Chapter 9
LOVE TO HATE
“I’m not a follower,” Jorge says firmly, folding his arms and frowning at the ground.
“Of course not,” Oli reassures him and tucks a curl behind his ear.
Yeah, he’s still moping about what Lex said a week ago.
I tried strong-arming it, sending some shitty texts to get him to apologize to our vocalist, but Lex refuses to acknowledge it. Jorge would’ve already moved on and forgiven the dude if he’d simply manned up and apologized.
“I’ll talk to him,” Michael says.
Phoenix raises an eyebrow, his arm draped over Eli’s shoulders. “Shouldn’t that be Kelly’s job?”
“I’m on his shitlist,” Kelly drawls. She’s on her phone and not looking at any of us. “Unrelated, but do you think she’d wear purple or teal?” She angles the screen so I can see, and I actually gasp.
She’s picking out wedding dresses.
“Do I need to take your phone away?” I ask, plucking it from her fingers. “You don’t know her. You’ve never even met!”
“I will know her. She’s going to be my wife.” She jerks her chin defiantly and gestures for Jorge to come closer. “What do you think?”
He sniffs loudly before taking the phone. I watch the two of them scroll through options before his eyes light up. “Oh, this one is perfect. Will you be matching? I always thought that was so cute.”
Delusional. Fucking delusional.
Turning my attention back to Michael, I catch his gaze. “What?” he asks.
“You’re going to talk to Lex? Since when are you his handler?”
My best friend gives me a bored look. “I’m the only one here who isn’t afraid of him.”
“I’m not fucking afraid of him.”
“Shit, I am. He can be scary,” Phoenix muses.
Eli chuckles and shakes his head. “You’re kind of a scaredy cat, baby.”
I ignore their chatter, scanning for Lex’s purple Prius.
We’re supposed to check out the new tour bus today.
Kingsport insisted we upgrade, since it’s within our budget, and I’ll admit, I’m excited for more space.
We were so cramped last time, and it’d be nice to have a functional toilet.
Micro-managing everyone’s bowel movements got old after three days.
On top of having a new ride, I think it’ll do us all some good to be away from our shitty manager for a few months.
He has to come with us for the international segment of the tour, but I’m looking forward to some time alone with my friends.
I glance back at Michael, and he’s been roped into picking out fucking wedding dresses.
Groaning and feeling left out, I offer feedback as well.
Kelly beams at me and nudges me with her elbow.
Fuckin’ dork.
About fifteen minutes later, Lex drives into the lot and parks beside my truck. I’m the only one paying attention, it seems, but I’ve always been more observant. He gets out of his car, fusses with his hair, and checks his reflection in the window.
Against my will, I skim over his outfit. Another pair of skin-tight black jeans, platform Doc Martens, and a purple tank top that hugs his lean torso like a second skin.
The freckles dotting his shoulders and biceps stand out against his fair complexion, just like the ones on his face.
His perky bubble butt is being cradled by those damn pants, and when he turns to walk toward us, I can’t avert my eyes.
I might hate the dude, but he’s so pretty it makes me sick.
His typically orange lashes are coated in a tasteful layer of black mascara, and a strip of thin eyeliner makes his amber eyes pop.
Thick gloss coats his lips, too. Shiny and enticing.
Who the fuck is he trying to impress with this get-up? Why do I care?
“Ah, Mr. Hale, right on time.” The salesman exits the main office building just as Lex approaches.
“I think I just came a little,” Jorge purrs, ripping me out of my stare down with the sales rep who is blatantly flirting with Lex. “Guys, look at it!” He jumps up and down, nearly ripping Oli’s arm out of the socket in the process.
Phoenix shoves him aside, takes Eli's hand, and rushes up the shallow steps inside. “No fair!” Jorge whines, and I snort.
It always amazes me how different his relationship with Phoenix is compared to mine with Michael.
Maybe it’s because Jorge doesn’t want to fuck Phoenix.
They’re too distracted to hear what’s going on behind us and disappear inside the massive tour bus.
When I glance back at my best friend, waiting to see if he’s going inside or not, I’m surprised to find him openly staring at the interaction going on with Lex and the sales rep.
“You coming?” I ask Michael. He blinks, frowns slightly, then climbs into the bus.
I fully expect Lex to join, but he lingers, his eyes like hot coals on that fuckin sale’s rep.
“We got it from here,” I tell the douche, distracting our manager.
Lex snaps his attention toward me and narrows his eyes into slits. We face off for a handful of seconds before he flutters his lashes and smiles sweetly at the rep. “I guess I should probably take a quick peek, too.”
The man blushes at Lex’s words, and I force myself to leave before I do something reckless. Jealousy flashes through me—unexpected, sharp. Why should I care if Lex flirts? Dates and fucks? He isn’t... I don’t...
“Happy now, dick?” he growls, shoulders past me and up the steps.
There’s a comeback on the tip of my tongue, but it never comes out. I’m too busy staring at his retreating ass. I slap my forehead, blow out a breath, and go inside.
The rest of our group is fawning over the interior, and I make a low whistle when I get a good look at it.
This thing is nice. Luxurious, even. Unlike the previous one with tiny bunks and a small seating area towards the front, this one is a significant upgrade thanks to the signing bonus from Kingsport.
There’s a full fucking sofa in here.
There’s a large suite, a private restroom, and a shower that Phoenix is currently squealing over.
Two rows of triple bunks in the middle section and another toilet.
A small kitchenette is across from the ‘living area’.
Jorge is making imaginary snow angels on the lush bedspread, purring like a cat, while everyone else crowds the king-size mattress to test it out.
