55. Chapter Fifty Five
I’ve been completely out of it all night, barely aware of what’s happened. Apart from Xander waking me up to give me water and a couple of pills that he somehow managed to find, I’ve woken up to a chaotic situation. The tension in the air is palpable.
Something has occurred, and it must be really bad because Reg and Ace are at each other. They’re not the united front they usually are. It’s about some incident involving Xander. I’m surprised Reg hasn’t asked me to stop being a lazy bitch and do my job, but he hasn’t.
I’ve never liked Reg, especially after the way he spoke to me on the day Alex broke his arm. If Xander hadn’t dealt with him the way he did, I would have told him to go fuck himself. I smile at the memory of Xander grabbing him by the shirt and throwing his ass off the bus. It was so fucking hot when Xander did that. I can see that fame hasn’t changed him because I still see glimpses of his old self.
I’m really angry at myself for what happened that morning on the bus. Whenever I’m around him, it’s like I easily slip back into our old routine. I crave to be with him and for him to love me. Deep down, it’s him I truly desire, but I know it’s an impossible dream. Although he may give off signals he wants me, I know it’s only temporary because I’m with the band on tour and our paths will soon diverge. He’s a true rock star in every way. Women are mesmerized by him, and I could never compete with that. Just look at how it affected my mother; she became distant and resentful, and I never want to end up like her.
As I pull the curtain aside on my bunk, I realize that yet another day has already slipped away. Those pills must have really knocked me out. My eyes immediately focus on Theo, who is standing there shirtless. The ink decorating his chest catches my attention. Magnificent wings span across his chest, accompanied by the words “freedom,” “hope,” and “loyalty.” When I lift my gaze, there’s a large grin on his face.
“Just let me know when you’re ready, Spitfire,” he playfully taunts with a laugh. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. But I’m desperate for a shower.”
“We should reach the hotel in about an hour.”
Raised voices come from the front of the bus, specifically from Xander and Ace. However, it doesn’t seem like they are arguing. It’s more like they are standing up to someone.
Curious, I say, “What’s happening?”
“Oh, just the usual shit show. Nothing to worry about.”
“That doesn’t give me any information,” I chuckle, my stomach grumbling. I swiftly cover my belly with my hand, feeling slightly embarrassed.
“Nate’s making some tacos.”
Shifting my legs to the edge of the bed, I get down. As I lift my head, I can’t help but notice Theo’s gaze fixed on my chest.
“Hey, buddy, eyes up here.”
That smug sexy grin of his appears. “I’m just returning the favor and checking if you have any ink,” he says.
“Asshole,” I reply, turning around and searching for my sweater. I glance around the end of my bunk bed and then check the floor in case it fell.
“Here,” Theo says, handing me a sweater with the words “Broken Oasis” written on the front.
I swiftly pull the hoodie over my head and slide my arms through, all the while feeling Theo’s scrutinizing gaze. It fits perfectly, just the way I prefer it - snug and comfortable. Its length cleverly conceals my ass, which is a bonus. Folding up the sleeves, I make my way toward the front of the bus, immediately enticed by the mouthwatering aroma of food. Once again, my stomach growls, reminding me I haven’t eaten in two days.
As soon as I step through the door and into the main area, the conversation abruptly halts and all eyes quickly shift in my direction. Reg, being the first to break the silence, finally finds his voice.
“No one mentions a word about this to anyone.”
In other words, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want anyone to mention this to me.
Reg retrieves his phone, punches in a series of digits, and raises it to his ear before retreating into his room.
Xander keeps his silence, fixating his gaze on me, causing my heart to race uncontrollably beneath his piercing, intense eyes.
“It’s ready,” Nate declares, as he brings all the food to the table. He turns towards me and inquires, “Would you like some, Poppy? There’s plenty here.”
“Yeah, it smells amazing. Thank you.”
I make my way over to the couch where I left the paracetamol earlier before I fell asleep. Just as I reach the other side of the bus, Xander suddenly approaches. He stands in front of me, blocking my path, and raises his arms, effectively trapping me against the wall. I try to glance over his shoulder to see if anyone else is watching, but his close proximity and hunched posture make it challenging to get a clear view.
He gives me a seductive smile as he leans in, his lips lightly brushing against my ear. “I wanna strip you down and fuck you senseless in nothing but my sweater,” he whispers, his voice deep and filled with longing. He tugs at the bottom of the sweater, slipping his fingers beneath it, to touch my bare skin.
I stifle the moan that threatens to escape my lips. Wait. What? His sweater. That asshole Theo gave me Xander’s sweater. The intense heat between my thighs from his touch tries to distract me, but I ignore it and keep going.
“Your sweater. I thought it was one that everyone shared.”
Theo yells from somewhere over at the table. “If she’s into sharing then-”
“She’s not,” Xander snaps.
“I’m just saying if she is.”
Xander rolls his eyes and pushes off the wall with a groan. “For fuck’s sake, Theo. How many times do I have to tell you?”
“Yeah, I hear ya. But you”re not doing shit about it, asshole.”
“About what?” I ask, moving towards the table. “Is there something I should know? I feel like you’re referring to me, but I’m totally lost.”
Theo opens his mouth to speak, but Xander interrupts him. “No!”
What are they keeping from me? I wonder.
“Come on, let’s just eat,” Ace suggests, trying to change the conversation.
Xander and Theo share tense glances, their eyes locked in what feels like a never-ending staring contest. Suddenly, Theo smirks and breaks his gaze, opting to take a seat beside Nate at the table. Meanwhile, Xander navigates his way over to me and settles down right beside me.
We enjoy our meal in silence, relishing the delicious tacos that Nate has expertly prepared. His culinary skills are so impressive that I can’t help but envision him as a professional chef, even though he’s already an amazing drummer. As I savor each bite, Xander’s unwavering gaze remains fixed on me, just like that time he took me out for a burger when I was hungover at school.
The guys discuss the need for a band meeting, ensuring that Reg isn’t present. I can’t help but feel curious and wonder what the heck is going on. I haven’t been involved with the band for nearly four days now - three days of avoiding Xander and a day of being sick on the bus. But it seems like a lot has transpired during my absence.