Chapter 21 Milton
Milton
She saw it. She saw the fucking camera. And now she thought I was a creep.
I mean, what else would she think?
I had gotten the alert on my phone, notifying me of some motion detection, so I pulled up the image and saw her holding a green dress. It didn’t even occur to me when I sent the text that she wasn’t aware I could see her.
I hadn’t been trying to hide the cameras from her; I’d just simply forgotten to mention them.
They were there for security purposes, facing the exits, just a precaution.
I’d gotten so used to all the security shit in my line of work, being on the road and having people invade my privacy, that it didn’t even cross my mind to tell Hazel or ask if she’d be comfortable with having them up while she stayed there.
I preferred not to take them down with her currently living there alone, but if she wanted them down, all she had to do was say so.
I typed out a dozen different replies at this point, erasing them all. There wasn’t a correct way to explain how you weren’t being a creep without sounding like a creep.
Hazel: Are you watching me?
I inhaled sharply when her text appeared across my screen.
Me: Fuck. I should’ve told you they were there. I’m sorry. Would you believe me if I told you I forgot? I can have them taken down. Just say the word, Hazel.
My heart was beating out of my chest as I waited for her to respond.
A minute went by. Then two.
I pinched the bridge of my nose as I sat in the greenroom backstage, waiting for our openers to finish their set. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do if I had to go out there without hearing back from her.
Finally, it chimed, and I leaned forward on the couch, holding my phone up with bated breath.
Hazel: That didn’t answer my question.
My heart skipped a beat as I read her message. Was she angry? Indifferent? Possibly … flirting?
Shaking my head, I typed my daring one-worded answer and sent it.
Me: Always.
Bouncing my knee, I continued staring at my screen as I heard cheering erupting from the stage, signaling the end of the opener and the twenty-minute intermission before we went on.
Text me back, baby.
Hazel: That’s either incredibly creepy or incredibly romantic. I can’t decide which.
Me: I’d definitely go with the latter of the two.
Hazel: So, you liked the dress?
Me: LOVED it.
Me: When do I get to see you wear it?
Hazel: It’s for Genesis and Cam’s wedding the weekend after next.
Me: Too bad I can’t be your plus-one. I make good arm candy.
Hazel: I bet. I’ll save you a dance.
Me: Lucky me. I’ll have to give you a reason to wear that dress again then.
Hazel: Maybe you could also give me a reason to take it off.
My heart rate spiked as I gripped the phone tighter, blood rushing to my cock. My jaw clenched as I read her last text over and over and over.
Me: Mmm. It’s a date, Sunshine.
“Man, you’re still awake?” Liam peeked his head into my hotel room.
I looked up from my ASL learning guide, removing my earbud. “Why? What time is it?”
His sleepy chuckle was low and raspy. “It’s four in the morning.”
“Oh shit. Really? I lost track of time.”
I’d blame the change in time zones, but I could pretty much sleep anytime, anywhere, or stay awake for hours on end.
It was a skill I’d gained from being on the road so much, like a switch that activated in me whenever we went on tour.
Oddly enough, my body didn’t seem to mind the inconsistency, but I was sure that would catch up with me one day.
I’d been spending most of our days off and nights after shows absorbing as much as I could from a few online courses I’d enrolled in and some books I’d picked up before I left the States.
I had to ask which country we were in some days because I’d lost track with my head down.
I still went out to celebrate at pubs or try some of the killer food in the area with my bandmates from city to city, but I only had six weeks to learn this stuff, and I was determined to be fluent for Hazel by the time I returned.
“How’s that going, by the way?” he asked, stealing a water from my mini fridge.
Switching my phone off, I ran a hand over my face and exhaled, only now realizing how tired I was.
“I’d like to think I’m picking it up pretty quickly, but there’s still so much to learn.
Some of the motions are similar to others, so I’m trying to make sure I don’t mistake any of them and look like an ass. ”
“Well, you’ve got a hell of a girl back home who I’m sure will be thrilled to see your progress and practice with you.”
