“H-hey. Um, I just came to tell you that we’re all heading to breakfast. At the diner here in Columbus. And then we have soundcheck.”
He couldn’t help but grin. She was fighting the good fight to keep her eyes from slipping down his exposed body. But she was losing that fight.
“Got it. I’ll be out in a few.”
“Okay.”
His grin widened when she didn’t move. “So, uh, if it’s all right with you, I’ll get dressed now.” He tilted his head toward where she stood.
“Yeah. Of course. Please do.”
“You’re blocking my bedroom door.”
“Oh God. Sorry.” She nearly tripped over herself in her attempt to get out of his way. “I’m going to go now. To the diner. For breakfast.”
She muttered something under her breath that he didn’t catch.
“Hey, Kylie Lou?” he called out as she left.
“Yeah?” She turned and met his gaze with wide eyes.
There was so much he wanted to say to her. Apologies and desperate pleas for another chance came to mind. But the words wouldn’t come out of his mouth. So he chickened out.
“Enjoy the view?”
Her eyes narrowed and she glared at him briefly before storming off the bus.
Leaning back against the wall, he let out a breath.
It was going to be a long few months.
“ENJOY THE view? Enjoy the view! I mean, what the hell?” Kylie leaned her head down and turned her face toward her best friend so no one else in the diner would hear. “We’ve barely spoken, despite the fact that we’ve been on the same bus for nearly twelve hours, and all he can say to me is, Enjoy the view?”
She tried her best to whisper despite the fact that she really wanted to yell her frustration at the top of her lungs.
“And that’s why I believe in equal opportunity junk-punching,” Lulu responded just before taking a sip of her coffee.
Kylie gave a subtle shake of her head to let her friend know that was the end of the conversation when Hannah slipped into the booth across from her. She wasn’t exactly thrilled about having a day-to-day manager. But she knew Lulu was right—it wasn’t Hannah’s fault she’d been sent to babysit her. After her run-in with Trace on the bus she was starting to think maybe she did need someone to help keep her head on straight after all.
“So next week the reporter from Rolling Stone is meeting us in Connecticut. The photo shoot is at nine and he’ll be with you every minute up until the show. So be mindful of what you say, even if you’re speaking to someone else or on the phone. Pretty much everything is fair game.”
“Good morning, Hannah,” Lulu began. “Please, feel free to jump right in with the shoptalk. No need to waste time on niceties.”
Hannah’s face darkened with what appeared to be embarrassment. “Sorry. There’s just so much to cover and I realize Miss Ryans’s time is precious.”
Lulu smiled warmly at the other girl. “Very true. But I think Miss Ryans can handle it. She’s done okay so far, right?”
Kylie barely managed to keep her eyes from rolling back in her head. “I’ll try to keep my potty mouth in check. Thanks for the reminder.”
Before any of them could say anything else, the bell above the diner door chimed alerting them that new patrons had entered. Kylie glanced up and nearly spit out her coffee when she saw Trace and Steven coming through the door at the same time.
Her face must have given her away because Lulu turned to look at what had caught her attention.
Kylie watched as Trace gave Steven a hard glare before moving aside to let him pass. Both guys joined the tables where their bands were seated without even glancing in her direction.
“You okay, Miss Ryans?” Hannah asked softly.
“What?” Kylie worked to keep her face blank. “Yeah. I’m fine. Sorry. I was, um, lost in thought.”
“Bet I can guess what you were thinking about.” Lulu snickered and Kylie kicked her under the table.
“Anyway,” Hannah continued, “after the official interview, the reporter will hang around for the concert, and the review and cover will run in next month’s issue. You’re one of very few young female country artists to be featured, so keep in mind that you’re representing—”
“Hey there, pretty lady,” a male voice said. “Sorry to interrupt your breakfast.”
All three girls looked up at the man standing at the edge of their booth. Kylie greeted him with a warm smile.
“No problem, Danny. I was wondering when you were going to come say hi to me.” She slid out of the booth and gave the older man from Trace’s band a hug. He gave her a firm squeeze in return and the familiar ache of missing her dad pinged through her chest.