When we get back to the hotel, Texas is sitting at the bar with her dad and Jimmy.
“What are you guys having?” Milo asks, assuming that I’m down with drinking there.
“If you’re buying, I’m having beer and a couple whiskeys,” Cooper says, slapping Milo on the back before heading to the table.
“Yeah, I think I’m going to hit the sack,” I say.
Milo frowns. “Really? Maybe you should see a doctor. You’re rarely ill, and even when you are, you still join the party.”
It’s not a doctor that I need. It’s the girl sitting far too close to me for my sanity.
How do you deal with this?
I don’t know if I should go over to her or not.
One thing I know is, I can’t be around her when we’re not okay.
“I will if I still feel like shit tomorrow,” I say to pacify him. “Night, man.”
He nods his head, and I walk away.
I can’t sit around a table with her. Breathing the same air as her drives me insane. How I’ll make it through to the end of the tour, I’ll never know.
TEXAS
MONDAY, MAY 18
LISBON, PORTUGAL
We’re back on the bus, and Kitt has barely looked at me once. I admit, I didn’t handle the photo situation or our argument well, but he brings out emotions in me so strong that I can’t control it. I hate arguing with him.
We’re around the table, and he’s focusing far too hard on his conversation with Milo. Coop is keeping me busy, listing all the women he wants to have sex with. It’s gross, but at least I’m not focused on Kitt.
Well, I am.
Damn it.
We’ve arrived in Lisbon, and we are ten minutes from the hotel. I know that because I’ve been religiously questioning the drivers. I need to get off this bus. The atmosphere is tense although no one else has seemed to notice but me and Kitt.
He laughs, and the sound grates on my skin. How is he laughing when things aren’t okay with us?
I grit my teeth and nod to Cooper.
You can do this. Soon, you’ll be in the hotel, and you won’t have to see him.
We’ll work it out because we have to, but I’m too pissed off, and he’s too…him to deal with it this second.
When the bus pulls up, I’m the first one off—almost. Ted rushes past me and gives me a stern look. I raise my hands. He’s right. I can’t risk my safety just because I want to get out of here.
We get checked in, and we’re shown to our rooms. Like usual, I’m in a massive suite I don’t need.
I lie down and curl up. My heart is heavy, and everything feels wrong. This is the start of our relationship, and it’s not how it should be. The night we made love, we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. It was perfect, just the way it should be. The contrast between then and now is crazy.
Just as I get comfortable on my bed because I don’t intend on moving for a long time, someone knocks on my door. The guys are all out, so I have no idea who it could be. Maybe Ted, but he doesn’t usually bother me unless there’s a security issue.
I get up and pad across the thick pile carpet to the door.
“Surprise,” Peyton says, throwing her arms up the second I open the door. “Missed me?”
“Um…” Wow. Okay, I’m in shock. “Yeah, of course. But, huh? Aren’t you supposed to be here tomorrow?”
“Yes, but surprise!” Pushing past me, she heads into my room and looks around. “Nice. The label really does spring for the best suites.”
Coop got the president. I think he’s planning on having a lot of parties up there—and by parties, I mean, orgies. I’m not going anywhere near it.
“So, talk to me about Kitt. I want to hear, in detail, everything that’s happened. Then, we’re going to get you dressed—I love you, but you look like shit—and we’re going out.”
“I don’t want to go out.”
“I didn’t ask if you wanted to. I’m telling you we’re going.”
This is why she’s my best friend.
“Come on then. What’s going on?” she says.
Groaning, I walk back over to the bed. I’ve not had nearly enough alcohol for this conversation. “Ugh, things were perfect—like, perfect. Then, we had an argument yesterday, and the drive here was awkward. I miss him, Pey.”
“Talk to him then.”
“He’s avoiding me.”
“Like you’re avoiding him?”
I glare. “Piss off.”
Her light-blue eyes smile. “You know I’m right. Talk to him, Tex. You’ll feel better when you do.”
“I hate it when you’re right, bitch.”
She purses her perfect rose-pink lips and tilts her head. “Is my pep talk over?”
“Did it start?”
Shrugging, she puts her hands on her tiny hips. “So, maybe I’m not the best at advice, but I can get you good and drunk like a bloody pro. Go change, Tex, because we’re going drinking.”
“Can’t we stay here and drink?”
“Absolutely not. You might be that pathetic right now, but I’m not.”