Learning To Fly (Fated Love Book 1)

by Lauren Firminger

  “Okay, I’ll stay.” The grin that spread across his lips was enough to make me forget what just happened and relax. I tucked myself back into his side and wrapped my arms around his waist as I fought to hide a yawn. This was what happened once I stopped after a night of drinking. The buzz would make me sleepy as hell, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before I was crashing. “Do you mind if we get out of here? I have a feeling I am about to meet a wall, and sadly, there is no crashing through it after this weekend.”

  “Of course, darlin’, let's get you comfy shall we?”

  I smiled and we both stood up. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and I tucked myself into his side as we made our way back to where they were camping out. Well, I wouldn’t so much call it camping as I would sleeping in tour buses and campervans, but eh, I wasn’t about to complain. They needed to sleep and when you are camping in tents with this many people around, I can understand why they needed to put a solid wall between them and that. Once we got through the security guys who kept the crazies away from them, Morgan opened up the door and pulled his arm away.

  “After you, my lady.” I couldn’t help but grin when he motioned with his hand and dipped his head.

  “Why thank you, good sir.” I stepped in after a small curtsy and walked inside the bus, Taking his hand as he led me through to the back. He pointed out everything including the bathroom and kitchen in case I needed anything before he stopped when he got to the bedroom. Yeah, maybe I was rethinking how I should be travelling. I shook my head at the thought and moved to lay down on the bed.

  “You take the bed Maddie. I can sleep out in the front part.”

  Sitting up slowly, I shook my head. “You should have the bed Morgan. It is your bus after all.” Morgan shook his head and I tilted my head to the side a little. “You could always come and lay with me…” It took him half a second to think about that before he was pulling his shirt up over his head and moving to lie down on the other side of the bed. “Morgan, where are your shirts?” He raised a brow and pointed to a case in the corner.

  Getting up off the bed, I moved to grab a comfy looking one and ducked into the bathroom. Losing the boots and jeans, I took off my shirt and bra folded them all neatly and left them in there. Putting on his shirt, which was swimming on me, I took a deep breath, walked out of the bathroom, and moved to lie down again. I looked over at him, and boy, did I ever regret that. That smirk. My God. I was going to have very good dreams of that smirk tonight. While getting comfy under the covers, I wiggled back against him. “No funny business mister.”

  He chuckled and lay down letting his arm wrap around my waist, pulling me closer. “Wouldn’t dream of it…well, maybe I would.” I let out a soft groan as I hid my face in the pillow and closed my eyes. He clapped his hands, and the lights went out before he wrapped his arm back around me. “Sweet dreams, Maddie.”

  I mumbled something as sleep kicked in and took me from Morgan. That was the first night I’d had a good night's sleep in I don’t know how long…

  CHAPTER TWO

  Morgan

  I ran my hand over my face with a groan and went to stretch but found someone tucked into my arm. I couldn't help but grin seeing Maddie curled into my side and using my chest as a pillow. Part of me expected her to regret coming back with me, to wake and find she had crept out during the night. My God, she was gorgeous. How an angel like this was here with me, I’ll never know, but I thank God she was. Carefully slipping out from under Maddie, I stretched and watched her curl up. I could stay here and watch her for hours, but that would be creepy. Right? Shaking my head and moving to the bathroom, I went to pee before moving into the kitchen where I started making coffees. I had no idea how Maddie liked her coffee so Lord only knew if I was gonna get this right, but I had to give it a go. I was about to pick our coffee up when I heard my phone go off. Shit, where had I left that? Quickly finding it in my jeans from last night, I made sure it didn’t wake Maddie and looked to see who was calling.

  “Josh?”

  “What’s this I hear about you sleeping with my ex?”

  “Excuse me? I’m doing what now?”

  “Don’t screw with me Morgan. Maddison. I know she is there. El said she didn’t come back last night and she was last seen with you.”

  “What I do and who I do it with is none of your business. You may be family, Josh, but I don’t owe you anything. I had no idea Maddie was your ex, but it wouldn’t have mattered to me. You’re an idiot, and she deserves so much better than you. If that’s me, then great. If not, at least I will know I made her happier in just one night than you did in your whole relationship. Oh, and Ellie?”

  “What about her?”

  “Real class act there man. You should definitely hold on to that.” I hung up the phone and turned it to silent. My manager knew I was off the grid for a few weeks, so I shouldn't be hearing from anyone else. Turning around, I picked up the coffee and moved into the bedroom. Setting them down and getting back into bed, I pressed my lips softly to Maddie’s neck and nuzzled. My God, she smelt so good.

  “You better have a coffee ready Morgan, or your ass is getting back out of bed.”

  I chuckled softly. “I have one gorgeous, but I was just guessing. I don’t know how you drink your coffee.” I pulled back. She let out a soft groan and pulled me back to her.