“Oh, this is fucking nice,” Phoenix says.
“I call dibs,” Michael says.
“Only because you snore like a Grizzly bear,” Kelly retorts, causing a round of laughter. Michael glares at her.
“You can’t call dibs because I already did,” Jorge argues.
“When?” Oli asks.
“You’re supposed to be on my side, bebe! I called it in my mind. That totally counts.”
I stare at them, lost. Half my mind hangs on Lex’s ass, the other on the chaos unraveling around me.
“Kelly,” Lex says, and I quickly look at the ceiling.
“Hold up.” She pushes Jorge over more so she can test out the bed. “Oh fuck me.”
“No thanks,” Jorge quips. “Wait! Should we make a rule? No sex on this bed?”
“Why would we be having sex?” Michael asks with a deep frown while fluffing one of the pillows.
“I plan on having sex.” Oli, who is perched on the edge, blushes. “Well, maybe not around everyone.” Jorge shoots him an apologetic look.
“No one is having sex,” Eli declares before climbing into Phoenix’s lap.
“You don’t even go here,” Kelly points out.
“Where I go, he goes, end of,” Phoenix says before using his long legs to kick her.
“Kelly!” Lex blows up. “I need to fucking talk to you!”
“Jeesh,” Jorge shudders.
“Chill out, man,” Phoenix growls.
While Kelly takes her sweet time rolling out of bed, the salesman who has been flirting with our manager enters and calls out to everyone. “In case you were interested, we have a different model. It’ll cost a bit more, but it wouldn’t be an issue to switch your reservation over.”
“Different model?” Jorge shoots up like Linda Blair from the Exorcist. “I am so interested.”
“I wouldn’t mind looking,” Michael adds.
Next thing I know, they are all pushing past me to leave the damn bus, and I’m alone.
Alone with Lex. My nerves spike, and my throat dries.
Fuck. My. Life.
“As much as everyone thinks they have a claim to this space, it’s mine,” he says proudly and perches on the edge of the bed.
“Did you forget that you aren’t coming with us?” I snoop around the room. It’s a tight fit, but I wouldn’t expect that much floor space. There’s a little shelf above the bed for essentials.
“Kingsport thinks it’s important I go in case there are any interviews scheduled along the way.”
My hackles rise at the implication. “No.”
“You don’t get to make that choice,” he says and flops backward, revealing a strip of skin above his waistband. “Why the fuck are you staring at me?”
I don’t bother denying it. Instead, I swiftly change the subject. “Are you sure you can handle that? Being on the road with us?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
I shoot him a dry look and cross my arms. “You lost it for no reason and said shit to Jorge that cut deep. He’s still hurting. You owe him an apology—no one wants drama on the road.”
He sits up, eyes alight with irritation. “It wasn’t drama. I heard you all talking about me as I left. Like it or not, I am your manager. I have to be here.” Studying me, he straightens his spine and cocks his head. “Or maybe you just don’t want me to come.”
“Damn right I don’t,” I blurt. “I need a break from the mindfuckery.”
“You and me both.”
“Finally, something we can agree on.”
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t change the situation. I have to come.”
“So you can piss everyone off? Even Kelly wonders what she did to deserve your bullshit.”
His glossy lips part, and my eyes drop down to them. “How is that even your business?”
“Because she’s my friend, something you’d know if you had any.”
Scrunching his face and gripping the blanket, he snaps, “My job doesn’t require friends. I’m here to ensure everything runs smoothly, and you don’t fuck it up.”
Don’t do it. Walk away, Devon.
“If anyone is going to fuck it up, it’ll be you. You can’t keep your opinions to yourself. You shit on everything and everyone for no reason.”
“I do have a reason,” he says easily. “Without my opinion, you all would be in the exact spot I found you in. Playing out of a garage with part-time jobs.” There’s a cocky smirk taking over his resting bitch face.
I can’t stop staring at him. The way a single expression can strip the air from my sails. One little smirk and I’m flicking my eyes over his short frame. From his perfectly styled hair, tight stomach, and firm chest, down his legs…
“Regardless,” I rasp and then clear my throat. “I don’t want to look at you for the next handful of months.”
Scoffing, he stands up and places his hands on his hips. I hate that I follow the movement. “Says the man who’s been eye-fucking me for the past five minutes.”
“In your fucking dreams, princess.”
Stepping into my personal bubble, he pulls the same move on me that he did on the sales rep. Fluttering lashes, a pretty smile, and a swipe of his tongue over his top lip. My heart kicks against my ribcage. “You couldn’t handle me even then.”
I unfold my arms, lean in, and lower so we are at eye level. The tiniest, barely there gasp escapes him. He didn’t expect me to take the bait. Well, Lex, consider me fucking caught.
“Do you want to find out?”
His eyes round for a split second before he steps back. “If you think I’d ever stoop so low, you’re out of your damn mind.”
I flash him a grin, and my hand shoots out to snare around his throat. “You have always had a fucked up attitude, you know that?”
To my surprise, he doesn’t fight me. He seems completely at ease with my light application of pressure. “My attitude is what got you where you are,” he murmurs.
“That attitude needs to get fucked out of you,” I say without thinking. There’s an instant quiver in my gut as my cock twitches.
He blinks, caught off guard, I’m sure, but the tense pause only lasts a handful of seconds before he slings the best retort I’ve ever heard.
“You couldn’t handle it before when I was there and willing.
You certainly couldn’t handle it now.” He presses his hips into mine, wets his already glossy lips, and whispers, “Because all things get better with age, and I know I’m the best thing you’ll never have. ”
In one quick move, he shoves at my chest, breaking my hold on him, and storms out of the suite.