Axel
“ A re you alright? I didn’t know Phoebe was coming tonight.”
had gritted his teeth as he overheard Cillian’s consoling words. He watched Phoebe storm down the corridor; she didn’t even notice him standing by the door. Glass crunched under his boots as he entered Cillian’s dressing room. So that’s what the crash was, he thought, looking at the broken mirror. Phoebe must have discovered the truth, to leave this much destruction behind her. took a deep breath, furious. She shouldn’t have had to find out about Cillian’s cheating this way.
“We never should have listened to your promises to end it,” he said, staring at the haphazardly dressed pair. “You were never going to confess everything to Phoebe, were you?”
“Now isn’t the best time for a lecture,” Cillian snapped, picking up a bottle of vodka from the table. Helen didn’t look up at him; she just focused on her hands on her thighs.
They’d all hoped Cillian’s recent destructive behaviour was due to the pressure they were under, but it was becoming a habit. Nobody in the band had wanted to be the one to tell Phoebe. Nick, being her elder brother, didn’t want to get involved in her relationship. August, who thought of Phoebe like a sister, didn’t want to pick sides. That only left , and he wasn’t the right person to tell her.
“I have no interest in lecturing you, but the least you can do is go after Phoebe instead of standing here drinking like a coward!” grabbed him by his fashionably torn T-shirt with their band’s snake logo and shoved him towards the doors.
“Why should I?” Cillian sneered. smelt the alcohol on his breath. He would’ve knocked Cillian on his ass, but he didn’t want to ruin his hands. They were already sore from drumming all night.
“She threw a vase at us! Could’ve sliced us both up. I’ll talk to her when she calms down,” Cillian argued, and from the size of his pupils he wasn’t thinking clearly.
“You didn’t bother to go to her exhibition, and she still turned up to surprise you, only to find you balls deep in another woman, and you’re pissed about some broken glass?” was doing his best not to throttle him. When Cillian sobered up, he’d hate himself. A cycle that had repeated after every show this tour. It was getting old fast.
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not here. I’m not some other woman!” Helen barked, getting between them.
ignored her attempt to play the victim. “I’m sorry, but has he been dating you for over a decade? Have you got a ring on your finger?”
He didn’t blame Helen for falling for Cillian; his charm won everyone over. Cillian was the one who’d broken his commitment to Phoebe.
“Don’t speak to her like that!” Cillian got in his face.
shoved him back, before he did something he’d regret. Helen left in a huff without another word; she was used to Cillian’s drunken tantrums.
“Where was this protective instinct when it comes to the woman you’re meant to love, to marry?” snapped.
Cillian’s nostrils flared, but before he could charge at him, Nick appeared in the doorway.
“I thought Phoebe would be with you guys. Anita told me she arrived.” The room went silent as he surveyed the damage. “What’s going on?” Nick scratched the side of his neck, which was stained red from his last dye job. Like his sister, he preferred coloured hair, and they had the same light blue eyes and high cheekbones.
Cillian dipped his head, staring at the carpet, forcing to explain to Nick.
“Phoebe caught him with Helen. She should be halfway gone by now. Congratulations on ruining your life,” said, turning back to Cillian. “How she could even agree to marry such a piece of shit is a mystery I’ll never understand.”
“Don’t play Prince fucking Charming. I’ve seen the way you look at my girl, you’re just pissed that you can’t have her.”
Cillian swung for him, but Nick caught his fist. rolled his eyes at the accusation—who wouldn’t want to be with Phoebe? Talented, smart, beautiful, completely off-limits and wasted on a man like Cillian.
“I thought you broke it off?” Nick asked as Cillian gave up the fight.
“I couldn’t,” Cillian admitted, pacing by the dresser.
“No one taught him he can’t have his cake and eat it too.”
“Shut up! Both of you. You want the whole stadium to hear about this?” Nick, always the leader, got between them.
zipped his lips.
“You need to sober up.” Nick glared at Cillian. “Tomorrow, you can talk with Phoebe. Tonight, you need to stay in this room and sleep it off. Alone. There’s no point in talking about this when you’re drunk.”
wasn’t surprised by Nick’s leniency. He and Cillian had known each other the longest, whereas had only joined the band five years ago. At first, he’d found it hard to bond with people who’d known each other their whole lives, but now he considered them family, and he hated seeing his friend blow up his life.
