Chapter Twenty-Four
Paige
You’ve got to be kidding me.
The tested ink on his arm…stealing my sticks to give to Cole…holding the door open for me…
Just when I think I’ve got him all figured out, he goes and does that.
Dinner passes in a blur of burgers and fries, casual teasing, and loud opinions on which cities might be the loudest we play in. As promised, Eli orders everything he said he would and more, groaning dramatically as he pushes away his empty plate and sinks back into his seat.
“I don’t think I could eat another bite,” he sighs as he flops his arm over his stomach.
“So you’re not up for a couple of drinks at the bar next door?” Beau teases, balling up his napkin and tossing it onto the table in front of him.
“I said eat, not drink.” He looks at Maddox and me with expectant eyes. “What about you?”
I shake my head, ducking down to grab my bag. “Think I’m going to head back to the bus.”
Watching Maddox with Cole was like seeing a glimpse of the man I’ve only caught in his lyrics. And maybe I’m not ready to let that version go just yet.
“I’ll walk back with you,” Maddox says, already moving to stand.
“Wait, you don’t want to grab a beer?” Eli frowns.
“Not tonight.” He jerks his head toward the door. “Got things to do.”
“Hey, I can head back myself if you want to go with them,” I tell him, pulling my purse out of my bag and dropping a couple of folded bills next to Beau. “I’m a big girl.”
“I know that,” he says, grabbing his hoodie from beside him, leaving no room for argument. Not that I want to right now anyway, because having time alone with Maddox, even if it is just the walk back to the bus, is sort of enticing. “Come on. Let’s go.”
We say quick goodbyes, leaving Eli to scoop up the money, tossing us a two-fingered salute as we step out into the warm night. The walk is quiet, our steps in sync, the silence between us thickening as we wait for the other to speak first.
I fold my arms, pretending I’m cold, even though residual heat from this afternoon still clings to the sidewalk. Really, I just don’t know what to do with my hands, or what the hell to say.
We haven’t been alone like this since that night in the control room, and now all I can think about is his hands. The way he touched me. The way he played with my body.
Clearing my throat, I steal a glance at him, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“You were really sweet back there,” I say.
He looks at me out of the corner of his eye. “You sound surprised.”
“Maybe I am. You better be careful, or I’ll start to think you’ve gone soft.”
His eyebrow arches, mouth twitching like he’s trying not to smile. “Don’t get used to it. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”
“Good. Hate to think you just reserved the asshole vibe just for me,” I deadpan. “Might need to document the moment in my diary so I never forget.”
“Funny,” he says, walking ahead, and for a beat, I think that’s all I’ll get, until quietly he adds, “I remember being that age and meeting my favorite band. I still have the signed set list they gave me.”
I release a surprised breath. “Oh, yeah?”
He nods. “Was at this festival my grandma dragged me to. I didn’t even want to go at first.”
“Your grandma?”
“Yeah, she raised me.” He rubs at the back of his neck. “After my mom died. The band wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her.” He chuckles lightly. “Always was our number one fan.”
My step falters. Oh god.
The guys mentioned Maddox’s grandma before. How they’d practice in her garage, how Eli’s parents lived on her street, the inheritance. But I guess I never thought more about it. Never thought about what that meant. About who raised him…or how much he’s lost at twenty-eight already.
“I’m sorry,” I say quickly, the words almost catching on my tongue.
He shrugs again, tighter this time. “It was a long time ago.”
I want to ask more, ask about all the things I still don’t know about him, but I don’t. We walk in silence, my head full of questions I don’t know how to ask, our steps back in rhythm as we reach the parking lot.
He reaches for the bus door and pulls it open, and I don’t miss the way he lets me go first again. Stepping inside, I sigh, the gentle whoosh of the AC enveloping me as the door hisses closed behind us.
I feel Maddox behind me as I head for my bunk, slinging my bag onto the mattress with a soft thud. Running my fingers along the shape of his notebook still where I stashed it earlier, they skim the fabric, pausing over the slight rise it makes beneath the comforter.
I could pull it out now, let myself fall straight back in, but the heaviness that’s followed us onto the bus feels like it needs clearing first before I go digging into his thoughts.
Before I can say anything, though, to check if he’s okay, if he maybe wants to talk, he disappears into the bathroom, coming out minutes later dressed in a t-shirt and a pair of gym shorts.
“I’m gonna go for a run,” he says, grabbing his headphones from the table.
I blink, caught off guard. “Oh.”
The faint glow of the setting sun filters through the window, painting everything in muted pinks and golds.
“Is this your thing? Night runs?”
Lifting my necklace, a stupid nervous habit, I run the P pendant along the chain, oddly disappointed that he’s barely spent two seconds with me and he’s already leaving. His eyes latch onto my movements, nostrils flaring, and I still, forcing my hand to stop.
“Helps clear my head while on tour.”
The words feel like a placeholder, a safe answer, and my lips part to speak, but he’s already sliding his headphones over his ears, thumbing toward the door. “I’ll be back in twenty.”
He doesn’t wait for a reply, his footsteps fading down the metal stairs, then out of the door, the automatics closing it behind him.
Grabbing my phone, I pull up my thread with Olive, my heart pounding as my fingers punch the screen.
I’m in trouble. I don’t think I can do this whole being cramped up on this bus with him.
Olive
I KNEW IT.
Just bang already. What goes on tour, stays on tour and all that.
Until you come to New York and you can tell me all about it ;)
I tap out a quick God, I miss you, before pressing send, but I don’t put the phone down straight away. Her message makes it all sound so easy. Like giving in would simplify things. Like this…thing with Maddox could stay neatly boxed in with the rest of the tour chaos.
If only.