“Yeah, once I tell her, she’ll have fun laughing at me when I fuck up or sign something completely different.” I grinned, aching to see her smile again.
“You haven’t told her you’re learning?”
I shook my head. “I want it to be a bit of a surprise.”
Liam lifted his mouth into a smirk.
My shoulders dropped. “What?”
“Nothing, man.”
“Bullshit. Come on. Tell me,” I insisted, smiling.
He cracked open the twist-off lid and took a drink of water before shaking his head. “It’s just good to see you fawning over someone like this. Or a girl you’re willing to tell us about anyway. I’ve been waiting for you to find someone who makes you this happy.”
My smile faltered slightly. “I wouldn’t say I’m fawning.”
Liam pulled his brows together at that. “She’s living at your house.”
“Dog-sitting,” I corrected.
“Sure,” he said, rolling his eyes with sarcasm. “You’re also learning another freaking language for her.”
“It’s not just for her; I’m learning it for anyone out there who I can’t connect with as well without it.”
He leaned against the doorframe. “And you said you guys kissed before you left.”
I closed my eyes as the image of her running down my driveway toward me came flooding back. “It was a goodbye kiss, and we were caught up in the moment or whatever. Are you done?”
He lifted the side of his mouth up. “When did you last text her?”
I didn’t want to answer him.
“Tic?”
“Fuck, like an hour ago, when we got offstage. What does that prove?”
“Maybe I should ask this instead: when’s the last full day you went without talking to her?”
I closed my eyes, shaking my head once. “I love you, man. But I really hate you right now.”
Liam smacked the wall in victory and chuckled. “Admit it, Tic. You like the woman. It’s fucking clear as day. You might not wanna hear it, but you may even be in love—”
“Liam,” I warned.
“The signs are all there, I’m telling you,” he continued.
“Stop.” I was incredibly annoyed, but a small grin still tugged at the corner of my mouth.
He shrugged, confused. “Why are you trying so hard to deny it?”
“I’m not. I know how I feel about Hazel.
It’s fucking consuming me, okay?” I said, running a hand over my face in defeat.
“There’s not a moment that goes by that I don’t think about her.
I look for her face on the corner of every street and in the crowd of fans in every city we visit.
I wonder what she’s doing. How she’s doing.
Wishing she were here to tell me which gelato she liked the most, knowing she wouldn’t be able to pick, or eat copious amounts of bread with me on a bench somewhere.
I try to picture how she’d draw the Colosseum in Rome or paint the sunset over the Mediterranean Sea in Barcelona.
” Something in my chest began to ache. “But I have to take this slow. I know she likes me too. Or is at least warming up to the idea of liking me. She just got out of a shit marriage with a shit guy, and she’s trying to heal some deep fucking wounds.
The last thing she needs is me rushing her into this. ”
“Oh, he’s definitely in love with this girl.” Lexie’s voice snapped me out of my daze and made Liam jump.
“When the hell did you get in here?” Liam exclaimed.
Lexie stretched a piece of gum out of her mouth with her fingers and pushed it right back in. “Around the time you confessed to wanting to marry this chick. When’s the wedding, by the way?”
A short laugh escaped me. “Fuck off, Lexie.”
“I hate to side with her on this one, but …” Liam started to say.
“All right, get out. I’m going to bed,” I told them.
“Finally.” Liam chortled. “By the way, you should see if Avery can practice signing with you sometime. She might be a little rusty, but it might help.”
“Oh yeah! I forgot she knows so many languages. That would be great actually.”
“Does she ever use them on you in the bedroom?” Lexie asked Liam, raising her eyebrows suggestively.
“Lex!” Liam and I scolded her in unison.
“What? There are endless ways she could tell you to go harder or call you a good boy. It’d be so hot.
” She scoffed at our silence. “You two are no fun. I’ll see you guys hopefully well after the sun has risen and you both get your humor back.
Good night, lover boy,” she teased before walking across the hall and slipping into Liam and Avery’s room.
Liam ran after her, shouting in protest, but the door closed before I got to hear much of it.