“, go after Phoebe,” Nick ordered. “Take her to your tour bus. We can’t let her leave like this, and she shouldn’t be wandering around a foreign country alone and upset.”
didn’t need to be told twice.
“Why should he go to her? She’s my girlfriend!” Cillian argued.
“Now you give a shit?” said. The caring boyfriend act had only appeared because Nick was here.
Nick pushed Cillian back, and he retreated, slumping on the couch like some petulant child. Clearly whatever he’d snorted or drunk was draining the fight out of him.
“Go, , I’m trusting you to look after my sister. She won’t want me getting involved.” Nick and Phoebe had a simple rule when it came to each other’s dating lives: stay out of it.
“How can you let him off so easily?” asked. If someone treated his sisters the same way Cillian had, there would be a grave dug and ready.
“Because he isn’t in his right mind. Hasn’t been for the last few months and we need to support him.”
“But she’s your sister, and you’re defending him.”
“And he’s like my brother. Do I want to beat him bloody for treating my sister like this? Yes, but this isn’t him and this isn’t the time to be talking about this. Go.”
did as instructed, unable to look at Cillian a moment longer.
Thankfully, Phoebe was in heels, and he was able to catch up to her rather quickly. He hadn’t meant to grab Phoebe, but she was about to go out the press exit.
“Cillian, let go of me!” Phoebe growled.
stilled, struggling to find his words as her teary blue eyes stared up at him in surprise. He didn’t know how to make this situation better, but he could try not to make it worse.
“Phoebe, you can’t go out there.”
“Are you here to defend him? Because I don’t want to hear it.” Phoebe pulled against his hold.
He heard the shouts of the press through the door, waiting for their pound of flesh, and he couldn’t let them have her.
“I’m not here to defend Cillian. Nick sent me to make sure you’re okay while he deals with him,” he reasoned, wondering how she could look so fierce and stunning in the same moment.
“Trust my brother to pick his friend over me,” Phoebe muttered, looking at him with eyes brimming with tears. He loosened his grip, not wanting to hurt her.
Cillian was right to accuse him of being attracted to her. How could anyone be around her and not want to be hers? He had kept his distance, for his own sanity and out of respect for her relationship with Cillian, but not anymore.
“Don’t be like that. Would you rather your brother be here?” asked. “Besides, Cillian’s not in his right mind. I wasn’t going to be left alone with him.”
Phoebe’s small frown made him wish he hadn’t added the last part.
“Thought you weren’t here to defend him,” she said, and he saw the rage behind her eyes—and that she was a hair’s breadth from tears.
“I’m not. Your brother is worried about you, so he sent me to make sure you didn’t do anything you’ll regret. Don’t go out there in this state. You were already seen outside with security earlier, which only drew more press. If you leave like this, they won’t leave you alone.”
“Good, I’m glad they’re out there. I can tell them all about their beloved cheating prick that’s disguised as a charming rockstar. He’s really living up to the stereotype. I can tell the world that Cillian Hunt is officially single, and they’ll be delighted that the wedding is off.” Her voice got louder with each word until some people in the corridor stared at them. A glare from moved them on.
“What about August and Nick’s reputation? Smear Cillian across the tabloids and you’ll take them down with him. Don’t let him ruin all they’ve worked for.”
hated using her good nature against her, but he was protecting her from herself as much as he was protecting them. The press would tear her apart and the fans would gnaw at the bones.
Her eyes narrowed with resentment. “Are you sure you aren’t worried about your brand?” she snapped, folding her arms. “Surely this would only help the band’s image. Bad boys sell rather well.”
shook his head. “Couldn’t care less about our brand. It’s not safe to go out there right now. Come with me to my tour bus and take a moment to breathe. Once the press leave, then I’ll bring you back to your hotel myself.” He was practically begging—and he never begged. “You don’t want to hurt them because that idiot who doesn’t appreciate or deserve you fucked up. If you still want to rip him apart in the press tomorrow, feel free, I’ll even help you, but give yourself some time.”
