second the words left my lips I wanted to take them back.
“I have yet to meet an addict who admits they have a problem.” Her tone said it all. She no more believed me than the guys did, except for Chaz. Chaz believed me. Mallory Scott was just like all the rest and I was a fucking idiot for thinking she wasn’t. She was the sign in the store that said, “Look But Don’t Touch.”
“Yeah? Well there’s a first for everything,” I snapped back at her. Before she could say another word I took off down the street. Fuck her and her knee. I was many things but a fool wasn’t one of them.
By nine sharp we were loaded on the bus and waiting for Blane…and Mallory. I’d had time to shower and get my head on straight. I shouldn’t have let her get to me and regretted biting her head off. This was personal to me but only a job for her. I needed to remember that. Just when I thought I’d scared her away and was going to have to go retrieve her I spotted her walking toward the bus with Blane. The bus was configured like most tour busses. The front had a place for the driver and few bucket seats. The right side held four bunks. Across from the bunks was a small kitchen, a booth and a long table for eating and playing cards, which we did a lot of. The very back of the bus held a bathroom with a small shower and a bedroom with a double bed. We also had a large screen television, a kick ass stereo and an Xbox. It was home away from home for the band. Mallory would most likely hate it. I watched her step onto the bus and smile at everyone. My dick jumped to attention. I’d given him plenty of hands on attention in the shower earlier. He should be happy and sated but no, every time Mallory was in the vicinity he perked right up. Blane stood at the front of the bus and Mallory sat in one of the bucket chairs behind him.
“Tomorrow night we’ll be in Atlanta. Like Texas, Atlanta is hot in the summer. Make sure you drink plenty of water and preserve your voices. I didn’t stock any alcohol on the bus for a reason,” Blane announced. Everyone booed him, including me. Eighteen hours was long enough, but without booze to ease the monotony it was an eternity. Blane turned to Mallory and said, “I can get you a plane ticket if you’d like?”
“Mallory is riding with us,” I spoke up. All eyes shot to me and I held my ground. If we had to ride eighteen hours, so did she. Mallory gave me a strange look and I felt the need to say something. “You’re being paid to rehab me, correct?”
A look of disbelief appeared on her face. “And you’re going to let me?” she asked. She had me there. If I demanded she stay then I was going to have to talk to her at some point. Damn! Her lips melted into a knowing smirk and she turned to Blane. “I’ll take you up on that ticket.”
“Fine,” I practically shouted, “we can talk.” I didn’t say how much or for how long but at least it was enough to keep her on the bus.
After a few parting words Blane took off and we were on our way. Normally we would all Pow Wow about how the tour was going. Today we split into four different directions. Luke got on the Xbox and Chaz on his computer, while Nash took the back bedroom. I pulled out my pad and guitar and tried not to stare at Mallory.
Why did I insist on her staying with us? The thought of Blane getting his claws into her bothered me. I thought he was my friend, but he was nothing but a liar and a cheat. As soon as our contract was over, we were out. That is, unless I figured a way out before then. Somehow I needed to convince the guys this was the right move. I had yet to tell them about Blane’s little gambling problem. Something told me that when I divulged that little nugget of information they’d see things my way.
For the next hour I played around with a song I’d been working on in rehab. It was fast paced and needed some tweaking but I liked it. A few times I glanced up at Mallory who was busy listening to music.
“I have yet to meet an addict who admits they have a problem.” Her tone said it all. She no more believed me than the guys did, except for Chaz. Chaz believed me. Mallory Scott was just like all the rest and I was a fucking idiot for thinking she wasn’t. She was the sign in the store that said, “Look But Don’t Touch.”
“Yeah? Well there’s a first for everything,” I snapped back at her. Before she could say another word I took off down the street. Fuck her and her knee. I was many things but a fool wasn’t one of them.
By nine sharp we were loaded on the bus and waiting for Blane…and Mallory. I’d had time to shower and get my head on straight. I shouldn’t have let her get to me and regretted biting her head off. This was personal to me but only a job for her. I needed to remember that. Just when I thought I’d scared her away and was going to have to go retrieve her I spotted her walking toward the bus with Blane. The bus was configured like most tour busses. The front had a place for the driver and few bucket seats. The right side held four bunks. Across from the bunks was a small kitchen, a booth and a long table for eating and playing cards, which we did a lot of. The very back of the bus held a bathroom with a small shower and a bedroom with a double bed. We also had a large screen television, a kick ass stereo and an Xbox. It was home away from home for the band. Mallory would most likely hate it. I watched her step onto the bus and smile at everyone. My dick jumped to attention. I’d given him plenty of hands on attention in the shower earlier. He should be happy and sated but no, every time Mallory was in the vicinity he perked right up. Blane stood at the front of the bus and Mallory sat in one of the bucket chairs behind him.
“Tomorrow night we’ll be in Atlanta. Like Texas, Atlanta is hot in the summer. Make sure you drink plenty of water and preserve your voices. I didn’t stock any alcohol on the bus for a reason,” Blane announced. Everyone booed him, including me. Eighteen hours was long enough, but without booze to ease the monotony it was an eternity. Blane turned to Mallory and said, “I can get you a plane ticket if you’d like?”
“Mallory is riding with us,” I spoke up. All eyes shot to me and I held my ground. If we had to ride eighteen hours, so did she. Mallory gave me a strange look and I felt the need to say something. “You’re being paid to rehab me, correct?”
A look of disbelief appeared on her face. “And you’re going to let me?” she asked. She had me there. If I demanded she stay then I was going to have to talk to her at some point. Damn! Her lips melted into a knowing smirk and she turned to Blane. “I’ll take you up on that ticket.”
“Fine,” I practically shouted, “we can talk.” I didn’t say how much or for how long but at least it was enough to keep her on the bus.
After a few parting words Blane took off and we were on our way. Normally we would all Pow Wow about how the tour was going. Today we split into four different directions. Luke got on the Xbox and Chaz on his computer, while Nash took the back bedroom. I pulled out my pad and guitar and tried not to stare at Mallory.
Why did I insist on her staying with us? The thought of Blane getting his claws into her bothered me. I thought he was my friend, but he was nothing but a liar and a cheat. As soon as our contract was over, we were out. That is, unless I figured a way out before then. Somehow I needed to convince the guys this was the right move. I had yet to tell them about Blane’s little gambling problem. Something told me that when I divulged that little nugget of information they’d see things my way.
For the next hour I played around with a song I’d been working on in rehab. It was fast paced and needed some tweaking but I liked it. A few times I glanced up at Mallory who was busy listening to music.
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