Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Knox
B racing myself for the electric distraction of Ryan Staley, I walk on stage and know instantly something’s off.
She’s not here.
I’ve been able to think of nothing but her since hearing her sing two nights ago.
Her voice a smokey seduction mixed with the way her body swayed to the music, dominated my thoughts as I jerked off in bed last night and again in the shower this morning.
The woman is a fire I can’t put out. She is fresh air and the smoke of a campfire all at once.
Just like campfire smoke, no matter how many ways I try to avoid it, it finds me, choking me out until it’s hard to breathe.
Jennifer is out on the empty arena floor chatting with Kristen. But I don’t see Marie or any of the kids. Trevor isn’t here either .
“Where is everyone today?” I ask Jay, as I press my earpiece into my ear.
“Trevor is in a meeting with the promoters and Marie and her mom are taking the kids on a tour of D.C.”
Continuing to search my surroundings, I’m shocked at the disappointment filling my chest when I don’t find the auburn-haired Billie Eilish fan.
I could hardly believe my ears when I’d caught her waiting for the elevator singing one of the most undeniably perfect songs of recent years.
Her voice had been quiet but beautiful. I had never wanted to harmonize with someone like I did with Ryan that day outside that elevator.
Then the other night happened and fuck me. If I don’t get to sing with her before I die, I will die a very disappointed man.
“You looking for Ryan?”
Busted.
“Well, isn’t she like our new Yoko? Thought she was supposed to be everywhere we were.”
Shut. Up. McKinnon. Could you be more obvious?
“Well, I’m not sure what you did to her, but she took off early yesterday morning.”
What the fuck? Seriously?
“I doubt it was me. Not when she has her fan club to feed her ego.”
“Hello pot. Meet kettle.”
He’s right. Who am I to accuse anyone of having an ego?
“Whatever. She didn’t really take off, did she?”
“Sure did. She didn’t look too happy about it either.”
Fuck, did I push her too far? Ryan has done nothing to me. So, why do I continue to take my issues, and my inability to control my emotions and my sex deprived dick, out on her?
Shit.
I need to fix this.
Pulling out my phone, I message Trevor. He’s in a meeting, I know, but the need to know what happened to Ryan, to know if she’s coming back, demands action. I feel itchy not seeing her here. The whereabouts of everyone’s favorite journalist seems more important than his chitchat with the promoters.
Knox
where did Ryan go?
Trevor
She went home for her mom’s birthday. She’ll be back in a couple days. Now leave me alone. I’m in a meeting.
Relief floods my veins, and my shoulders relax.
“Dude, she went home for her mom’s birthday. Why did you say she didn’t seem happy to leave and why did you blame me?” I spit at Jay.
“Well, she wasn’t happy about going home, that part was true.”
“Why make me think it was my fault?”
“You’re easy to mess with and I was hoping if you thought your bad attitude ran her off you might be nicer to her when she got back.”
“You’re a dick, you know that.”
He shrugs then ignores me as he tunes his bass and the other guys take their places for soundcheck.
Point taken, Jay. I need to do better.