Chapter 12
Harper
Hiberian Hotel
Kilkenny, Ireland
I finally ran Wes to ground. He’d avoided twenty-six phone calls over the past two days. Ass. I was still so pissed at him that I put him on hold while I handed out everyone’s key cards.
I took special glee in the knowledge that he was paying overseas rates.
Five minutes in, he had the audacity to ask me. “Are you going to talk to me?”
After I handed the last roadie their card, I whirled and toggled my headset off of mute. “Are you serious? You pulled that stunt on me—on the band—and you think I owe you something? Really?”
“I, uh, I don’t know what to say.”
“How about you start with I’m sorry. You put me in a tough spot. I shouldn’t have had to have that conversation with the guys. You screwed up. You need to own it.”
“I was advised any apologetic words could be perceived as an admission of guilt.”
“Nice to know you’re talking to our lawyers again.” I shook my head, totally disgusted with him. “Maybe next time do that before you sign a contract. This has been productive. I don’t know why the hell you answered my call since you’ve literally said nothing. Clearly, my time is better spent elsewhere. Later.”
“Harper, wait!”
“Why?” I bit out as I headed for the elevator, my finger on the end call button. “It doesn’t sound like you have anything to say to me.”
“I do. I just…” He huffed. “It’s hard to say over the phone. Can you give me a minute? I need to close my door, so we can talk in private.”
“Fine.” I sighed and headed for an unoccupied corner of the hotel’s pub. I hated to hear the pain in his voice. He might’ve screwed me over, but we also had a working and—I thought—a personal relationship. “But no more giving me the runaround.”
Wes huffed again, and I heard some rustling on his end of the phone, followed by the sound of a door closing. After a few more seconds of strained silence, he made this weird snorting sound and whispered, “Vanessa filed for divorce yesterday. It’s over.”
“Wes,” I whispered back in shock. “I’m so sorry.”
He groaned and then there was the sound of his hitched breathing. Like he was crying. “It’s been a long time coming. I have so many regrets. I swore my kids weren’t going to grow up in a fractured home like I did, and yet here we are.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. I hadn’t had a single stable, long term relationship in my life. Trust didn’t exactly come easily to me. I shoved my hands in my pockets and hunched my shoulders. I was still pissed as hell over the shit he’d pulled, but I also hated that he was hurting. Wes had always been there for me—through good times and bad, shit with the dad, and even helped me navigate student loans and scholarships. The man was more of a father than my own. “I’m so sorry, Wes.”
“Thanks. Some things can’t be fixed apparently,” he gritted out before coughing and clearing his throat. “I know I owe you such a huge fucking apology. I screwed up with the contracts, and then I tried to use you to cover shit up. It’s just…it feels like it’s all going to hell. I’m so fucking sorry that I dragged you into the middle of it all.”
“I appreciate the apology.” And I did, but it didn’t do much to alleviate my anger over what he’d done. He’d caused a huge mess and disappeared before the shit hit the fan, leaving me to literally clean everything up. But this was Wes . “I’m kinda worried about you, Wes.”
“Well don’t. I’m an adult. This is my screwed-up life. Every choice I made brought me here.”
“So maybe start making different choices.” I tipped my head. “You got a whole lot of people counting on you, both at home and out here on the road. You gotta get your shit together.”
“I know. I’ll do better.”
I hummed my response.
He cleared his throat again. “For the record, I’m happy for you and Xander. He’s a standup guy. You got a good one there, Harper.”
“Thanks.” Since he couldn’t see me, I felt safe rolling my eyes. This whole fake relationship was so weird. I didn’t know how to react. So I finished lamely, “I think so too.”
“And I want you to take tomorrow off. It’s a down day for a reason. Marisol will handle anything that’ll come up. I’ll call her when we’re done.”
I swallowed my protest. When Wes was like this, there wasn’t any budging him. And he owed me. “’Kay. Thanks.”
“You’re doing a fantastic job. Everyone is singing your praises. Clearly, promoting you was overdue. You’re kicking ass, kiddo. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Wes. Can I assume this means you’re going to take my calls now?”
“As long as I don’t get any from you tomorrow. It’s your day off. But yes, I’ll be available for you and Marisol.” He sighed. “Again, I’m sorry, Harper.”
“Just don’t do it again. Every contract goes to legal every time. No exceptions. You taught me that. And maybe next time, stay and own up to your actions. It was shitty that you left me here to pick up the pieces with the guys. You put me in a fucking awkward spot.” The words poured out of me in a torrent because I was still so angry. I know it wasn’t the best time with his whole life literally falling apart—I felt horrible for him—but what he’d done wasn’t okay.
