“Oh, like barbarian Oz and his way with Daisy?”
I couldn’t stop the smile. “That’s true.”
“Or Nash who pretty much wants to be surgically grafted to Lindz?”
“Okay, okay. I get it. Not like it’s really weird for our group.”
“Not at all. But I’m not going to be obnoxious. Mostly.”
I reached up to cup his cheek. “I like your obnoxious.” I dropped a light kiss on his mouth. “Mostly.”
“Two minutes out.” Cole’s voice broke us apart.
“See. We can’t even manage in the car.”
“It’s still new, babe. We’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Cole pulled into the back of our designated meeting area. Lila had changed up our usual departure area for obvious reasons. “Think you can handle the girls without me?”
“Pretty sure I’ll be fine.”
He laughed. “I’ll meet you in a few minutes.”
I hopped out of Cole’s car. All our trucks were assembled for last minute changes of equipment. Cooper and Cole headed over to the trio of instrument rigs. Cooper had ordered some replacement parts for his drum kit and wanted to make sure they’d arrived in time. With our ever-changing stage, he had to have different kits for the various venues we played at.
Noah waved me over where Lindsey, Nash, and Jamie were standing by an enormous silver and black truck. The Brooklyn Dawn logo was stamped in an almost invisible gray like the rest of our gear trucks.
“Hey, guys.”
“There you are, High Tea.” Jamie slapped me on the arm. “How’s Cooper’s place?” She waggled her brows and held her fist out. “Is his drumstick as impressive as the wood ones he uses behind his kit?”
“Umm.”
Lindsey sighed. “You are the worst human sometimes, Jame.”
Jamie shrugged. “What? Like they’re not boning after the way they left the club.” She dug one long finger into her painted-on jeans and pulled out a pack of gum. “Want?”
I shook my head. “I’m good.” And I definitely wasn’t verifying that question with a yay or nay.
She folded in a cinnamon-colored stick and immediately started snapping her gum.
“Oof.” I patted Lindsey’s back when she hauled me in for a hug.
She always smelled like ultra-expensive sex. She was wearing a lightweight cotton dress and sandals with a spiked heel I wished I could pull off. Her height was close to Jamie’s. Both of them made me feel even more like a little sister who wasn’t quite done growing.
“You’ve had a hell of a few days, girl.”
I sagged against her. “Yeah. I’ll be glad to get back to doing shows. This reality crap sucks.”
“I think we’re all glad to get back on the road.”
“Speak for yourself. I think you should have cancelled.” Nash’s Irish accent was heavy and sharp.
“Don’t start, Alex. We’re not breaking contracts because some asshole is hassling us.”
“Don’t put your head in the sand, duchess. You’re better than that.”
Lindsey’s spine stiffened, giving her another two inches. “No one said you needed to come with us.”
Evidently, everyone was a little off. Made me feel better about my panic attack. At least I wasn’t the only one who was feeling the stress.
“As if you could keep me away from you.” Nash looped his arm around her waist and dragged her back against him. “I just hate this.”
She sighed and relaxed against him. “Yeah, well, I don’t think any of us are happy about it.”
Hoping to change the subject, I cleared my throat. “Where’s the bus?” I craned my neck to take in the sheer massive size of the sleek silver and black monstrosity. “What the heck is going on there? Did we get a bigger lighting setup?”
“Nope.” Jamie picked at her black nail polish. “That’s our future jail.”
“What?” I frowned at Lindsey. “What’s she talking about? That is not a bus.”
Lindsey tucked herself along Nash’s side and leisurely looped her arm around his back. So at ease with the fact that they needed to touch all the time. Angry one minute and melting against him like chocolate the next.
Kind of like Cooper and I. I’d never thought I would find anyone who would fit me like he did. Never expected to find it with him, especially. Knowing that he didn’t find me clingy or too demonstrative was a major plus. In fact, he might’ve even outdone me on the touching and sexy times part sometimes.
Maybe.
Lindsey glanced up at the truck. “I’m not sure what the heck this thing is. Knowing Ripper it’s going to be more than we expect.”
“Ah, in the business for so long, and you’re still so quick to assume the best, love.”
Lindsey elbowed Nash. “Not everyone assumes the worst.”
Jamie gave a meh face. “It looks like a big rig truck to me. How impressive can it be? Are they going to put us in little Styrofoam slots like my guitars? Strap us in like our soldier boys. The security dudes are used to it, right? It’s our time now.”
“Thank you, Jamie.” Nash dropped his arm to link his fingers with Lindsey. “She is of a like mind.”
“You two deserve one another.” Lindsey rolled her eyes.
“We’d kill each other.” Jamie walked the length of the trailer attached to the black truck cab. She quickly posed beside the wheel that came to her chest. “Take a vid for TikTok. People will be so jealous.”
“No one is taking any sort of video for any social media until you’re on the road.” Lila’s crisp voice came from behind me.
I spun around. “Hi.”
“Ms. Daly.” From her chilly demeanor, she was not exactly over our duck-and-run from Cole yesterday.
Lila’s ever present iPad was tucked against her chest. As usual, she was in a spotless and unwrinkled suit—this one lavender linen in deference to the heat. Even Lila was human enough to sweat. At least I was pretty sure.
Oz and Daisy crossed the parking lot from their bodyguard’s car. Sarah, their bodyguard, followed at a brisk pace, her no-nonsense blond ponytail swishing behind her as she scanned the parking lot.
Daisy attack-hugged
