Her lips were flat as our eyes met.
“Hey, Bryan.”
I looked back at Sager.
“We need a cameraman.”
I nodded and took Sager’s cell and began filming as soon as the guys started up again. War wandered over during the second play through and provided the vocals. Lace put down her sewing and started twirling around in the aisle on her bare feet, like a young Stevie Nicks in that gypsy top as she sang along with him.
I felt my lips pull up into a nostalgic smile as I watched them. This was how it had all been when we’d first started out, jamming in that old musty garage, covering our favorite tunes. It had been fun and easy when it had just been about the music.
Suddenly, the bus lurched to a stop. I glanced out the window. “Looks like we’re stopping for fuel.”
“Thanks, man.” Sager grabbed his phone from my hand. “Let’s go get some snacks, King.”
“Wait up,” Dizzy called. “I’m coming, too. I need some new reading material. How ‘bout it, Bryan?” he asked over his shoulder.
“Sure.” I glanced at Lace. “I’m betting they have popcorn.”
“Then I’m in.” She turned back. “You want anything, War?”
He shook his head, pointing to the cell he held to his ear. “I need to finish this call.”
While the others filed into the truck stop, I lingered, checking on the driver and trying not to look suspicious. But I was determined to find a moment alone with Lace.
I found her at the back, near the coolers. Placing my hands on her arms, I leaned over her shoulder and wasn’t surprised when I felt her muscles tense beneath the gauzy sleeves. “We need to talk,” I insisted turning her to face me.
“No, Bry.” She shook her head. “What’s left to discuss?”
“Lots.” I pulled my fingers through my hair. “The messed up shit you’re doing with War for one.” Over on the adjacent aisle, I heard King’s raised voice as he popped off to someone. Usually loud and boisterous with a notoriously quick fuse, the
Eyes back to Lace, I shifted closer, trapping her between my arms so she couldn’t move. “I can’t get you out of my head and that was before the kiss we shared on the bus. If you’re being honest, I don’t think you can either. Emptying the minibar was the only thing that kept me from coming and taking you away from him last night.”
I saw the truth reflected in her eyes. “I’ve
“I can’t.” She shook her head.
“Bullshit,” I said tersely. “Find a way, Lace. If you don’t show, I’ll come find you.”
18
The guys were stuffing their faces with fast food.
“C’mon, Lacey,” War admonished when I complained about the smell. He waved a French fry under my nose. “You used to love McDonalds.”
“No, I didn’t.” I shook my head and raised my brows. “You must be getting me confused with the other love of your life,” I teased. “Yourself.”
“Dick’s Drive-In was her favorite,” Bryan muttered under his breath, his eyes meeting mine.
War frowned.
Back in high school whenever War and I fought, Bryan would take me to Dick’s to let me vent.
3 years ago
Sitting on top of the picnic table, tracing the graffiti someone had carved into the wood, I watched Bryan covertly. He had gotten even more handsome over the past year, his former boyish frame filling out in all the right places, especially with the weight lifting he and War had starting doing together. He’d shot up in height, too. He was well over six feet now.
My cheeks started to burn when his gorgeous greyish green eyes met mine. I’d been a sucker for them since I was five. He raised a dark brow.
“What?” I challenged.
“You were totally checking me out, Lace Lowell.” He bumped my shoulder. “Don’t even try to deny it.”
“As if.” I rolled my eyes and took a loud sip of the last dregs of my strawberry shake, desperate for something to ease the dryness in my throat.
He mumbled under his breath.
“What’d you say?”
“I said, you ok now? I mean about War and all.”
“I guess. He just pisses me off. He doesn’t understand why I need to study.” I shivered and rubbed my arms. It had been warm during the day, but now that the sun had gone down, I regretted the short sleeves and not bringing a jacket.
“Do what you need to do. Don’t let him get you sidetracked from your goals, Lace.” Bryan shrugged out of his black hoodie and held it out for me. “Here.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, placing my arms in the sleeves. It was still warm from his body heat. He scooted closer, ducking down to fasten it for me. My nose was inches away from the top of his head. I inhaled the spicy scent of him while he zipped it up. When his head lifted, his face was so close that his warm breath fanned against my mouth. Eyes on his parted lips, I shivered again.
“Geez, Lace. You should have let on sooner that you were this cold.” He used his sexy deep voice that made me want to smash my lips to his.
“I’m alright.” I scooted away, needing some space to get my hammering heart back under control, but then I made the mistake of glancing in his direction. The t-shirt he’d worn under the jacket was snug, way too small. He’d obviously outgrown it. The material stretched tight over his pecs and the sleeves dug into his muscular arms.
The white color was a perfect showcase for his new tat sleeves. I’d told him I thought tats were a waste of money. Looking at his through my lashes, I decided I’d changed my mind. The intricate black Japanese characters spelled out his mom’s and his sisters’ names. They were sexy as hell, and worth every single penny. I imagined tracing the marks with my fingers or maybe even my tongue.
“Lacey, the guys wanna know if you’re in for a game of truth or dare,” War asked me, his brow dipping. “You ok? You seem really distracted today.”
“I’m fine.” I shrugged. “Does this game work like the one we played when we were kids?”
“Basically, yeah. We still find out embarrassing shit about each other. But now we get really drunk, too,” King explained.
“Fun times,” I quipped.
“Rules are twenty dollars and a shot of tequila to whoever passes the truth or dare challenge,” Dizzy announced. “Oh, and the last person left standing usually gets a bonus prize.”
“A kiss from Lace,” King shouted out.
I smiled at his enthusiasm. “Like that’s anything special.”