Stunned silence hummed over the line for a few seconds. Wes was used to me being all brusque with other people—never him. So to say that this was out of character was an understatement.
“I… You’re right. I did run when the perfect excuse popped up. I’m sorry, Harper. It was a shit thing to do. And I will do better.”
“Thank you.” That time, it felt like a genuine apology. And my heart ached a little less.
“And for the record, you are doing an awesome job. Even Tyler is singing your praises, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard that bastard say anything positive. Ever.”
Had I heard that days ago, I would’ve been thrilled. But I remembered his utter douche-y behavior earlier. How he’d barked commands at me and assumed I’d jump to like I was his subordinate. Less than him.
But still, a compliment was a compliment. “Thanks. That means a lot.”
“Well you deserve it. Listen, kiddo, I’ve gotta get. Call me if you need anything. Just not tomorrow because—”
“I know, I know. It’s my day off.”
“Got it in one. Take care of yourself.”
“You too, Wes. Bye.”
“Later.”
I was feeling a weird mix of emotions as I headed for the elevator again. Still a little bitter, definitely hurting for Wes, but also thrilled that he was impressed with me.
The elevator dinged, and I stepped on alone. Unlike last time, we’d booked out this entire hotel, so we wouldn’t have any surprise run-ins. But since Black Hat was paying for accommodations, and we had to keep up the ruse, Xander and I were sharing again. I had to hide a smile at the memory of waking up next to him again. I never would’ve thought that the big, bad guitarist was a cuddler, but so far, every morning, I woke up with his arms around me. It was sweet.
When I reached our room, Xander was in the shower. I almost immediately turned around to leave, but where would I go? Everyone except Noah thought we were in a relationship. Trying to explain why I wasn’t relaxing in my room would be awkward. And I was shit at lying. Honestly, I was amazed we’d made it this far.
The shower turned off in the other room, and I scrambled for something to do to look busy so I wouldn’t appear to be the drooling fan girl I was turning into.
As I pawed through my suitcase set up in the closet, I could easily picture him getting out of the shower. Drying himself off. Slathering lotion all over his hard body. His hard cock—
Whoops. Not supposed to be thinking about that. Clearly, I needed to get laid. Too bad there was a six-three monk who saw me as a little sister in my bed.
I jumped when the bathroom door clicked open behind me. Clutching my chest, I turned around. “Cripes, you scared the crap outta…me…”
I was transfixed. Xander stood there in low-slung basketball shorts and nothing else. His wet hair hung down past his shoulders, curling slightly despite the wet weight. He lifted a hand to scrub at his bearded cheek, but it was his shirtless torso that held me transfixed. Beaded with moisture, he could’ve been a body double for Michealangelo’s David . All supple muscle with a slight dusting of hair on his chest and not a single tattoo in sight, aside from the half sleeve on his left arm.
“Harper? Everything okay.”
I blinked. “Uh, yeah.”
“See something you like?”
I jerked my gaze up to his face and found him smirking at me. I glared back at him. “I’m just surprised is all. I thought you’d be all tatted up like the other guys.”
The band had become infamous for ripping their shirts off this tour. Jesse had started the trend after a wardrobe malfunction, and Ella had turned it into internet gold. Women all over the world had drooled over the videos. I tried like hell to remember if Xander had stripped too, but I was coming up blank.
Honestly, I wasn’t capable of much independent thought when faced with all of this.
Xander shrugged. “Do you have any tattoos?”
I shook my head.
“Well trust me when I say that they hurt like hell. I got this—” He nodded at his sleeve. “Back when I was young and dumb. I have a few others I had to get …in places you can’t see. Thank fuck that stupid bet is over.”
My lips curved. “Do you have a pink unicorn on your ass too?”
“ How do you know about that? ”
“Come on.” The expression of shock/horror on his face was hilarious. I had to pause for a second because I was giggling. “Ella has become one of my best friends. She tells me things. And she has one too.”
Xander huffed and stomped over to the closet to shove his stuff back into his bag. For a spoiled rock star, he was a bit of a neat freak. I hadn’t tripped over a pair of underwear or dirty socks in the two days we’d been roommates so far. It was kinda nice. Lord knew that wasn’t true for most of the men that’d been in my life. My dad had been and probably still was a mess from head to toe.
“…any plans?”
“Huh?” I blinked back into the present and found Xander staring at me with that smug little smile.
