Chapter 3
ELLIE
I grab the white Gibson guitar decorated in decals and tuck it away in Travis’s case carefully.
The bus is spacious enough, with wood-paneled walls and dark flooring, and warm white lighting throughout.
The beds are in the back, stacked over each other with curtains as a barrier.
I stalk silently to the beds. Travis’s bunk is in the very back, right above Penn’s, and across from mine.
I don’t sleep here often. I’m lucky enough to get a decent hotel room, but it comes in handy on long drives.
Travis is stretched out on the top bunk, a long leg draped over the side. Honestly, they’re all too big for these beds. It’s no wonder they’re so exhausted.
I can’t imagine running myself ragged every day, then having to sleep on a bus most nights.
They’re on the road for sixteen weeks. It’s been just over a month, and I can see them stretching thin already.
Show after show, night after night. Traveling, meet and greets, and media stuff, too—the very bare minimum—because they hate it, and tension has started mounting.
Since they’re indie, they take care of it all.
They’re too unconventional to sign to a big-name label.
They’d never be able to follow the rules.
They have to do things their own way. That’s why they never accepted any of the offers from labels that reached out last year, and why I’m pretty sure Tanner’s working on creating his own label.
I watch him sleep for a moment, hoping he’s actually resting and not faking like he does sometimes, then slip out and exit the bus. I run smack dab into a hard chest and bounce back.
“Sorry about that,” Liam says, steadying me with a warm smile.
He’s hard not to love. Adorable and sweet with his dirty blond curls that fly just right while he’s banging on his drums, and big dimples.
His golden skin and green eyes rival my own.
He’s not broody like Penn or rude like Tanner. He’s not an asshole like Travis.
I straighten and step out of the way so he can board the bus. “It’s ok.”
“How is he?”
“He’s sleeping.”
He nods, a flash of worry crossing his face.
I put my hand on his arm, trying to comfort him.
Something about him still seems so innocent even though I know he’s not.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine after a good night’s sleep,” I assure, even though I’m not sure at all.
It’s clear Travis is struggling, but he won’t let anyone close enough to help him.
Liam gives me a half smile—only one of his dimples popping out. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I’m gonna go see if I can join him.”
“Sleep tight.” I start to turn toward my hotel when Calvin’s hushed voice stops me in my tracks.
“How much? How soon can you get them? No, that won’t work. I’ll be in another city by then. Just figure it out. I need them like yesterday.”
He's near the back of the bus, phone to his ear while his eyes dart around suspiciously. My curiosity piques, and I creep closer, making sure to keep my steps light in my three-inch heels.
“I can Venmo you the money, but not until I have them in my hand.”
What is he talking about? And why’s he being so secretive? He keeps looking over his shoulder, like he’s worried someone’s going to come out and bust him for using the phone. Tanner is a hard ass, but he’s not that crazy.
He hangs up and rounds the bus, eyebrows shooting high when he notices me. He clears his throat, masking his features, as if he wasn’t just being super shady. “Is Travis resting?”
“Yeah…”
“Good. Good. Well, I guess I better get back to it.” He hooks a thumb to the bus and I shake off the weird feeling I have—he is not my problem.
I make the two-block trek to my hotel. Normally, I wouldn’t have even come on tour with the guys.
I could do my job at home while they’re on the road, but I’m basically acting as an assistant to Calvin—who again, is not my boss—and their PR rep.
Since they don’t have a massive following and this is their first headlining tour, I haven’t had to do any damage control yet.
My job has many layers, but I love it. I always wanted to do something in the music industry, but wasn’t sure how I’d get my foot in the door.
Apparently, sleeping my way in was the way to go.
Kidding. I had no idea a short romp in the sack with Travis would lead to this.
I’d only wanted to help them when I started messing with their social media.
It was clear they had no idea what they were doing.
Hard to believe they’re here now, a legit tour bus and crew members. So different from the guys Olivia and I watched play in a tiny hole-in-the-wall bar not that long ago. It’s where this all started, for me and her. She met the love of her life that night, and I found my dream job.