  “Don’t you want your coffee?” She shook her head no and I chuckled again. “As you wish.” I cuddled back up to her and wrapped my arms around her waist. Her body felt so perfect next to mine. I listened to the sound of her breathing as she lay in my arms. I thought for a minute that she might have fallen back to sleep. The sound of a phone going off made her groan. “Just ignore it. Whoever it is can wait.” She sighed and rolled over to hide her face in my neck.

  “I know who it is. I don’t care if he is dying. I am not moving. If it goes to voice mail, I can listen to it later.” I nodded gently.

  “Good, because I am not ready to share you.” I chuckled and wrapped her up in my arms as I rested my cheek against her head. I knew Josh wasn't happy with my answer and he would try to get to Maddie. I was gonna have to deal with that real quick. A guy like him didn’t deserve to even know a girl like Maddie. I knew I was going to have to tell her about Josh being my cousin, and I had to beat him to it. If he told her, the spin he would put on it would make me look like I was using her to get to him. Much like her feelings for him, he could be on fire and I wouldn’t piss on him to put it out. He had always screwed with the girls he dated and left a wake of hurt in his path. Maddie deserved so much more than that. She deserved someone who would treat her like a princess and make her feel special. Was I that man? God, I hoped so, but if not, I wasn’t about to let Josh decide that.

  Her phone started up again and she pulled away. I let my arms fall and prayed to God she didn’t answer the call. I had only just met her. I didn’t want him messing up my time with her. She got out of bed, and my eyes moved to her ass. Damn, she was perfect. Pushing myself up and leaning back against the headboard, I watched as Maddie moved to where she left her clothes and took her phone out.

  “Oops, phone died.” she said.

  I watched her hold the power button and turn it off before tossing it back down and coming back to me. I cracked up laughing and pulled her closer to me, kissing her head. Maddie leaned over me, reached toward her coffee, and pulled it to her hand.

  “I can remake it if it’s not how you like it.” I took mine and we both sat back. I watched as she took a test sip, and her eyes closed.

  “It's so good. Thank you, babe.”

  “You’re welcome, darlin’.”

  I drank mine quietly for a minute before turning my attention back to Maddie. She was staring at the bed deep in thought as she quietly sipped her coffee.

  “Wanna talk about what’s on ya mind?”

  Maddie looked over at me and leaned into me more. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and ran my hand along her arm, letting my fingertips tr
ail lightly over her skin. “I won’t push ya but if you wanna talk, I am here.” The silence sat between us. It wasn’t an awkward silence though, which was something. It didn’t make her want to get up and go back to her friends.

  “I guess I am just waiting to wake up. The last couple of years haven’t been all that good to me, but here I am feeling happy, and I am just waiting to wake up in a tent with a bunch of girls like this never happened.”

  I stayed quiet for a minute while she sipped her coffee. Setting mine down beside me, I shifted so I could get a better look at Maddie. “What that ass did to you, you can’t let it run your life. I know it hurt but believe me darlin’, last night, we slept together.” I waited until she smiled before I went on. “This is happening and will happen for as long as you want it to. We are going to spend so much time together you are gonna be begging me to go home. If you want to take me back and parade me in front of your ex, we can do that.”

  Only because my cousin needed his ass beat and I wanted to be the one to do it. I wanted to kill him for making Maddie think she didn’t deserve to be happy. “I ain’t goin’ anywhere darlin’.” I leaned in and pressed my lips softly to hers. “Well, except to get you packed up so we can come back here until you are ready to leave.” I moved to sit back beside her, picked up my coffee again, and took a drink. When I looked over at Maddie, she was biting her lip gently as though she wanted to ask me something.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  She looked over at me with a little sadness in her eyes. “That offer has an expiry date...”

  I sighed and kept her close. We both knew at the end of the week I would be back on that plane and back to the tour. I had no idea when I could come back next. “Maybe you could come back with me? Or come and join me at some point… You could start your American part of your plans sooner than you thought? Get away from Josh.”

  Maddie frowned and looked at me before putting her now empty coffee cup down on the table. Had I overstepped the mark? I watched as she pulled back the covers and got out of bed. What the hell just happened?

  “I never told you my ex’s name, Morgan.”

  I blinked. Shit! She was in the bathroom and getting dressed before I was up and out of the bed. Getting up and moving to the door, I kicked my foot on the end of the bed and cursed. Who the hell moved that? When Maddie came back out, she looked pissed off. Was she looking for an excuse to leave? I moved to gently grab her wrist and pull her back to me.

  “Wait, Maddie, what just happened?”

  “I have never told you Josh’s name. How did you know it?”

  I swallowed hard. I wasn’t about to lie to her. Could I tell her the truth though and not have her walk out that door and far away from me? I looked at both options and either way, she was about to walk out that door and leave. When I let her wrist drop, she turned, grabbed her stuff, and walked out of the bus. Fuck! I ran after her. Again, I gently grabbed her wrist. “Wait, I can explain. Please, let me explain? I can’t let you walk away mad at me. Please, Maddie.”

