14. Chocolate Isn’t Breakfast
14
CHOCOLATE ISN’T brEAKFAST
MAGGIE
Fader By The Temper Trap
I have a goofy grin on my face just thinking about last night. I left Felix to sleep off the pot brownies but not before I made sure he was going to be safe. Watching him sleep though, and the way he curled his fingers around mine—I couldn’t stay all night.
“Hey Maggs, we’re going on a whiskey tour, wanna come?” Dex asks, wiggling his eyebrows like a cartoon villain.
“No, I’m good,” I reply, waving them off. Although I doubt I’d be allowed on the tour anyway since I don’t turn twenty-one for a few more months.
“Aw, come on, we don’t bite,” Bash says with a huge grin and the rest of them laugh.
I give them an indignant look because I don’t believe that one bit. “No thanks, I have better things to do than babysit a bunch of drunk rockstars.”
Bash hits Gunner’s chest with the back of his hand. “She called us rockstars.”
I roll my eyes. “Where’s Felix?” I interrupt, noticing he’s not with them. “Isn’t he going with you?”
Bash laughs, hooking his thumb over his shoulder toward Felix’s trailer. “No, Mr. Lame wants to waste a day off working on songs.”
Hmm. I was going to spend my day off catching up on some editing but does that mean that I’m lame too?
Just because I can’t hit the whiskey tour doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a day of sightseeing. Nashville’s Summer Buzz festival is three days long, and Velvet Drift doesn’t perform until the third day, so we have plenty of time to have fun. Felix isn’t spending it holed up like a hermit and neither am I.
“Have fun and don’t get into too much trouble,” I warn them.
I make a beeline for the craft service tent, where I find Dusty breaking everything down.
“Dusty,” I say sweetly.
“No,” he says immediately, continuing to pack things up.
“You don’t even know what I want,” I protest, stomping my foot.
“Whatever it is, no,” he folds up a chair and tucks it under his arm.
“Come on, Dusty.” I stand in his way giving him a pouty face. “I just need the keys to the SUV.”
He barks out a laugh as if my request is a delightful joke and then sidesteps around me.
I place my hands on my hips and follow him deeper into the tent.
“Remember when I helped you clean up after breakfast the other day?”
“You mean when you snagged the last pancake and tossed the empty tray in the trash?” He twists his mouth in mock disapproval.
“I could have just left the empty tin,” I argue, raising my chin defiantly.
Dusty chuckles.
“Okay, how about when I helped you carry in the speaker?” I point out, hands still planted firmly on my hips as if daring him to find fault in that.
“The one you dropped and we had to replace?” he challenges with a smirk. Shit, I didn’t realize I actually broke it.
“Who knew it weighed more than me?!” I argue, crossing my arms.
“Everything weighs more than you, pipsqueak,” he grunts mockingly.
“Dusty!” I whine dramatically. “Please???” I try batting my eyelashes and stick out my lower lip. He has two little girls at home and he can’t resist the power that is ‘the pout’.
“You’re not playing fair, Maggs,” he says gruffly, but then relents. “What do you need the SUV for?”
“I’m gonna take your favorite rockstar out for some fun,” I reply.
Dusty’s expression is still skeptical, so I add, “I’ll be careful. I promise.” I give him my best sweet smile.
He lets out a sigh and digs into his pocket, producing a set of keys.
Yes! I resist the urge to fist pump.
“Bring it back in one piece—the car and the rockstar,” he grumbles, dropping them into my waiting palm. I bounce on the balls of my feet, excitement bubbling up inside me.
“I can guarantee the car will be in one piece but maybe not the rockstar.”
Dusty gives me an incredulous look.
“Just kidding—sort of. Thanks, Dusty!” I call out as I dash toward Felix’s trailer.
I yank open the door and shout, “Felix! Get your ass up!” as I barge in.
Felix pads through the kitchen, pulling a t-shirt down over his ripped abs. The way the shirt clings to him sends a tiny jolt through me.
“I know I told you to come by and say hi but have you ever heard of privacy? I could’ve been naked, pervert,” he gripes, shooting me an incredulous look.
