9. Enjoying the View?
9
ENJOYING THE VIEW?
FELIX
Sugar, We’re Goin Down By Fall Out Boy
I lace up my shoes and throw on a loose tank top before heading into the bathroom. A purple lace bra is hanging from the shower rod. What the hell?
I’m no stranger to feminine products—I have a sister for fuck’s sake—but it’s not every day they’re staring me in the face in my bathroom. Her shit is everywhere. I shake my head, navigating the minefield as I hunt for my toothbrush, running a hand through my hair in exasperation. I practically insisted she stay here, but damn, I didn’t know someone as small as her had this much stuff.
Quietly, I open the bedroom door, and spot Maggie sprawled out asleep amidst a tangle of blankets. Tiptoeing through the kitchen, I snatch a bottle of water, careful not to disturb her. Her blonde hair is a tangled mess on the pillow, lips parted as a tiny snore escapes. It’s the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.
I lean against the counter, sipping my water as I watch her, and despite the chaos her presence brings, fuck if I don’t like the sight of Maggie Morgan on my bus. Everything about having her here feels oddly… right. The reason she’s on my bus, though, drags my mood back down. When I found that creep cornering her last night, rage surged, hot and unrelenting—at the roadie, at Dusty for dropping the ball, at Dylan for sticking her on that bus in the first place.
Moving quietly, I slip out of the bus and head across the morning-lit lot, pull out my phone, and dial Dylan, my fingers tapping impatiently as the phone rings.
“Hey Felix, how’s it going?” Dylan’s voice carries its usual casual cheer.
“Well, last night I caught one of the crew trying something with Maggie, that’s how it’s going,” I answer, my tone clipped with barely restrained anger.
“Is Maggie alright?”
“I packed her things and had her sleep on my bus,” I explain, trying hard not to lose my shit.
Dylan lets out a long, resigned sigh. “We vet our crew, Felix; we have protocols, and Dusty knows this. I asked him personally to look out for her.”
“She had no business being on that bus with the crew in the first place. You should know better than to put a girl with a bunch of roadies!”
I can hear Dylan breathe heavily on the other end and for a moment I think I might have taken things too far. He is my boss, after all.
“This situation, it’s on me. I screwed up, and I’ll fix it.”
I appreciate his willingness to take the blame, but the image of Maggie’s relieved face when I intervened still gnaws at me.
“It’ll take me some time to get another bus on the tour, but I’ll make sure Dusty keeps an eye out for the rest of the women in the crew for now,” Dylan assures. “As for the roadie, he’s fired, effective immediately. Who is he?”
“Name’s Abel,” I reply. “Maggie dumped a whole can of trash in his bunk.” I chuckle at the memory.
Dylan lets out a small chuckle of his own. “Sounds like her.”
He offers a hotel for Maggie until a new bus is ready, but I decline, reflexively stumbling over my words. “She’s fine with me for now.”
What the fuck am I doing?
“Is it an inconvenience?” Dylan presses gently.
Truthfully, it’s inconvenient that she isn’t sleeping in my bed with me . “As long as she doesn’t film me in my sleep, we’re good,” I deflect with a smirk.
“Is Maggie really okay?”
“Yeah,” I reply, running a hand over my jaw, replaying the memory of the relief when she saw me… it was like a punch to the gut.
“I didn’t know you and Maggie had gotten so close…”
I’m unsure how to answer. “She’s in my face with the camera all day,” I say.
After the call, I pull my shirt off, tucking it into the back of my shorts before hitting the steps for a run, hoping the rhythmic pounding will soothe both my tension and my racing mind. The sun climbs as I sprint the stadium stairs in relentless reps, each breath labored in the morning heat.
By my third lap, Maggie’s voice slices through the calm. “Did you narc me out to Dylan?”
I pause at the top, shading my eyes against the sun to find her at the bottom, hands planted on her hips, her lips curving into a defiant frown. Her hair is piled into a messy bun and it somehow highlights just how adorable she is when she’s mad.
