Tex groans and grips ahold of my arm.
“I have to go and change, but I’ll see you downstairs in a minute, okay?” I whisper before kissing her forehead.
She groans something that resembles, “All right,” and pulls the covers over her head.
I won’t be seeing her for a good couple of hours.
Feeling on top of the damn world, I quietly leave her room and go to mine to grab a change of clothes. No one is up yet because it’s the arse crack of dawn, and they were all drunk last night.
I shower and change, eager to get downstairs so that I can see Tex. If she’s not up, I’m getting her up. We won’t have a lot of time together before Mark gets up.
When I get to the kitchen, Cooper is sitting at the table with his head in his hands, groaning like a caveman.
“Hungover, bud?” I ask loudly.
“Fuck off, bellend.”
I laugh and sit down. “What happened with the last girl?”
His face is hidden, but I still see his smile.
“From that smirk, I take it that it went well.”
“Oh, yeah, she was a beast. Milo won last night’s bet though. His chick brought a friend.”
“Great.” I really don’t miss those bets.
“How was your night? When I left with…Red, you were sobbing into a JD. ‘Mark will never forgive me.’” His imitation of my voice is embarrassing.
“I wasn’t sobbing.”
He snorts and looks up. “You might as well have been. What’s going on anyway?”
“Me and Tex are great. Mark is okay about it. He’s watching me apparently.”
He lifts his eyebrows. “So, Mark’s cool?”
Shifting in my seat, I shrug. “I’m still in one piece. He wants her happy, and she’s happy with me—duh—so there’s not a lot he’s willing to do. He won’t hurt her by ordering her away.”
“That was a close call. You’re officially a dickhead for not telling me from the beginning. This could have affected me, too. Enigma could’ve pulled out of the tour.”
“We still would’ve killed it, Coop. But you’re right, and I’m sorry.”
“Damn straight we would’ve. Don’t sweat it, man. I’ve got your back—even if you think with your cock.”
“Because you don’t?”
“Not fucking arguing. I’m young and hot, and I can make women come just by looking at them.”
The fuck is in my band?
“Yeah. Women like Peyton?”
His face falls, but just as quickly, his spark is back. “Now, she’s fun. The poor girl is determined to prove she doesn’t want me.”
“Maybe she doesn’t. Again.”
“Please. I’ll give her time. I can play the waiting game.”
“Tex’s best mate isn’t a game, Coop.”
“Fuck me, you’re whipped. Pey made it a game, and I have no intention of losing.”
“You’re playing with fire.”
His lips kick up into a slow grin. “I know. And if I ever need advice on appearing victorious from the flames, I’ll come to you.”
TEXAS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3
FORNEBU, NORWAY
I step up onto the bus, and it’s eerily quiet. I know Enigma is practicing, but I have no idea what Filthy Sound is up to. My educated guess is, they’re at some bar. Although Ted is always with me, it’s nice to have a few quiet minutes, so I’m not going to call Kitt for a while.
Getting my MacBook Air out from under the storage seat, I sit down to finally catch up with some friends on Facebook. I use the term friend loosely because I’ve not known these people long enough to form a real connection to them, but we keep in touch.
It hasn’t been that long since I last sent out my catching-up messages, but I’m so unbelievably bored that I might as well get ahead. There is nothing else to do. It’s quite nice, but I’m definitely not used to it, especially while on tour.
Just as I lift the laptop lid, the bathroom door opens, and Kitt emerges—with only a towel around his waist.
Sweet. Jesus.
I didn’t know he was still here.
Now, I know I shouldn’t stare, but his damp six-pack is begging for my hands and mouth to run over it. I want to drag my fingers between the muscles all the way down to— “Er, Tex?” Kitt says. He sounds amused.
Why wouldn’t he be? I can’t stop eye-fucking him.
“Texas!” Laughing, he clicks his fingers.
I reluctantly flick my eyes up. His grin cannot get any wider.
I blink, unashamed. “Yes?”
“If you’re finished, I’ll go get dressed. Didn’t know anyone else was here.”
And if I’m not finished?
His eyebrow arches. “Unless of course…”
“Unless of course, what?” I whisper. My body is on fire. I feel like pouring ice-cold water over myself to take away some of the heat.
Ted is only upstairs in his room. He could easily come down.