14. Kai
CHAPTER 14
Kai
“You need to say something about it tonight or it’s going to start to look really weird, Kai. You guys know that—it’s nothing new,” says Ash, standing with hands planted on our table in the hotel bar. We’re due to leave for soundcheck ten minutes ago but slow-ass Ashcroft’s still finishing up his video game or some shit, so we’re just downing some sodas while Holden polishes off his order of barbecue wings. And that’s after brunch of BLTs, French fries, and chocolate mousse. Dude could eat for England.
I’d like to ignore Ash, to be honest. I sigh demonstratively and stare into my pint glass before finishing the dregs and crunching loudly on an ice cube. I’m being a dick and I know it. But I just don’t have the energy and patience for his patronizing. It’s all been siphoned away by that girl’s heat, and if I’m honest, her return into our lives in general.
I’ve had a full night and morning to consider what approach to take. Do I tell her she’s our match and agree to stay out of each other’s ways? Because I can’t deny it. It’s impossible to hide. God forbid if she goes into full heat around me. But she can be our match without ever becoming our mate. And that’s the only way this can go.
Do I tell the guys and make sure they all stay on suppressants, and then force myself back on mine, risking the terrible allergy symptoms returning? Because what I really don’t need is my throat closing up in the middle of a show and an ambulance racing to the scene.
Holden’s messing about with a pack of tartan playing cards he bought off a street vendor. “If that’s all you’re upset about, Ash—I mean, c’mon, Kai. We come out, balls to the wall, play the first two, and then you say, ‘How about Jez Jacobs—was she spectacular or what? Let’s make some noise for our amazing opener,’ or whatever and then call it day. That’s all he’s saying.”
Liana the road manager appears at the door, looking at her watch then pointing toward the front of the hotel before disappearing.
“Okay mates, minibus. Time to head out,” says Ash. “Kai, can you manage that for me, pretty please?”
I try not to roll my eyes, and instead nod, push my chair in and give Holden an elbow in the back. “I don’t recall her thanking us for the opportunity.”
“Were you even watching her play?” Nico asks as we head out the door. “Dead curious, mate. The three of us were watching in the green room the whole time.”
“I was mostly asleep, to be fair,” says Holden.
”It was actually really good,” continues Nico. “She had energy, emotion, didn’t pause for a beat. She had the front row screaming. Not bad for that girl with the airy-fairy voice , huh?”
“No,” I declare. “I was trying to get in the zone. Listening to our last live show on my phone.” I don’t add, But obviously I wanted nothing to do with her set.
As we climb into the minibus to take us to the venue, I catch Liana’s eyes in the rearview. “Any idea where Thomas is?”
At that precise moment, he comes running out of the hotel, hair askew, and glasses, too, with his rucksack half-unzipped.
He hops into the back with a mumbled, “Sorry, guys, sorry.”
Before the door even slams shut, I can smell it.
Her.
On him.
And just like that, a seed of jealousy and need germinates at warp speed in my chest. And I fear this tour is dead in the water.