Drew leaned forward and clapped Reid’s shoulder. “We know you wouldn’t. It’s why we put up with your shit. At the end of the day, you’re pretty fucking solid.”
Reid could only shake his head. The truth was, he couldn’t have been more grateful for his friendships with Drew, Tom, and even Greer. They might not always get along, but they were always there when he needed them. Looking down the length of the bus to make sure Chloe was still occupied with Inky, Reid grabbed his notebook and flipped to the page he’d hidden from Chloe. “There’s something I want you guys to help me with.”
Drew leaned forward and peered at the notebook. “Yeah? What you got?”
“It’s a new song I’ve been working on. It’s not finished, but I have the music ready. I want to play it at our last show as a surprise for Chloe.”
Drew pulled the notebook from his hand and skimmed over the page. “I dig this beat. I can totally get behind this.” Drew handed the notebook back and grinned. “Greer’s going to give you shit about writing a song for Chloe, though.”
Reid groaned. “I have no doubt. If I get copies of this to you and Greer, can you two work on it without Chloe finding out?”
“That’s no problem,” Drew assured him. “There’s a chick on the other bus I wouldn’t mind spending some time with. I can hop over there with Greer and we can practice in our free time.”
Reid slapped Drew’s open hand. “I can’t think of better things to multitask.”
“We’ll be in Portland in about ten minutes,” Tom said with a yawn as he stumbled down the hall.
“The girls wake you up?” Reid asked with a knowing smile.
Tom narrowed his eyes and grabbed a bottle of water. “Next time, send them to your room, okay? I did not need to know where Inky plans to get her next tattoo.”
Reid’s brows shot up as he and Drew looked at each other in amusement. “Oh?”
Tom shook his head. “Never repeating that.”
“Smart man,” Inky laughed, ruffling Tom’s hair as she passed.
“What about you?” Reid murmured as Chloe settled into his lap. “You gonna spill?”
Chloe patted his knee and shook her head. “I’ve seen the damage that girl can do with a bottle of glue. Tell you, I will not.”
Reid laughed and wrapped his arms around Chloe, pulling her flush against his chest. “One of these days, I’m going to figure out how to outmatch your Jedi powers, then you’re going to be in trouble.”
“Good luck. Let’s hope you don’t end up like Vader. I prefer my guy not to be burned to a crisp and missing a hand.” Chloe squeezed his hand and shifted it a fraction higher until it touched the underside of her breast. “I’m rather fond of your hands.”
“Good God. Have they been like this the entire time I’ve been sleeping? How can you stand it?” Tom asked, his face twisted with mock disgust.
“I’ve barfed so many unicorns I’m crying rainbow tears,” Inky sighed. “I actually miss Greer. This is an unsettling development.”
“You guys are all assholes,” Reid retorted, tapping Chloe’s thigh to stand. “We’re going to get our shit together for the hotel. Try to avoid all the piles of unicorn shit on the way to your bunks.”
Chloe covered her mouth with her hand and let Reid lead her to the back of the bus. “They’re just jealous,” Chloe joked as Reid pressed her against the closed door.
“You’re damn right, they are,” Reid whispered against her neck as he placed a soft kiss to her skin.
Chloe wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed. “I can’t believe this is real.”
Reid lifted his head and leaned his forehead against hers. “You’re everything I never knew I wanted. I’m so lucky you saw something in me that made you feel the same way.”
Chloe threaded her fingers through his hair. “I didn’t just see something in you. It’s all of you. It’s everything about you. I never stood a chance.”
Reid smiled and sucked in a shaky breath. It was almost too much at times, how she made him feel, but he never wanted to lose it. He never wanted to lose her. “I know exactly how you feel,” he murmured. “I love you, Chloe.”
“I love you too.”
The bus slowed to a stop and Reid looked back at their mess strewn all over the room. “Let’s get our shit and check in to the hotel. We have a few hours before we need to get to the venue, and I plan on making good use of them.”
Chloe laughed and released her grip. “I’m so down with this plan.”
Later that afternoon, the smile still hadn’t left Chloe’s face as they warmed up for the show. She blamed Reid. Every time she looked in his direction, she’d catch him staring. It caused her stomach to flutter and her pulse to race. It was absurd, really, but she didn’t care. The same, however, could not be said for the others. When Reid called the rehearsal to an end, Greer groaned in relief.
“Thank God. I thought there would be less sexual tension once the two of you hooked up. It’s ten times worse now. Jesus.”