Penny was sitting front and center, her eyes on Cash. I wondered for a moment what that meant, but I didn’t think he was my sister’s type. She wouldn’t date my bandmate anyway, because I’d cut off his pride if he ever touched her. That was a fact he could take to the bank.
After the next song, I saw Penny walk outside with Presley and Abby. Presley held up her hand to Ace, indicating she’d be back shortly. The door closed and we continued to play. It didn’t take long before Presley returned alone, and she took a seat next to Coraline. I raised a brow at both women when they looked my way, but all I got was a sad shake of Presley’s head as my answer.
Abby had gone home for the night.
Chapter 10
Abby
The air vent didn’t make a sound as the cool air blew across my bare skin. The doctor examined my healing arm and his gentle touch was something I’d become acquainted with more than any patient should. I’d been here more times than I could count over the past few years, and he was as close to me as a friend.
“You’re healing amazingly, Abagail,” Doctor Barnett said, writing something in my chart. “How’s the stiffness?”
“Almost gone,” I replied, pulling the sleeve of my top back into place.
“Pain?” he continued, looking up at me over the top of his wire-rimmed glasses.
“Occasionally,” I admitted.
“I want to see you again in a month.” He smiled. “Hopefully, we can stretch out these appointments.”
“That would be nice.” I sighed and looked down at my feet. “Will I ever be okay?”
“It all depends on how you are healing,” he said, slipping his pen into his coat pocket. I plucked quietly at the paper covering over the exam table, not realizing I was making a mess with the tiny pieces. “You will always have visible damage, but my goal here is to make it so you don’t have to have too many surgeries to remove the scar tissue at your joints. Your mobility is what concerns me.”
“I feel better than before this surgery,” I blurted.
“I can tell. You look happier,” he observed.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I teased.
“Yes, you do.” He winked. “Go see the man that put that look on your face. I haven’t seen you this cheerful in a long time.”
I nodded and slid off the table, not commenting on his observation. I wasn’t happy, but I wasn’t sad either. Braxton had come back into my life, but that didn’t mean things would work out between us.
I drove my car over to Penny’s apartment. She was cleaning the kitchen when I entered. She waved me over to the table and told me to take a seat while she put away some folded towels from the small laundry room off to my right.
“Okay,” she huffed. “I’m ready. Are you sure you are up for this?”
“Yeah,” I answered, biting my bottom lip. The band was meeting at Ace and Presley’s home for a cookout and some time together before they headed out on tour in two weeks’ time. Braxton hadn’t put up a fuss when Presley had asked me at the warehouse after their practice.
“Let’s go,” she said with a smile, grabbing her bag from the back of the chair.
Penny shuffled through the radio stations as I used my GPS to find the address Presley had given me. I smiled when a Fatal Cross song came on the radio, feeling a sense of pride for Braxton and all of his accomplishments since getting himself clean. I was happy he had found a home with Ace, Taylor, and Cash. His old band was no longer together and, as far as I knew, they’d all but disappeared.
Lights were on outside the home on a hill as I parked in the driveway. The garage door was open and music could be heard from the backyard. Penny walked ahead of me and entered the home. I hesitated, thinking she was crazy for just walking into their home without knocking. I followed and was relieved when Presley scooped me up into a hug.
“I’m so glad you came,” she said, careful of my left side. I was sure Braxton had told them about my injury. I was thankful they were careful, because I was still healing and didn’t want to reinjure myself in any way. It sucked having to be so cautious, but over the past few years, I had come to accept that and just kept living my life.
“Thank you for having me.”
Presley ushered us out back where everyone was gathered on a wooden deck. My eyes automatically fell on Braxton where he was sitting alone at a table by the steps that led down to the backyard.
“Hey,” I said as I approached. My voice sounded soft, but I was breathless. He looked sexy as hell, wearing a short sleeved shirt that wasn’t ripped all to hell, a pair of jeans that hugged the muscles in his legs just right, and a pair of aviator sunglasses that made him look deadly.
