Chapter 42
ELLIE
Travis was right.
Tanner was more than slightly annoyed when he discovered the cat after driving eight hours straight.
But I think he was too exhausted to put up a fight.
Which seemed to disappoint Travis. He was ready to go to bat over the feline, which was kind of adorable, but not necessary, it turns out.
Calvin was more bothered than anyone, only because it’s me, and he hates me for some unknown reason.
I shuffle to my bunk after grabbing a snack. We’re less than two hours away from our next destination. I can’t wait to get off this bus and go outside. Feel the sun on my face. This is a nice bus—roomy, but it doesn’t take long to feel suffocated.
My feet freeze as my bunk comes into view.
Travis is splayed across my bed, legs spread wide, with the kitten on his chest. His hands are cupped protectively around her back, one of his thumbs stroking her fur.
My heart patters against my ribs.
His eyes are closed, his messy hair lying over his forehead. I clutch my quivering stomach. I think my ovaries just kicked into overdrive. That’s never happened before. Shit, am I ovulating?
Yeah, that has to be it.
I step closer and immediately regret it. The sight is almost too hot to bear.
This big, sexy, tattooed and pierced man snuggled up with a tiny kitty is making me…horny. My eyes trail down to the button on his jeans all on their own. I envision myself undoing them, pulling his cock out, and sitting on it.
Oh fuck. Retreat, retreat!
How did I not see this coming? I knew Travis loved animals, but I hadn’t considered pets fitting in that category. I thought he liked wild animals and watching them on TV. I wasn’t prepared to see him interact with one. With mine.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.”
My gaze snaps up, and I jolt backward.
Travis is eyeing me with a grin, head lifted off the bed as he strokes my cat. Dammit. I have another pussy he can stroke.
No, bad Ellie.
I roll my eyes, but he’s right. I pull out my phone and take a picture. “This will be good content.”
“Uh-huh. Puttin’ it in your spank bank, aren’t you, May? Don’t lie.”
Shoving his long-ass legs out of the way, I sit down next to him. “You wish.”
“You didn’t know I was going to be a cat daddy, did you?”
I open the tiny bag of chips too aggressively, and a few fly out, raining all over me. “A cat daddy?”
He grabs a stray chip that landed on my blanket and pops it into his mouth. “Yup.”
“What the hell is that?”
He holds up the kitten and kisses her face, sending my ovaries fluttering again. Calm down, ladies. You are stronger than this.
“She loves me already. I’ve been thinking about her name—”
“Whoa, her name? She’s my cat. Mine. Not yours, not ours. I’ll be choosing her name.”
“You’re her mother, sure, but she needs a father, too. You see how much she loves me? Why would you take that away from her?”
I gape at him. Not that he’s wrong, per se. Kitty has taken to him. After her initial reaction wore off, she’s basically been cuddled up to him ever since. It’s annoying.
“I cannot with you.”
He smiles at Kitty. “Your mom’s crazy, isn’t she, girl? Jealous of us. It’s ok, I won’t let her take you from me.” He speaks in baby talk, and though my face twists in annoyance, my heart is melting.
I didn’t even know what a cat daddy was a second ago, but if it’s this, I’m so screwed.
“Anyway, back to the name. After all the time I’ve spent with her, I came up with two options.”
“All the time you’ve spent with her? It’s been less than ten hours.”
“You named my cock after one ride.”
My mouth falls open. “Travis! Shut up!” I whisper-shout, checking to make sure the rest of the guys aren’t within earshot. “I didn’t give it a name. I called it a shiny joystick, is all.”
His eyes lock on mine as a smile takes up his entire face, smug and satisfied for making me repeat it.
I was taken off guard when I first saw it.
He didn’t tell me about the piercings. What a lovely surprise that was.
I’d never been with anyone pierced before.
It was shiny, and when I sat down on it, ughhh.
It brought me joy, and it slipped out. The words slipped out, not his dick.
Oh, no, it stayed nice and deep. Ruining my insides for any other average, plain dick.
Travis steals another chip, and I snap out of my dirty thoughts. Damn him. I’m supposed to be mad at him. I am mad at him. But shit, I’m horny, too. And I kind of miss our banter.
I take the kitten from him, needing something to do with my hands before they start grabbing his dick or something. He steals my chip bag, and I let him. When’s the last time he ate?
“Wanna hear the names or not?”
“Fine.”
“Cinnamon or Tabasco.”
I cock my head. Hmm. Those aren’t bad. “No.”
He rears back. “No? Why the hell not? Those are perfect names, and you know it. She’s sweet, but she has a bit of sass, too. Did you see the way she hissed at Calvin?”
It’s my turn to smile now. Yes, I saw, and it was glorious. This baby knows a jackass when she sees one.
