Thanks, Carl,“ Lenny smiled sweetly at him. Carl didn't do favors for anyone. Lenny recognized the huge deal that it was and she impulsively threw her arms around him. He stiffened at her sudden embrace and she held back a laugh.
“That's enough,” he growled but Lenny heard the affection in his voice.
Her status in this band was solid, Ashton was an idiot.
***
The guys were tense. Mike watched them eat quietly as he sipped his orange juice. Lenny had gathered them up and taken them to breakfast but no one could find Luke...or Ashton. Mike knew the guys were already running through their worst case scenarios in their heads. Ashton had successfully thrown them back into a place of angst and distrust.
Everyone except for Lenny. She was irritated but still peppy. Mike watched as she tried to pull the guys out of their glum moods and he again thanked God for her existence.
Learn to Fly Page 12