  Her chest heaved a sigh and she ran a hand through her blonde curls and looked away from me. I took a step closer to her and brushed my fingers along her cheek. “I know we could be real good together. Please, don’t let this ruin it. Please, don’t wake up.”

  Maddie pulled her wrist away from me and stepped back. “I have to go pack up. If I can listen to what you have to say Morgan, I will come back. If I can’t, you won’t see me again.”

  “Can I have your phone?”

  She looked at me like I was crazy.

  “Please, Maddie.”

  She looked down and took her phone out and turned it on before handing it to me. I put my number in it and handed it back to her.

  “Just in case...” I leant in and pressed my lips softly against her cheek.

  She nodded, turned and walked back the way we came last night. Hearing footsteps behind me, I looked back and saw Lucas coming up toward me.

  “Want me to follow, boss?”

  I shook my head. I had already made her walk away. I wasn't about to push her further by having my security following her. She would be sure not to come back then. Rubbing my hands over my face, I turned and walked back to my bus. This was not how I saw my morning going. Pulling my door open, I grabbed my phone and moved to sit on the couch. Seeing Josh had tried calling again, I cleared my missed calls and ignored the voice mail. She was going back to the camp where Ellie was. Ellie would take great pleasure in telling her everything. Fuck. She wasn't coming back. If she did, it would take a miracle for her not to kick my ass to the middle of next week. Maybe I would take that trip to see Josh anyway. If it weren't for him I would still be in bed with Maddie. I sighed because I knew that wasn’t true. Me and my big mouth had gotten me into this. Now I just hoped she would let me get myself out of this. There was just something about Maddie… My Maddie.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Maddison

  I made the slow walk back to the campsite. So many times, I wanted to turn back and let him explain how he knew Josh’s name, but I didn’t know if I could. What if it was me? Did I let it slip last night when I had been drinking? When Ellie came and barged in, did I refer to Josh by his name? I chewed on my nail as I walked. I didn’t have that much to drink and could remember almost all of the night. So why didn’t I remember saying his name? I looked down at my phone and I saw the missed calls and voice messages from Josh. Ugh. I so couldn’t deal with him right now. Clearing them all, I put my phone away as my camp came into view. Jas saw me and came running over.

  “Oh my gosh. We were so worried. Ellie said Josh has been freaking out and trying to get a hold of you but you’d turned your phone off and weren’t answering it.”

  “Does that fact really surprise you Jas? My ex cheats on me, then calls incessantly, and people are wondering why I am not answering him? Doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. Anyway, I was with Morgan. Why would I want to talk to Josh?”

  “I dunno, Maddie. He just sounded real worried, is all.”

  “I appreciate that, Jas. I just don't care how he feels or what he thinks. He screwed up. I am having fun. Let’s just leave it, okay?”

  She nodded her head and walked away. I felt bad for being such a bitch, but why did Josh get to control my life? I drew a shaky breath. Fuck. I just overreacted and walked out on Morgan Young. He actually wanted me to stick around and I just walked away.

  “Look who finally decided to show up. Morgan get bored already?”

  My head turned and I narrowed my eyes at Ellie.

  “Watch it, Ellie. I have been harassed all morning by YOUR fucktard. I’m really not in the mood to deal with his doormat.” I pushed past her and moved to pack up my stuff. The girls had already loaded up their cars and left so I guess Jas and Ellie were headed back together. Or Jas was dropping her off at the airport. Either way, I didn’t care. She wasn’t coming with me. Moving around the tent after putting my stuff in the truck, I took the pegs out of the ground and put them in the container where I kept my tent.

  “You know what your problem is, Maddison?”

  “Please, do tell me, Ellie. I am dying to know what YOU think of ME and what my problem is.” I stood up and turned around to face her. I could see she was trying to stand her ground. Ellie had a way of always getting out of the line of fire after she pulled a stunt like this so she didn't cop the fallout. Not this time though.

  “You are easy. Why are you here and not with Morgan? Did he kick you out after he got what he wanted? Are you trying to make Josh jealous in the hope he’ll dump me and get back with you? It won't work Maddison. We all know you are only good at one thing. Josh got bored. He never really cared about you. You were just an easy lay.”

  With every word out of her mouth, my hand clenched tighter, and I stepped closer to her. With her last word, I swung and slapped her hard.

  “Speak that way to me again and I will bury your dead body in the middle of Australia, Ellie. You don’t know sh
it about what happened with Morgan and me, so keep his name and mine out of your mouth. You lost all right to that when you slept with Josh. Oh and Ellie? If Josh got bored with me, you can be damn sure he is gonna get bored with you in half the time. I won’t be here to see it though. I will be in the States with Morgan, or wherever in the world we feel like going.” I turned my back and swallowed. I hadn't actually made the decision to go with him or even go back to his bus when I was done here, but I knew now what I was potentially losing. I wasn’t about to turn my back on him. Not for these two.