Jogging down to her level, I pull the shirt from my pocket and use it to wipe my brow. Her gaze flickers to my chest, and I can’t help smirking. “Enjoying the view?”
“The sun is in my eyes,” she protests haughtily.
“Mm hm.” She’s cute when she lies, too.
“And you told him I was sleeping on your bus!” she accuses angrily.
“Relax, I only told him you tried to molest me once,” I tease, enjoying the way it spurs her indignation.
“That’s not funny, Felix,” she protests, stomping her foot. “What do you think Dylan’s going to assume?”
“That you’re safe—that’s what I care about,” I reply firmly, stretching my leg across the step to ease the morning’s tension.
“You know what I mean.” She flails her arms in anger. “I don’t need Dylan thinking I’m sleeping with you. The rest of the crew probably thinks that too after your macho display last night.”
I lean in as our breaths mingle, the shared air crackling between us. “I don’t care what they think, but since you brought it up, they’re probably thinking how lucky you are.” I smirk.
“This is serious,” she groans. “I’m here to do a job.”
“So you’ve said.”
She rears back.
“And now you can do it without having to sleep with one eye open,” I say, matching her stubborn determination. “In fact, I’m certain you slept pretty good last night.”
She huffs, gesturing at my bare chest. “What sane person gets up at this ungodly hour to work out?”
I chuckle at her incredulity. “It’s almost ten—hardly the crack of dawn,” I counter.
“And your point is?”
“You should join me sometime. Maybe it’ll help unwind the tension inside that small, feisty body of yours,” I challenge, sweeping my eyes thoughtfully over her.
“Running isn’t my idea of fun,” she grumbles, clearly unenthused.
“Well, there’s another way to relieve tension. It involves sweating, though, but it’s a lot more fun.” I lift an eyebrow.
“In your dreams, rockstar,” she shoots back.
“Is that why you were drooling in your sleep?” I taunt, enjoying her blush.
“I do not drool! And why are you even watching me sleep, you stalker?”
“Couldn’t help it. Your snoring kept me up,” I say with a wink.
She huffs dramatically, jutting out a hip.
“If it makes you feel any better,” I sling my shirt over my shoulder and grab my phone from the steps. “Dylan’s getting another bus, but until it arrives, you’re all mine, Maggie Morgan.”
She folds her arms, her gaze locking onto mine with quiet defiance. “All yours? That’s a little over the top, don’t you think?” she says, her words edged with dry amusement.
I chuckle softly. “Not over the top—just looking out for you,” I reply. My eyes linger on hers. “Besides, let’s not pretend you hate it entirely.”
Her eyebrows shoot up, and she scoffs. “Hate what? Being babysat by a cocky rockstar with a savior complex?”
I take a step closer, the space between us shrinking. “Careful, Maggie. If you keep calling me a rockstar, I might start thinking you’re my biggest fan.”
“You wish,” she shoots back.
“I’m just saying,” I shrug, leaning casually against the railing. “You’re not exactly running off my bus screaming. Could it be… maybe you actually feel safe with me?”
She glares up at me, but there’s a flicker of vulnerability, fleeting and carefully guarded. “I can take care of myself,” she says, her chin lifting in stubborn defiance.
“Of course you can.” I nod. “I saw the trash can incident firsthand, remember? You’re terrifying when provoked.”
“Good. Keep that in mind the next time you decide to make decisions for me without asking.”
“Noted.” I raise my hands in mock surrender. “But just so we’re clear, if anything like last night happens again, I’m stepping in. End of discussion.”
“It’s not your job to protect me, Felix.”
“No, it’s not,” I agree. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t do it anyway.”
“Well, congratulations,” she mutters. “You’re officially the most annoying person I’ve ever met.”
“Happy to oblige.”
Before she can fire off another retort, a voice interrupts us from across the lot. “Felix! We’re doing soundcheck in twenty—don’t make me drag your ass!”