Paris was incredible. The people and the fans have been amazing. I’m in love with the city. It was our first stop on the tour and the first time a kiss has meant so much.
France will always have my heart.
So will Texas.
Right now, Tex is sitting in her rightful place beside me.
Although we’ve not discussed the kiss at the Eiffel Tower and it’s not happened since, we both know our relationship has changed. I’m okay to take things slow and figure it out though. As much as I’d love to spend every second with my hands all over her, we have to handle this properly, and that means taking our time.
I need time to get my head straight because it’s all over the place, and it has been for a while.
I’m not sure if anyone else has noticed anything—Mark certainly hasn’t—because we’ve barely left each other’s side, but no one has uttered a word. Milo has been quiet on the subject, and that’s because he tends to let people figure out their own shit and only steps in to help if asked.
“Peyton is coming soon, yeah?” Cooper asks Texas. He’s obsessed with the pretty blonde and determined to fuck her, much to Peyton’s disgust.
Texas glares. “Portugal. Leave her alone.”
“Hey, I’ll not do anything she doesn’t want.”
“She doesn’t want anything.”
“Please, everyone wants some of this.” Coop gestures to his cock, making us all reach over to slap him.
Dickhead.
Texas twists her body, blocking him out, making it me and her. She is stunning.
“What’s the first thing you’re going to do in Germany then?” I ask her.
“Sleep. I’m tired.”
Yeah, we didn’t sleep much last night. Nothing happened, not because of lack of wanting, but we stayed up all night, talking about crap and not watching whatever movie came on next. I think it was around five a.m. when we finally fell asleep. She lay on my chest until we woke up a couple of hours later. I could do that every night and never get bored.
“Me, too,” I whisper.
Did that sound like an invitation? Like I was asking her to sleep with me again? Because it kind of was.
Her mouth kicks up at the side, and her eyes turn playful. I start to get hard.
Do not stand up.
“Sounds good to me.”
Yep, she definitely took it how it was intended.
“What are you two whispering about?” Mark asks, sitting down opposite of us.
Shit.
Tex is instantly on the lie, and she’ll probably feel horrible about it. “All the room service we’re ordering the second we get to the hotel.”
I feel a stab of guilt as he looks at me like I’m not a daughter-kissing prick.
I don’t think I’ve ever told one lie to my grandparents, mostly because they were so open and we had a truth-only rule, much like Mark and Texas. I’m the reason she’s broken it, and that doesn’t feel good.
But the truth isn’t something Mark would take well. In fact, he’d fucking freak. And rightly so.
You made him a promise.
“Is that all you think about?” Mark asks.
She blinks before replying, “Yes. What are you planning on doing when we get to the hotel?”
“We have a meeting with Carl.”
“Ugh, all of us?”
“No, Enigma. Jodie will be in Berlin this evening. Are you attending that meeting with Filthy Sound?”
“Absolutely. I’m going to tell her they’ve been terrible and see what happens.”
She would as well.
I nudge her leg under the table. It’s the only part of us hidden, so it’s the only physical contact we can have, but I’ll take it. Texas looks up at me through her eyelashes, and my breath catches.
I’m damn crazy about her, and there’s nothing I can do to change that now.
Mark laughs. “She’ll believe you over them.”
“Oh, I know. I can’t wait to get to Berlin.”
Our trip to Germany is going to be short. It’s two days, and we have shows on both of them, same as France. It’s a similar story on the rest of the tour, except we mostly have one-nighters. There is a lot of traveling in a short space of time, and although I do worry about crashing and burning, this is the best way.
The album has been released, and we need to hit as many cities in as many countries to get it out there. I want Filthy Sound to explode. I want number ones. I want to make my—our—dream come true.
We will do it. I don’t give up on something I want.
Texas will find that out.
TUESDAY, MAY 12
BERLIN, GERMANY
The first show in Berlin was everything we’d hoped for. The crowd was incredible, and the fans backstage were just as passionate about Filthy Sound as we are.
Carver Harvey, a big name in the industry, is hosting the after-party in his place in Berlin. There’s a club in his cellar. He’s well-known for his extravagance, so it comes as no surprise when I see the gold-plated walls encrusted with diamonds.
Tex is eyeing it up, like she thinks she’ll get away with chipping one of them out.
The ceiling is pitch-black with hundreds of lights, making it look like the night’s sky. The bar doubles as a tropical fish tank.
I wouldn’t even be able to take a wild guess at the cost of it all.