“Are you warm? You look a little flushed.”
“Shut up.” I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest.
“I asked if you had any plans for tonight. Want to go get a pint? I’ve got the first shout.”
“I think I followed most of that.” I smiled, relaxing some now that he was finally letting go of my ogling him. “And since I happen to have tomorrow off as well, I think I’m good for a night out.”
“Oh, hell yeah. We gotta do this right then. Have you been to a trad sesh? Or a lock-in?”
I shook my head slowly. “Uh, they did a lock-in my senior year in high school—a big slumber party in the gym. Is that what you’re talking about?”
“Aw, angel, this is gonna be fun.” A huge grin spread across his face before he tipped his head toward the empty bathroom. “Go on and get ready.”
“Can’t I just go in this?” I looked down at my long sleeve tee, jeans, and Chucks. How dressed up were you supposed to get for a lock-in?
“We got plenty of time. The real fun doesn’t even start until after nine.”
“Um, okay. What about dinner?”
“Let’s order in some snacks for now, and then we’ll eat at the sesh.”
“Okay. I guess I’ll take a shower then. Order me whatever looks good on the room service menu. I’m easy.” I grabbed my shower bag and headed for the bathroom.
And I could’ve sworn I heard him mutter, “I wish,” just before the door closed behind me.
* * *
It was dark by the time we set off for whatever this lock-in was. And we were alone.
“Are we meeting up with the guys, or are they doing their own thing?” I asked as we walked down High Street. Since it was only five minutes away, we opted to hoof it instead of arranging a car.
“Nah, I wanted a lowkey evening tonight, and it’s hard to do that when we travel in a group.”
“Plus Noah doesn’t know the definition of incognito.”
Xander’s husky laughter had me smiling in response. “No, he doesn’t really do subtle.”
I peeked at Xander out of the corner of my eye. Given the number of people who swiveled to watch his large frame make his way down the sidewalk, I’d say he wasn’t exactly Mr. Incognito himself. His hair might’ve been up in a manbun, but there was no denying Xander’s masculinity. From his bearded face to his wide shoulders covered in his black leather jacket, he was eye catching, even if you didn’t know he was an international rock star. And none of these women had caught the private show I’d seen earlier in our hotel room. Xander looking tough with his manbun and leather jacket was one thing; seeing him mostly naked and wet from his shower was captivating.
And off limits.
I shouldn’t be thinking of him that way. Lord knew he didn’t see me like that.
Not that I wanted him like that.
Who was I kidding? I’d already fallen out of major like with Tyler. After ten minutes of his whole attention on me, I’d come to the conclusion he was the king of douches. I don’t know how I’d missed it. I guess I’d let his suit-y manliness entrance me for a minute. Sure he was stable, but he was also an asshole.
No thank you.
“I think you’re the only woman I could take on this walk who would be fine to just walk and not drool over every storefront. Or pepper me with questions.”
I jerked my head from my vague people watching to Xander walking at my side, then to the stores we were passing. Since it was called High Street, it seemed like only the best and fanciest stores were here. Every store was technicolor painted but had an overall Victorian look with fancy moldings and doorframes. All were closed, but the window displays were lit to show off the jewelry, fancy silverware, or clothes. Any other time, I’d be transfixed, but tonight I’d hardly noticed.
I’d been too busy trying to pretend I wasn’t into the man next to me.
I shrugged. “Too busy trying not to trip.”
While we weren’t on cobblestones, the slate squares did have some heaves here and there. And I wasn’t very well versed in wedge shoes. I really missed my Chucks. But they didn’t go with the flirty, belted, blue floral midi dress I’d put on. I was trying to look like an adult and not a kid on vacation with her hot uncle.
Judging by the looks Xander continued to get, pretty sure I’d failed.
“You should’ve worn your Chucks,” Xander chuckled.
I sighed. “I was just thinking the same thing. Too bad all these stores are closed.”
“Something tells me that O’Connor’s Jewellers isn’t gonna have what you’re looking for.”
“Doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be fun to look.” I shrugged. “But since I plan on sitting most of the night, I think I’ll be fine.”
Xander’s lips quirked. “If you say so.” He nodded to the path ahead of us. “We’re almost there. You ready for some pub grub and a trad sesh?”
“Yup, and whatever a lock-in is. I’m down.”
This time he didn’t battle his laughter. It rolled around us and made me smile as we walked across the street to the medieval stone building with the Kyetler’s Inn sign hanging above the door.