Chapter 27
Fear – when you’re scared to lose someone you just realized is precious
Fender
“Let’s go, grumpapottamus,” Gibson shouts through my hotel room door.
I ignore him.
Good morning, Firecracker.
Morning? It’s nearly noon. Did you fly to Japan and not tell me?
I chuckle as I write back to Leia.
Press thing didn’t end until late last night.
Press thing? Is that the official name? Sounds important and serious.
Smartass.
I’ll have you know my ass is incredibly smart.
And sexy.
Nope. You aren’t allowed to make sexy comments while chatting.
Is this a rule?
Yep.
Okay, then I won’t write about how much I love holding your ass in my hands while I …
Dot. Dot. Dot. What does dot dot dot mean?
No sexy comments. It’s your rule.
You’re cruel.
I miss you.
I miss you, too, Mr. Grumpy Pants.
My pants are indeed grumpy.
“Fender!” Dylan shouts. “We need to go now.”
I need to go.
More press thingies?
I lo..
Delete. Delete. I can’t write I love you to Leia. I don’t love her.
If I don’t love her, why has my only wish this entire week of press crap been to get back to her and Isla? Why can’t I stop thinking about her? Why do I feel empty whenever I go to bed alone? Why am I constantly worried if she’s working too hard? If she’s taking enough breaks? Whether she and Isla are okay?
Shit. I love Leia. My little firecracker is perfect for me. She’s straight as an arrow. Doesn’t play any stupid games. And the sex is off the charts. She owns my heart.
I miss you.
Miss you, too.
I shove my phone in my back pocket and stroll to the hotel room door. I open it and nearly get a fist in my face.
“Sorry.” Cash drops his hand.
“You ready?” Dylan asks.
I grunt.
“Do you think he grunts in response to Leia’s questions?” Jett asks.
“I bet he grunts in bed with her.”
I wrap my hand around Gibson’s throat. “No.”
Dylan taps me on the shoulder. “Can you release him before the paps notice?” He nods to where the vultures are waiting for us at the end of the corridor.
I snarl at Gibson before I release him.
He rubs his throat. “Your hands are freakishly strong.”
“Or your neck is weak,” Jett says.
“My neck is not weak.”
Dylan clears his throat. “Maybe you two can stop speaking before I have to haul Fender off of you again?”
Before either one of them can respond, we’re spotted.
“Cash! Cash! Cash!”
“Over here, Cash!”
Cash scowls before clearing his throat and smiling. This smile isn’t real, though. It’s the smile he uses with the press and fans. Not with Indigo or the band.
“Sorry, guys. We’re behind schedule,” Cash says.
“Thanks to the big guy having phone sex,” Gibson mutters and I elbow him hard enough he crashes into the wall.
Jett laughs as he helps Gibson steady himself while Dylan rolls his eyes.
“You can join us for the press conference down the hall,” Cash says to the paps knowing damn well none of them were invited to the press conference.
Our security forms a line in front of us and leads us down the hallway to the room where the press is waiting. Aurora steps out of the room and rakes her gaze over us. She scowls at Jett. He waits until her attention is elsewhere before flipping her off.
Those two need to get over their shit already. Aurora is the best personal assistant this band could ask for. If she ends up quitting because of him, I’m going to pop his head like a big, fat zit. And I’m going to enjoy it.
“You ready?” Aurora asks Cash.
“Ready to get this the hell done with and get home.”
I feel the same. I never enjoyed this press shit before, but since I’ve found Leia and Isla, I really hate it. I’d rather spend my time with my girls.
If I have to be away from them, then I want to be playing music. Not talking to the press who are going to write bullshit they make up about us anyway.
Aurora rolls her eyes. “Let’s get this over with then.” She opens the door and motions for us to enter in front of her.
We file inside and sit at a long table. Our manager, Mike, stands at one end of the table in front of a microphone. We don’t see much of him since Aurora handles most of our day to day shit but he’d never miss an opportunity to be in front of the press.
