I fell asleep for a few hours, only waking when the bus bounced into the venue. I let everyone else rush off, including Lily before I brought my things out to drop in the hotel. Heading straight out to the shops, the streets would soon be too busy to move, and I had shopping to do before then. An hour later I returned to the hotel for a fast shower with the gift I bought outside Lily’s door along with a huge bunch of roses. I had to hope that the gifts at least opened a line of communication between them. After all, she still carried my bear.
Lily’s POV
The tour bus drive was difficult, I could feel him there. A presence that just would not leave. I could smell his disgusting aftershave from my bunk. Making me want to throw up. Four showers later in my hotel room and I could swear I could still smell it on my skin. There was a knock at the door. Dragging my ride on, I went to answer it. Finding not a person, but instead a huge bunch of roses in a pretty vase along with a wrapped box. “Adrian.” I sighed. “Why can’t you just leave me alone now?” I would leave them for the cleaning staff at the hotel.
The wrapped box I threw into my open suitcase untouched. I truly did not care what was inside. I didn’t have time for this drama. I had a show to prepare for. Dressed in my stage wear of a black velvet dress, leggings, low heeled shoes and green ribbons in my hair I caught a cab to the venue, avoiding the rest of the band. Passing by partiers already semi drunk. Irish flags, green, shamrocks everywhere. It was totally crazy. I hadn’t seen any party that came even close to this. Not even when a friend dragged me to London Pride.
I found myself dragged up to dance with the other performers on stage for the opening numbers. It was crazy to feel a part of something so huge. I was almost sad that Adrian wasn’t here to share it with me. Like he was my first time in Dublin.
He appeared eventually, nodding at me yet keeping his distance, I almost wanted him to storm across here and kiss me. So that something felt normal in the middle of all of this. We sang, we partied, we performed, but it all felt so empty without being able to share it with him as friends instead of enemies. I ended up leaving early, cutting back to my hotel.
The shamrock covered box called to me as I sat on my bed. Grudgingly I stood, picking up the gift. Carefully peeling back, the paper to find a small jewellery box. “If this is a ring, so help me Ade!” Nervously popping it open, it wasn’t. A matching shamrock earrings and necklace set lay inside set in silver. I had to admit that the man had taste. I just wasn’t sure that helped. I threw the box back in my suitcase and willed myself into an uneasy sleep.
Chapter 29
Adrian’s POV
I truly hated this tour, I hated being around her. I wanted her gone. I would message Brad in the morning and tell him to get the bitch kicked off tour. We didn’t need no shitty back up singing moron. We could do this without her! Hell, we practically did for all those months that Claire kept screwing us around for her ‘auditions’ and ‘album recording’ or even just a ‘migraine’. So we could certainly do without a woman again.
But did I want Lily gone? Did I honestly, really never want to see her again? It was hard to know anymore. Even harder after three days without sleep, constantly drinking. From the start of the tour, three? Wait, wasn’t it five? Oh, who even knew. I certainly hadn’t been sober for a while. I wanted her near me as my Lily, not this cold-hearted monster. My eyes finally started to close after all these days, just as my alarm chimed to let me know it was time to go to rehearsal. I was so bone tired I lay there for a full five minutes almost falling back to sleep, before someone banged on my door shouting for me. “For fucks sake!” I muttered to myself, as I dragged my ass up. Drinking my breakfast on the way.
The full band was there as I finished off my beer, rolling my eyes at it all. I really could not be bothered to be here right now. The band was setting up, testing the drums in a way that made my head pound even more. Shelly and Rose were going over the week’s schedules, and there was that little tramp Lily cuddled up in the corner with Harry. Hanging right over that drum kit. Their faces turned into each other like they almost looked like they were kissing or at least whispering about me.
I snapped, pushing passed Brad as he tried to talk to me about something I could not care less about. That little bitch was going to get a piece of my mind. “So, this is why ye came on the tour? Youse couldn’t move on and find another guy fast enough! Your ex is right, you are nothing but a dirty little whore.”
The room fell deathly silent.
“You think me and Harry?” Lily laughed. “Harry out of all the people here that you could have shipped me with? You know nothing about this band that you claim is your family.” She couldn’t stop laughing over the idea.
“Oh, a big joke to youse now, am I? Of course, is there anyone in this band that you haven’t fucked yet? Was I even the first one you did?” I demanded.
