She lets me hold her hand on the way there. I do it as much for me as I do for her safety. It's dark out, and we’re in a town we don't know. She's quiet, and I think she’s dreading going in to face her brother, as much as I am. I send up a silent prayer that he is already in bed, but I know Landon, he will wait up, until Austin is back to make sure she’s okay.
We turn the corner, and the bus is in front of us, as I sigh.
"Thank you for coming after me tonight. I had a really good time." I tell her.
"I did too, and I meant what I said. You’re good enough. Don't let him tell you otherwise. He's just being an asshole, when he says that."
I squeeze her hand. "Well, your opinion is the one that’s important anyway, so it doesn't matter."
I open the bus door and step aside to let her in before me. We get inside, and Austin stops dead in her tracks in the living room. I step around her to find her brother standing up.
He looks at her, and back to me, but doesn't say anything.
"Dallas, why don't you go to bed? I think Landon and I need to talk." She says without taking her eyes off her brother. Her tone is one we have both heard before, when she’s really, really, really mad at us, and she has only used it a few times before.
I nod, but whisper in her ear, "It's nothing worth fighting with him about."
She doesn't say anything, but she looks at me like I'm crazy. I know there’s no changing her mind, so I head back to my bunk, grab some clothes to change into, and go into the bathroom.
"You can't just go off and not answer my texts. I have to know you’re okay." Landon says.
"I was fine. I was with Dallas."
"But I didn't know that. Do you have any idea what was going through my head?"
"I have an idea Dad, and I really don't care. How dare you stick your nose in my love life? You have no right."
Love life? Does that mean she wants a relationship with me? Do I stand a chance? I'd give anything for a chance with her. I know I'd do anything to prove I'm the guy for her and make her mine.
But her brother is right to an extent, she deserves someone better and who doesn't have my past. If I'm going to have even a slight chance, I need to get the rest of my life in order and stay the course.
I can be that guy. I will be that guy.
Chapter 9
Austin
It's been a week, since I was dancing with Dallas in the bar. A week, since I've been in his arms. A week, since our almost kiss. I miss him something fierce. He's up and gone, before I get up in the morning, and he spends most of his time at the venues with Landon or with their team. No more movie nights and no more going out. At least, he and Landon seem to be okay and talking, even if it feels like he chose my brother over me. Though, what did I expect? Landon is his best friend, and Landon is the band.
It's hard to be ignored. I didn't even want to come on this tour, it wasn't in my plans, but they talked me into it. I've been trying to figure out my next steps, because if they think I'm going to be staying at the house after this, they are dead wrong. I've thought about a cabin in The Rocky Mountains. That’s far enough away, and the possibility of no cell phone service sounds good to me right now.
Every show, it hurts singing with him and putting on an act like nothing is wrong, when everything is wrong. He’s very good at making it seem like he’s singing to me. The look in his eyes was too much tonight, and I couldn't look at him. For the first time on the tour, I sang to the crowd. I prefer the thousands of nameless people, instead of looking into Dallas's eyes for another night.
Being on stage with them, takes everything out of me. I normally bolt, before they finish the show. But tonight, Ivy caught me and wanted some girl time, and I couldn't tell her no. That is why I’m currently sitting backstage with drink number, well, I lost count. But it feels good to laugh about them getting lost yesterday and having to call Tony to come get them. Tony gave them a lecture the whole way back to the bus. It feels great to talk to someone, since Landon and Dallas have been ignoring me. Assholes.
"Can you believe there are only two more weeks of this tour left? I’m so glad the last week of shows fell through. I'm ready to be home and have some downtime." Ivy says.
"Yeah, I'm over it, too. It's like the guys don't even want me here anymore. I could probably blow off the last few stops, and they wouldn't even care."
"Oh, sweetheart, you know they would. Especially Dallas, I see how he looks at you."
"Better get your eyes checked. He goes out of his way to avoid me lately." I shake my head and take another sip.
"When you aren't looking, his eyes are always on you. He's watching you and knows your every move almost before you do. He's always sending people over with water or food. You didn't think those people did that just to be nice, did you?"
Damn, I did think that. I thought it's what they did for all the performers at each venue. I had no idea Dallas was behind it.
"Why would he care? He's been ignoring me for over a week now. I thought there was something there,
