Ransom(41)

I collapse onto the couch next to him, throwing my feet up on the coffee table. “I don’t know. I mean, I’m totally glad she’s here. When we talked last night, it was like nothing had changed, you know? Like she’d never even left. But at the same time…”

“She did leave.”

“Yeah.” I sigh, reaching for my beanie and pulling it onto my head. “I just want to have fun with her and pretend like nothing ever happened. But I also want to shake her and make her tell me exactly what did happen.”

“I would definitely avoid shaking her if the goal is to get her to stick around.”

“Thanks,” I say drily.

“Look, man, maybe just try to keep it light. Have fun with her and keep it casual. The resolution of the serious stuff will come when it comes.”

“You know what, Levi? That’s actually pretty good advice.”

“I’m as shocked as you are.”

He leaves then to go grab his own bags. I sit on the couch for a minute, thinking about what he said, before I pull out my phone.

Halo death match, I text. You and me. Tour bus. Four p.m.

She responds almost instantly, and I wonder if maybe she was waiting to hear from me. Halo, huh?

If you’re not too scared.

You’re a dead man.

I’m grinning like a fool as I text her to meet Levi in the same place as last night and assure her it’s fine if her friends come, too.

Hey, so you have any smelling salts? she asks.

I frown at my phone. I don’t even know what that is.

They give them to fainting ladies. I think I’m going to need some for Karen and Paige.

LOL

You can laugh, buddy, but I’m not kidding. These girls have far too high of an opinion of you and your brothers. Think it’s time I break out the pictures I have of you in braces?

Only if you show them the ones of Cash’s headgear first.

Okay, I’m seriously cracking up now. I’m going to go tell the girls. See you at four.

See you then. Prepare to be destroyed.

You wish.

I laugh, slipping my phone back into my pocket. There’s a knock on my door.

“Let’s go, son. We have a lot of work today.”

Even that doesn’t break my mood. I do, however, make sure to wipe the totally whipped grin off my face before I go out to meet my family.

***



We’re late getting back to the bus. Of course. First the radio appearance ran over, making us late for our next interview. By the time we’re dropped off at the venue, it’s already five, which means I only have an hour with Daisy before sound check.

Trying not to show my irritation, I stomp onto the bus, only to hear giggling coming from the back lounge. “Hello?”

“Hey!” Levi calls. “We’re back here.”

I make my way through the kitchen and bunk section to see Levi, Paige, Karen, and Daisy gathered on the couches in the back. All four hold XBox remotes. I asked Levi to keep the girls company until I got here. So why does the sight of his hands on Daisy’s fingers, helping her pick up some move combination, cause my vision to be tinged with red?

“Hey!” Daisy says, looking away from the screen for a moment. “How’d it go?”

“Got you!” Paige yells, standing up and jumping up and down. “Ha! You picked the wrong time to look away.”

“No fair,” Levi mutters. “You can’t distract your opponent with famous rock stars.”

“I didn’t distract her!” Paige cries. “It’s not my fault he walked in.” She looks over at me, and something in her face changes, almost as if she’s just realized who I am. “I… uh… I mean, um…”

Daisy laughs. “You can say hello, Paige. You’ve met him already, you know. He’s just a normal person.”

“Normal?” I ask, putting my hands on my hips. “How dare you!”

The girls all giggle, and I decide I don’t really care that Levi was touching Daisy. But I do make sure to slide right between them when I take a seat on the couch. “So, what have you guys been up to? Sorry I’m so late. The interviews ran over.”

“It’s okay,” Daisy says. “Levi took good care of us.”

There’s that shot of jealousy again, but I try to ignore it. I realize that Karen and Paige are both starting at me, their mouths slightly open.

Daisy picks up on it too and rolls her eyes. “Seriously, you guys. He’s not really all that special.”

“I’m not,” I assure them. “You should see how gross my feet are.”

Daisy snorts. “He does have the grossest feet.”

“And backne,” Levi adds helpfully. “Dude has a wicked case of the backne.”