“Here, take my seat,” he said, making a move to stand, but I held my hand out to stop him. “I can take this one. Don’t get up.”
Braxton nodded and leaned back in his chair. There were a few minutes of awkward silence, and I was about to get up to go find Penny when he finally sat forward. “Can I get you something to drink? We don’t have any hard alcohol, but I can go get you a beer if you’d like.”
“No, Braxton.” I shook my head. “I can’t drink on my medicines. A water will be just fine. Thank you.” He didn’t waste any time in going inside, returning with a bottled water.
“Dinner is almost ready,” Ace announced as he lifted the lid on the grill. The smell of hamburgers filled the air, and I giggled when my stomach let out a sound of need.
“You’re hungry.” Braxton frowned, making a statement as he turned for the grill. He picked up the plate Ace had just filled and took it inside. I followed behind him, because if he was the same man I’d loved all those years ago, he would get grumpy if I didn’t eat.
When I entered the kitchen, he was already making a plate. I stood off to the side and waited my turn, but I didn’t need to wait long. “Here. I made it the way you like it.”
“You remember?” I asked in wonder. How could he remember that after all this time?
“I remember everything about you,” he mumbled as he stepped away from the counter to allow Coraline to make her plate. Presley and Penny followed. We all sat in the living room, using the large coffee table as our gathering point. I sat cross-legged on the floor and ignored Braxton’s scowl. Penny sat on my left, but I saw her glance up out of the corner of her eye at the long-haired bassist. A slight blush painted her cheeks before she picked up her food and began to eat. I didn’t say anything, but I did smile a little. She obviously thought Cash Roberts was good looking.
“Your brother will kill you,” I whispered when I realized everyone was involved in other conversations; mostly about music and the upcoming tour.
“I can look,” she giggled.
My eyes flicked up toward Cash, and he was staring at Penny over the rim of his glass. I heard Braxton grunt, and when the bassist looked away, I caught Braxton’s eye, giving him a hard stare.
Ace’s phone rang and he excused himself to answer it. Presley watched him as he paced in the kitchen, talking softly to someone who was obviously important. Coraline turned around to watch him, also.
“What’s going on?” Coraline asked as Ace returned.
“Just some scheduling conflicts with media stuff,” he hedged, casting a glance at Taylor. I was confused, not knowing much about their business.
“Tell me,” Coraline demanded. “I’m still your tour manager, even if I’m going to be stuck behind the fucking merch booth.”
“You’re still our tour manager,” Taylor promised, placing a hand on her stomach. “We just don’t want you overdoing anything.”
“Stop sugar-coating shit, Taylor,” she growled. “I swear you guys are going to drive me crazy. Ace, you better tell me what was said.”
“I’m getting an email with what radio stations we will need to visit while on this tour,” he paused, “It’s a lot, Cora.”
“And?” she asked, raising her brow. “I can handle it. Send me the email.”
“We need you
at the venue to set up merch.” Taylor frowned. “You can’t do both.”
“The hell I can’t,” she sighed. “We will just hire someone to sell merch while I handle what I’m supposed to handle.”
“How are we going to find someone in two weeks?” Cash asked, setting his napkin on his empty plate.
“I don’t know of anyone off the top of my head, but I can ask around.” Cora tapped her lip with a finger.
“I’ll do it,” I blurted, causing everyone in the room to turn toward me. I felt like a sculpture on display in a clown factory. “What?”
“No,” Braxton answered first. Shaking his head, he looked at all of his band mates and repeated his statement. “No.”
“Why not?” I asked, feeling a little put out that he was answering for me. “It can’t be that hard. I worked retail for eight years.”
“It’s not that hard.” Coraline rolled her eyes. “I can teach you everything you need to know.”
“Are you serious?” I smiled. I’d never even thought about going on tour with Braxton. To be honest, I hadn’t even thought about what I said before I’d opened my big mouth, offering my time.