Phoebe’s expression softened, and she rubbed her arms. She must have been cold in that dress.
“I’ve got plenty of jumpers to warm you up,” threw out in desperation, which earned a small hint of a smile.
She quickly concealed it. “Fine, but only until the press are gone. Then I’m getting the first flight out of here.”
He led her down another corridor, away from the press and to the private parking lot where all the tour buses and equipment trucks were parked. kept glancing over his shoulder to make sure she didn’t disappear. He wasn’t the best at comforting, and he was too angry at Cillian to think of nice things to say. He wished his sisters, or his cousin Autumn, were here. They’d know exactly what to do.
Outside, the tour buses were painted with the band’s logo: a snake wrapped around a guitar. ’s was parked at the end of the row beside Nick’s, so Phoebe wouldn’t have to see Cillian—if he even made it to his bus. Nick would probably lock him in his dressing room to keep them apart.
took his key from his pocket and opened the door.
“Luckily, I cleaned up a little this morning.” His attempt at conversation was off to a great start.
He turned on the lights. The only mess was some dishes from his pre-show snack in the small sink and an empty bottle of beer. Phoebe hesitated at the bottom of the steps.
“You don’t have to see anyone you don’t want to,” he reassured her and offered his hand to coax her up the steps. He tried to hide his surprise when she took it without argument.
“Make yourself at home.” removed the guitar from the table in the main sitting area. He was trying to learn in his spare time; he got a little stir-crazy when they were driving around Europe.
“Just until the press conference is over,” she said, looking awkward in his space. She eyed the multiple packs of hot Doritos in a bowl in the kitchen.
“Do you want some?”
He hated how awkward he was. His sisters loved treats when they were going through a breakup, but maybe this was too soon. She shook her head, putting him out of his misery.
He had to do something, so he gave her a glass of water. She didn’t drink it, merely studied it. He’d have given anything to know what she was thinking. He’d never had to deal with real heartbreak—he usually ended things before they ever got too serious—but her watery eyes were breaking his heart.
“You can wait in my room if you want some privacy. There are some hoodies in the drawers under the bed if you’re still cold,” he said, and she walked through the tiny passage past the bathroom to his unmade bed and sat down. He pulled at the back of his neck, knowing he had to get to the press conference before Anita hunted him down.
“Don’t tell anyone I’m here.” Phoebe sounded utterly defeated and not her usual chirpy self.
“You got it,” he agreed, though Nick already knew. “I’ve got to go, but we can get you back to the hotel when I’m done.”
“Sounds good.” Phoebe nodded and closed the dividing partition.
let out a sigh of relief; at least she was safe from the hungry press. He waited there a moment, to make sure she was okay, only to hear her muffled sobs on the other side of the partition. His desire to strangle Cillian returned.
Anita blew up his phone. He didn’t want to leave Phoebe, but he doubted Cillian would be attending the conference in his current state. If one band member was missing there would be questions, but if two didn’t attend then there would be rumours of B.O.A. breaking up before the sun rose.
The press conference went by quickly, and sat in awe of Nick’s professionalism. His secret talents included smiling through trouble. August, at the end of the table, was unaware of the chaos because he’d been at a meet-and-greet for fans with disabilities. envied his blissful ignorance, but he was sure Nick would fill him in soon.
After signing some albums, and offering a quick thank you to fans, returned to the bus. To his relief, he heard no sobs, but the bus was too quiet and the glass of water still sat empty on the table. He exhaled, hoping she hadn’t left before he made sure she got back to her hotel safely.
He opened the partition, expecting to find his bed empty, but found Phoebe curled up in his hoodie with his pillow cradled against her body. Her boots were still on, and a box of tissues sat beside her. sighed; her tears must have knocked her out. Carefully, he slipped off her heeled boots, put her tote bag on the floor and slowly covered her with his duvet. Better she was here, and close to those who loved her, than alone in a hotel.
If someone had told him this morning Phoebe Fletcher would be asleep on his bed, with her mascara-stained eyes and purple hair fanned over her face, he’d have called them crazy. However, it was a sight he could get used to.
Shaking away the thought, he closed the divider and got to work transforming the breakfast area into his bed for the night.