“Aw look, you’ve already disappointed me,” I tease, pointing to his heathered gray t-shirt and dark cargo shorts.
He gives me a sardonic smile, those blue eyes glinting with amusement. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” He glances at his watch, disbelief crossing his features as he tosses a notebook and pencil down on the dining table. “I’m surprised you’re even up; it’s before noon.”
I press my lips together, narrowing my eyes as he heads to the fridge. “What if I told you I snagged the keys to the SUV so we can go check out the sights?” I dangle the keys in front of him and raise an eyebrow, expecting a spark of interest.
He gives me an uninterested nod. “Have fun.”
“I think I like you better on the pot brownies. I’ll have to have Bash whip up another batch,” I joke, and he gives me an annoyed look.
Wow, what’s up his sculpted ass?
“Hey, I had to give Dusty a blowjob for these keys, so you’re going.”
Felix spits out his water. “Jesus, Maggie. It’s too early for this shit,” he says crankily, and I laugh, loving how easily I can rattle him.
“What’s more important than hanging out with me?”
“I’m trying to get some writing done.” He waves his hand toward the notebook on the table.
I snatch it and wiggle it in front of him while backing away toward the open door.
“Give it back, Sass,” he says, his voice light but firm. And when he calls me that, I know I’ve got him.
“You want this back?” I flip through the pages, and when he attempts to grab it, I shove it down my shirt, hiding it away.
“That’s not fair,” he grumbles, his gaze flickering between my face and my chest.
“If you want it back, you have to come with me,” I challenge.
I’m halfway down the stairs and as soon as my foot hits the dirt, I hear him grumble, “Fuck!”
He hops down the stairs, sliding on his shoes as the door slams shut behind him. “Fine, but I’m driving.” He snatches the keys from me, and I can’t help but grin wide; I love when I get my way.
“Hey!” I call after him. “I think my blow job affords me control over the radio then.”
Felix barks out a laugh as he looks back at me while I struggle to keep up.
“None of your pop shit”
“You’ll listen to it and like it, rockstar.”
I slide into the passenger seat, tossing his notebook in the back, and pull up my phone. “Okay, so I have a list of everything we should hit up.” I can feel my excitement buzzing every nerve, like a live wire.
Felix laughs, shaking his head as we pull out of the parking lot. “Why is that funny?” I ask.
“It’s just not like you to be so organized,” he replies, keeping one eye on me.
“For some reason, that doesn’t sound like a compliment.” I sneer, trying to sound offended, but I can’t help but giggle. “I’ve never been to Music City, and there’s so much to see.”
We pull into downtown Nashville, and I lean out the window, soaking in the energy.
“You look like an excited puppy,” Felix teases, and I turn my head to glare at him.
“Gee, if you talk like that to all the ladies, no wonder you don’t have any groupies in your trailer,” I shoot back.
Felix laughs. “A very cute puppy then.”
“Not helping,” I mutter, rolling my eyes as he parks the SUV.
“What’s first on the agenda?” he asks, stepping out of the car with an air of reluctant adventure.
“Chocolate,” I declare, pointing down the street to a store we passed on the way in. I dodge a few cars while Felix trails behind me, amusement dancing in his blue eyes.
“Have you even had breakfast?” he asks, following me around the store where I pluck an assortment of sweets and drop them into a plastic bag.
“This is breakfast.” I hold up the bag proudly, as if it’s a trophy.
“Chocolate isn’t breakfast, Sass.”
“What? This one has nuts, and that’s protein,” I point to the pecan clusters. “And I got fruit covered in this one,” I add, showcasing the chocolate-covered cherries.
“I’m seriously worried about you,” he jokes, his tone playful as he waits for me to pay.
I plop a piece of chocolate into my mouth, a victorious smile on my face, and pull up the map on my phone. “This way.” I point down the street, ready to conquer Music City with Felix at my side.
“Let me guess—an ice cream shop?” he teases, raising an eyebrow.
I glare at him. “No, Music Row.”