“I’m fine with it,” Ace said, looking over at Taylor, who nodded. Cash gave me a little wink before nodding. Braxton was the only one who wouldn’t give his approval.
“She cannot do it with her injuries,” he finally admitted.
“I can too.” I frowned, knowing he was partially right. “I’ll be healed from my surgery by the time you head out, Braxton. The only thing I cannot do is lift heavy things.”
“The boxes of shirts are too heavy for even Coraline,” he stated.
“Those are brought in by the crew anyway,” Cora corrected. “You wouldn’t have to lift anything.”
“I’d like to go.” I shrugged, keeping my eyes off of Braxton. I didn’t need to look at him to know he was pissed. “I need a job anyway.”
“I’ll get you set up.” Cora clapped. “Yay! More girls! I won’t be alone.”
Braxton stood up from his seat and stormed out of the room. We all flinched when the back door slammed. Ace started to go after him, but I held my hand out. “Leave him be. He will calm down.”
“He’s being an asshole,” Cash growled.
“He just needs some time to come to terms with this and he will be fine.” I smiled, hoping my bottom lip didn’t quiver. “Trust me. I’ll go speak with him.”
Chapter 11
Braxton
I had two weeks left before it was time to roll out. We had so much planning to do and a short amount of time to get it done. Didn’t matter to me anyway. I lived for the constant movement. I didn’t like staying bored for long, because that caused my mind to wander too far away from what I deemed comfortable.
Coraline overstepping me and inviting Abby to go out on tour with us just pissed me off. She had no business around dirty venues and seedy cities. She was injured, and I didn’t have time to watch over her.
The sun had set by the time I stormed out of the house. I just needed a minute to calm down. I heard the sliding door open, and I stiffened when her scent reached me. My body relaxed when her tiny hand touched my shoulder. “Braxton?”
“Abby,” I warned, reaching up to remove her hand, but I defied myself by taking her hand into mine as I turned around. My thumb softly rubbed the back of her soft hand. She was so tiny in my eyes and so fragile to the world. “This job isn’t for you.”
“I beg to differ,” she argued. “I can do it, Braxton, and it isn’t your call anyway. I’m a grown woman who can make her own decisions. Things are different now.”
“I know they are.” I frowned, feeling that ton of guilt weigh on my chest.
“Stop that,” she barked, causing my eyes to look up from the ground. “This difference isn’t about what happened.”
“Isn’t it?” I asked.
“No,” she scoffed. “Jesus, Braxton. You think I’m nothing but a weak female who can’t take care of herself. Well, I have been taking care of myself. Ever since you left me in that hospital bed, I have done nothing but fight my way back…and I did it alone.”
“I couldn’t be there, Abby,” I reminded her. “I had my own injuries, and then they took me to jail for what I did.”
“Why didn’t you answer my letters?” she asked, punching me in the heart again.
“I don’t want to talk about this here,” I told her, proud of myself for not yelling.
“We are going to talk about this here, because I have so much to say.” She didn’t release my hand when she made the move back to the chairs where we had been sitting earlier. I took a seat and waited until she sat beside me. I thought of several excuses to leave, but none of them would fall from my lips. “Answer my question.”
“I tore them up when they were delivered,” I replied. Her touch felt electric and reminded me of better times. Times when things were good and normal.
“Why?” Her thumb rubbed circles across the tattoo of a king of hearts on my thumb. It was a tattoo I had gotten last year, because she used to call me her king.
“I didn’t want to know how much you hated me,” I admitted. Why did remembering all of the good times hurt so bad, and why did bringing up what happened gut me just as badly?
“I never hated you, Braxton,” she said, reaching up to touch my face. The contact was like coming home and that scared me senseless. I wasn’t supposed to feel that electricity anymore. It’d been too long since I’d felt the love she had for me just through the contact with my skin.