“I’ll be the one to name her.” I stroke the cat, and she slinks under my neck, rubbing against me, but then she sashays away—right back to Travis.
“Come here, girl.” He scoops her up, and she settles on his chest.
I blink, unable to believe what I’m seeing. I’ve been traded in, just like that. I rescued her from an alley, and somehow, in less than a day, he won her over.
“Don’t be mad, May. All pussies love me.”
“Ughh,” I groan, getting up and walking away.
I can’t look at this anymore. I’m either going to cry or suck his cock.
I’m in stealth mode as I creep along the bus.
The guys are at sound check, so I’m taking this opportunity to see if any more drugs are lying around.
I’ve kept a close eye on Travis the last few days.
It’s been easy because he’s obsessed with Cinnamon.
Yes, he got his way. That’s her name. I can’t be mad, it fits her perfectly.
I said I wasn’t going to do this again, but it’s irking the shit out of me. Where is he getting Adderall? That’s if he’s still taking it—which I think he is. I’ve tried my damndest to stay up all night and see if he sleeps, but it’s impossible. I’m so worn out every day, I pass right out.
I’m not going through his belongings again, that was definitely crossing a line. I’m simply scoping out the bus for anything suspicious, and finding nothing.
I flop on the couch. He could be getting the drugs from anywhere. I’m sure it’s not hard to find a shady character at one of these shows. I haven’t noticed him talking to anyone, but I’m not always around either. Surely the guys would’ve picked up on it by now if he was having secret meetings.
My phone ringing pulls me from my thoughts. Liv’s face lights up my screen, and I smile.
“Hey, babe.”
“Hey, are you busy?”
“Nope. Not even a little. What’s up?”
Cinnamon comes strolling through the bus and hops up beside me.
I drag her into my lap. Travis has been hogging all the snuggles.
He begged me to leave her on the bus the other night while I stayed in my hotel.
He didn’t have to beg hard. The hotel wasn’t pet-friendly.
I was willing to sneak her in anyway. Instead, I let her stay with him.
The girl got to snuggle the man whose cock I’ve been dreaming about the last few nights.
That’s not a joke, either. Last night I had a dream that I was eating a donut from his perfect dick. I woke up with my core throbbing.
“Ellie?” Liv’s voice hits my ears again.
I shake my head, plastering on another smile. “Sorry, what’s up?”
“I was thinking about the final show. It’s a big deal, right? This has been a pretty lengthy tour for their first go. I think we should commemorate it somehow. Since it’s only a few hours away, I want to be there, but don’t tell Penn. I want to surprise him.”
“Oh my God, you’re coming! Yay!”
“Yes. Pacey and his mom, too!”
“Aw, he’s going to love that. You’re such a good girlfriend, Liv.”
She gives me a shy smile. “I was thinking how amazing it would be if we could get someone there for each of the guys? But I need your help because you know them better than I do. Obviously, Katie for Tanner. I know how you feel about her, so I’ll handle that one.”
I snort. “Good luck with that.”
“Both of his parents are gone, that much I know. He was raised by his grandfather, who I imagine is way too old to be traveling anyway.” I nod along.
Tanner doesn’t talk about his family. I have no idea if his parents are dead or just deadbeats.
“Liam has an older brother, Seth. His parents are divorced, so I’m thinking we invite him.
Can you have a ticket set aside in case he can make it? ”
“You got it. Do you want me to reach out to him? Ya know, since he tried to sleep with you the first time you met him?” I tease.
Her face turns red. “I think we’re past that, but sure, that would be great.”
“Done.” I tap my notes app and add a reminder. “What else?”
“That leaves Travis,” she says, wincing. “He doesn’t really have anyone.”
My chest squeezes. He acts like he isn’t bothered by his parents’ lack of interest in his life, but I know it has to hurt. My parents are the most supportive people I know. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
“Penn’s family will be there and they’re like a second family to him, but...”
She doesn’t need to finish her sentence. If everyone except Travis has someone there, we can’t go through with it. I’d volunteer myself, but somehow, I doubt that would make him feel better.
“I’ll reach out to his parents. I’ll beg them if I have to.” I’ll even offer to fly them here first class on my dime.
“What if they say no?”
The ache in my chest throbs more. “I don’t know. You just focus on Katie. Somehow, I feel like that will be just as challenging as Travis’s parents.”
She makes a face. Poor girl. She loves to see the best in people, but she doesn’t know Katie that well.
She’s getting better at confrontation, though.
She has guns, and she sticks to them now, especially with her family.
I have no doubt she can take on Katie. Her approach will likely kill her with kindness anyway, and you can’t be mean to Liv.
It’s physically impossible. It’s like hating a puppy.
“Ok, keep me posted, and remember, no one can know.” She makes a zipping motion over her lips, and I do the same.
More secrets. Yay.