“Trust me, you don’t wanna miss the after-party. It’s the only thing that can make up for all the shit you’ve been running around doing all day–and that you’ll be running around doing tomorrow.”“I just wanna sleep,” I tell Keri. “I feel like I’m going to fall off my feet.”I’ve been awake since five in the morning, and I can’t remember sitting down for more than five minutes at a time since then. The day has been crazy busy. It started with Ashton’s morning run, proceeded to three radio interviews in the morning, a sound check, meet and greet, and finally, the concert. Oh, I also spent some time at the merch stand. Every time I thought I was catching a breath, my phone would blare and Terry would be on the other side, listing instructions. I had thought that the wage I was being offered was too generous for an inexperienced crew member like me. It took one day on the job to start feeling underpaid.She tsks and shakes her head at me. “Twenty minutes. Just come with me for twenty m
I finish my beer and ask for a vodka soda next. I should probably stick to my plan and head back to my room. But what I should do and what I want to do are two different things.Even if I go to my room right now, I doubt I’ll be able to catch a wink of sleep. Not with the image of him and that girl burned into my mind.I finish my drink and ask for another one. I have a different plan. Get drunk enough that when I go to bed, I’ll collapse on the mattress and not wake up until morning.Or get drunk and have enough courage to go and ask him what the fuck he is doing without giving a shit whether he thinks I’m being clingy or not.I remember that day on my house’s front porch, when Jared said I claim to want something real but always end up with coldhearted players.Maybe what he really meant to say was that I was the reason it always ends up like that. Because it’s true, isn't it? I wouldn’t be hurt by bad boys and players if I didn’t let them, would I?For eight months, I was perfectly
‘I’m outside gate C. When are you done?’I blink at the new text on my phone, rub my eyes, and then read it again. No, I’m not seeing things.He must have sent this to the wrong number.‘Sorry?’ I send back.He replies right away. ‘I’m outside the arena. You said the show was ending around 10, right?’I did? When? Why would Jared be outside the arena?My phone rings before I can ask him what the hell he is talking about. It’s him, and I pick it up, moving away from the sounds of the crew packing up. The second night of the Sea City concert is done, and tomorrow we’ll be getting on the road. “Jared?” I answer, thoroughly confused.“Hey,” he replies cheerily. “Are you done? I just got here.”“What are you doing here?”There’s a pause on his side, and then he laughs. “You’re shitting me. You forgot, didn’t you?”“Forgot what?”“You called me last night and asked me to come get you.”I frown and shake my head. “What? I don’t know what you are talking about.”“You were fucking drunk. Fig
“Isaac? Wake up.”I groan and press my face into the pillow, ignoring Jared’s wake up call. Just five more minutes…“You have seven missed calls. Two from Terry and five from him.”I sit up so fast that my head spins for a moment. Then I look around dazed, seeking my phone. Jared shoves it in my hand. My stomach sinks as I check the call log. He is right. I have two missed calls from Terry and five from Ben. I look at the time. Six twenty two. Fuck. We were supposed to be on the road by five thirty. I don’t think I have a job anymore. There’s also a bunch of messages, all from Ben.‘Where are you?’‘We are leaving in twenty.’‘Did you quit?’‘Seriously, Isaac. The bus is gonna leave without you.’‘Terry’s mad. Call me.’‘We just left.’‘Is this because of the other night? Let’s talk. You don’t have to quit. I’m sorry for being an asshole. Answer my calls, please.’An incoming call from Ben takes over the screen. My phone is on silent mode, no wonder I missed that many calls. I clim
I can’t sleep. And no, not because it’s my first night sleeping on a tour bus. The bunk isn’t anything close to my bed, but it’s comfy and spacious enough.Also not because I ended up being assigned to the band’s bus. Other than me, the only other non-band members using this bus are the driver, a security guy, and Wendy. I thought it was odd that I was assigned here until Jack reminded me that I’m basically Terry’s stand-in. Fun. It’s mostly about the sleeping arrangement. There are eight bunks in the space between the front and back lounge, shielded from the corridor by curtains. I got the lower bunk that’s closest to the door leading to the front lounge. And right across my bunk is Ben’s. My curtain might be drawn, but not even that barrier is enough to ease my awareness of his presence. The past two days have been bearable as far as being stuck around him goes. After I got to the bus late yesterday, we got to the new city six hours later. Right after arrival, we went straight
It’s really over. After sending Ben that message, I allowed myself to fantasise about us forgetting all the shit that has happened and getting back on the right track.I didn’t for a second think he wouldn’t respond to my text. Or act like he never got one. But since it’s two days after the night I sent the text, it’s safe to assume he is never giving me a response. I guess I deserve that.I should probably take this as a second chance to make a clean break from tumultuous relationships. This time round, I won’t break my rules. Not for anybody. I wish it was as easy to do as it is to say, but I don’t really have a choice. Well, I do–to say to hell with everything and go with the flow. To stop having ideas of a fairytale that probably doesn’t exist. To get rid of all my expectations and take what I get. All that would be easy if I wasn’t a sensitive idiot. It would be far easier if I wasn’t about to get stuck on the tour bus for two consecutive nights with him. We have stayed at a h
This is not a good idea. If Adam was right about me being responsible for keeping them in line, I think I really am going to lose my job.“Guys, I think that’s enough for toni–”“One more,” Ashton interrupts me, his eyes set firmly on Adam. Adam, who’s grinning mockingly. Ashton and Ben have lost three games in a row now. Ben is doing most of the dying, and each time he dies, they both have to drink. Adam and I are yet to drink up our first cans. If we keep on, they’ll both be drinking their fourth. “If you say so,” Adam says, obviously having no qualms about playing for as long as possible.“Isaac is right,” Ben says, sliding his phone into his pocket and leaning back on the couch. He shuts his eyes and rests his forearm on his forehead. “We’ll get them another day, Ash.”“Don’t be a pussy,” Ashton tells his brother.“I’m pretty sure I’m not the one being a pussy in this situation,” Ben mumbles.“What?” Ashton demands, his voice on edge.Oh no. It’s one thing trying to diffuse thin
I stumble back, my body colliding with the door behind me. For a few moments, I’m frozen, my mind taking its time to register what’s happening.While my mind struggles to make sense of things, my body goes off on its own. My lips part under his and my hands latch onto his forearms. His lips pry mine insistently. A moan slips past mine as I let him in completely, holding back nothing. It’s just a kiss. A kiss I’ve been dying to get. I can allow this much before the reality of the situation glares in my face. We’ve been here before, and I don’t want to be burned again. So I’m just going to take this kiss, nothing more.I move my hand from his arm to his waist, gripping him tight. Our bodies press together, top to bottom. He thrusts his hips forward, and his covered erection grinds over my own. The jolt of pleasure that travels throughout my body elicits another moan from my lips. My other hand finds its way to the back of his neck, where it grips tight as I deepen our kiss. Heavens, I