“I hate myself,” I replied, shaking my head. “I don’t know why we are discussing this, Abby. I’ll always feel this way, and being with you will never make it go away.”
“I think it’s good that I’m going with you on this tour,” she said. “Maybe we can find some middle ground and at least be friends again?”
“Okay.” I nodded. I didn’t know what else to say to her. She obviously was going on tour with us, no matter how much I put up a fuss. I didn’t like it, but I was going to have to accept it.
“Thank you, Braxton,” she whispered, leaning over and kissing my cheek.
I watched her return to the house, softly sliding the door closed. I sat there for several minutes staring after her, and I refused to wipe away the tear that leaked out of my eye when the pain in my chest was no longer present.
I wanted to push her away, but I didn’t want her to let me go, either. She was my world. No matter what lies I told myself, my heart would always belong to Abby.
Always.
Chapter 12
Abby
We were leaving today. I’d packed my bags, careful to keep my stuff to a minimum. I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but Coraline assured me there was plenty of room for all of my things.
It was raining and a bit chilly. I’d been feeling better over the past week, and I was ready for this adventure. I’d only traveled out of Seattle once, to Hawaii for a summer vacation a few years before I met Braxton. From the look of the schedule I’d seen, we would be seeing almost all of the United States over the next couple of months. I couldn’t wait!
“You ready?” Coraline smiled, walking toward the front of the bus. She stopped and unlocked a compartment, pulling the door open wide. “You can put your large suitcase in here and your smaller backpack can go into your bunk.”
Coraline had explained to me that I should carry a bag onboard the bus with a few days’ worth of clothes and essential needs like my toiletries. I could swap out what I needed whenever we were at a venue. I hefted my bag into the spot she’d said would be my own and let her close the door. She handed me a small brown key to use to access it when I needed.
A large SUV pulled up and the door swung open. Cash and Ace stepped out and walked around the back. They retrieved their belongings and made their way over to the back of the bus to store their bags in a different, larger bin.
“Hey, Abby.” Ace smiled as he approached. “Who all are we missing?�
�
“Braxton.” I frowned. “He should’ve been here by now.”
“No worries,” Taylor said as he rounded the front of the bus. “He won’t be late.”
I made myself stay busy by arranging my bunk. It was the second one from the bottom and the easiest to climb in and out of, ensuring I wouldn’t put any strain on my arm. There was plenty of room and a light for me to use if I wanted to read late at night. It was cozy and all mine.
I heard his heavy footsteps as he boarded. I turned and looked toward the front of the bus, our eyes locking as soon as he looked up. He didn’t say anything, just casted his gaze aside after a few seconds and moved toward where I was standing.
“Are you settled?” he asked, tossing a backpack into the bunk below me.
“Yes, Coraline helped me get my things situated.”
“The buses will leave soon. Might as well make yourself comfortable,” he suggested as he straightened.
“I think I will lay down while we travel,” I said. “I’m trying to change up my days and nights. Coraline said we’d be up at some weird hours.”
“Abby,” Braxton sighed heavily, “are you sure you want to do this? It isn’t the easiest life.”
“I am,” I replied. “I really want to go. Please, Braxton, don’t make this an issue.”
“I just worry about you,” he admitted, stunning me silent for several seconds while he just stared at me.
“Thank you, but I can take care of myself,” I replied, but mentally kicked myself when I saw the flash of guilt cross his face. He started to turn away from me, but I reached out and clamped my hand over his wrist. “I didn’t mean that in any way to upset you. I just want you to understand I’m not as fragile as you think I am.”
“In my eyes, you are as delicate as the most exotic flower,” he said, pulling his arm back and turning on his heel. I let him walk away from me, even though I didn’t want him to go. It was going to take a lot of effort to get Braxton to stop this nonsense. I was going to be fine.
“Oh, Braxton,” I whispered under my breath.
Fatal Seduction (Fatal Cross Live! Book 3) Page 5