Mike’s a good manager, but he’s also an attention whore. Too bad for him, he has no musical talent whatsoever. His talent is discovering talent.
“Good morning,” he greets the press.
I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my chest. This is a waste of my time. No one ever asks me questions. Almost all of the questions are for Cash.
“Cash!” one of the reporters shouts. Here we go.
“Are you still off the market?”
Cash dazzles her with a smile. “I will never be on the market again.”
“You’re breaking fans’ hearts.”
He shrugs. “Can’t help it. I’m in love.”
“What about you, Dylan?” another reporter shouts.
“Sorry, darling, I’m off the market, too.”
“Is there anyone in the band who’s still single?”
Gibson throws his hand in the air. “I’m single.” He waggles his eyebrows. “And not interested in settling down.”
Jett leans forward to reach the mic. He stares at Aurora as he speaks. “I’m single, too.”
Her eyes narrow to slits before she lifts her hand and flips him off. He chuckles in response.
“What about you, Fender?” a different reporter asks.
“What about me?”
“Are you single?”
“Nope.”
The noise in the room rises as the reporters pelt me with questions.
“Who’s the lucky woman?”
“Or man.”
“How long have you been together?”
“Is she famous?”
“How serious is the relationship?”
“Are there wedding bells in your future?”
“Ladies! Gentlemen!” Mike taps the microphone to get their attention. “One question at a time please.” He signals to a reporter waving her hand in the air and she jumps to her feet.
“Fender, can you tell us more?”
“About what?” I ask.
“Who is your partner? How serious is it? Do we hear wedding bells?”
I scowl. I’m not telling the press about Leia and Isla. I don’t want them assaulted by the paps. Virginia was cornered by them and it nearly ruined her relationship with Dylan.
I can’t chance it. Leia was leery enough about dating me and she hasn’t yet experienced the bullshit being a partner of a famous person brings with it. I need to make sure she’s tethered to me tight before I introduce her into the world of being famous.
“No comment.”
“Come on, Fender. Give us something. Her name. Her occupation. Anything!”
“No comment.”
“Does she live in Winter Falls?”
My heart skips a beat. Do they know where I’m living? Damnit.
“What? Where’s Winter Falls?”
“You recorded your new release there.”
“I’m done.”
I stand and walk out of the room. The rest of the band is right behind me.
“Don’t worry, Fender,” Cash says as he types on his phone. “We’ll get back to town before they find her.”
Aurora bursts through the door. “I spoke to the pilot. He’s getting the jet ready now. And the car is waiting for you out the kitchen entrance.”
“Thanks,” I grumble.
She squeezes my wrist. “Don’t worry. I have everything under control.”
She snaps her fingers and our security forms a circle around us. They hurry us through the hallway to the employee entrance of the kitchen.
I don’t wait for them to open the backdoor and secure the area. I rush through the door and sprint to the waiting vehicle. The rest of the band hurries after me.
“Go!” I urge the driver.
The security team forces the waiting paps out of the way and the vehicle begins to move.
“The jet is fueled and ready to go,” Cash says.
“I warned Virginia to stay inside,” Dylan adds.
Crap. In my rush to get to Leia, I forgot all about warning her. I dig my phone out and dial her number.
“Fuck,” I growl when I get a busy tone. “I can’t get hold of Leia.”
“I’ll ask Indy to go check on her. Let her know what’s happening,” Cash offers.
“Thanks.”
He scowls. “You don’t need to thank me.” He picks up his phone and turns away to make the call.
“If they put one hand on Isla, I’m going to kill them all,” Jett mutters.
“You won’t get the chance,” I grumble. I will kill anyone who dares to harm either one of my girls.
I just hope we make it back to Winter Falls in time. We have to.
Damnit. I only realized how much I love Leia this morning. I can’t lose her already. I won’t lose her.