Part 21 (1/2)
Liam arrives and Bryn looks behind him. ”No Cerys?” he asks.
”Ella's sick so Cerys is staying with her at the hotel. I don't mind doing the dad stuff, but when she starts spewing on me....” He pulls a face. ”Just can't.”
”Don't you b.l.o.o.d.y catch something!” retorts Dylan. ”Last thing we need is one of us sick before we make it to Berlin.”
”What do you think I'm doing here?” he replies. ”I don't intend to get sick!”
”The joys of parenthood,” sn.i.g.g.e.rs Bryn and smiles sweetly at Jem who flashes him a look.
”Are we celebrating?” I ask as a waitress, dressed in clothes straight from a 1950s American diner, sets an ice bucket into a stand nearby. She proceeds to pour gla.s.ses into tall flutes.
”Not especially,” replies Dylan.
”Serious?” asks Bryn with a grin. ”What about Jem and Ruby's happy event?”
”Yeah, right, because we'd both be drinking,” Ruby snaps at him.
”Whoa, Ruby,” he replies. ”Does being pregnant suck all your sense of humour away?”
Ruby scowls. ”Stressful day, thanks to somebody's big mouth.”
Jem stiffens. ”Well, everybody knows now. We've talked things through with the rest of the band and things are sorted, aren't they?” Jem squeezes her hand. ”We can move on with the tour and stop stressing about secrets.”
Ruby doesn't look at him; it's clear in her drawn face, she'd like to retort to Jem's comment.
I'm more surprised that Jax is okay with the news now. Maybe my pep talk worked, or he decided to be mature about the issue now he's sober. ”The rest of the band not coming tonight, Ruby?” I ask.
”Dunno. Probably.” Ruby stands and without another word heads to the other side of the room. Jem straightens and watches her until she heads in the direction of the Ladies Room and he relaxes down in his seat again.
I tip my head at Sky. ”Are the band always sweetness and light like this?”
”Ha. Yes,” she says with a smile and slides a gla.s.s of champagne toward herself. ”Have a drink and ignore them.”
As she drinks, Dylan watches and wraps an arm around her shoulder. She's pale too and I'm suddenly aware that, beneath their display of affection, there's a tension between them. I'm not sure what Dylan murmurs to Sky, but their att.i.tude to each other s.h.i.+fts as she relaxes again.
I pick at the edge of the menu, unaware I'd feel this uncomfortable amongst the band.
”How's the job going?” asks Bryn and pours me a gla.s.s of champagne.
I look up. I should've expected Bryn to notice my discomfort. ”Fine. Would prefer to do something a bit more interesting.”
”What's she doing?” asks Liam.
”Selling merch.”
”I'd prefer to help Riley out but no can do. But, keeps me out of trouble,” I say with a grin.
”Mostly,” mutters Bryn.
”How are you after the other night?” asks Sky. ”Dylan told me about what happened.”
c.r.a.p. I focus on my fingernails. ”Yeah. Good. Thanks.”
Silence descends and I wish Sky hadn't brought up a delicate topic of conversation. As far as I'm concerned, the incident is filed away under 'not to be talked about'.
My phone message alert sounds saving me from engaging further, and I immediately check the screen.
<did you=”” go=”” to=”” hard=”” rock?=””> Jax.
<yes> <catch you=”” there=””> I stare at the words. Was I too hasty in my decision to put the brakes on my relations.h.i.+p with Jax? This isn't the behaviour of somebody who has taken no for an answer. Since the discussion in my room, I've regretted pus.h.i.+ng Jax away so readily and he's consumed my thoughts as I wandered Paris today. Did I do the right thing there? I'm secretly flattered, and torn between wanting to see him and not.
22.
TEGAN.
The volume in the room grows as more of the tour staff arrives. Most keep away from our table, which surprises me. I recognise a few of them - Mac, the security guy I chatted to the first night and Tina from PR of course although Riley isn't with her. I've meant to catch up with Riley since the party in Lisbon but haven't seen her around the hotel or restaurant.
”Tegan.” I look at Ruby who inclines her head toward the other side of the restaurant. Her disagreement with Jem over, they're back to quiet conversations excluding those around them.
Across the room, Jax stands scanning the tables and my mouth dries. When I'm with Jax, my attraction to him is intense; his allure, a mix of the body covered in his rock star uniform and not a towel this time, the sculpted perfection of his face, and something between us I can't pinpoint.
Watching him now, the something is clearer. He's not trying to be Jax Lewis, he just is. There's a presence around him he's unaware of, the aphrodisiac of fame and good looks. Jax's arrival draws eyes to him, but his are looking for one thing. Me. I glance at Bryn whose att.i.tude has thankfully s.h.i.+fted in a happier direction after a few drinks, as he shares banter and laughter with Liam.
Jax spots me and his gaze remains on mine as he approaches.
He wouldn't.
”Hey,” Jax says with a grin and drags a chair across to the table to sit next to me.
”It's late. I didn't think you were coming,” Ruby says, and sips her water.
Jax ignores her, and places his lips on mine. The length of time his mouth lingers screams that we're more than friends.
Next, Jax places his arm across my shoulders and pulls me close.
Holy c.r.a.p.
I look across the table at Bryn. I'm not the only one waiting for his reaction because the amus.e.m.e.nt on Dylan's face is barely controlled.
Bryn watches impa.s.sively but a muscle twitches in his cheek. ”h.e.l.lo, Jax.”
”Quite an entrance you made their, mate,” says Dylan. ”Anything you want to tell us?” He arches a brow at me.
Jax shrugs and his nonchalance stuns me. This is the guy who claimed to be terrified of my brother's reaction, and here he is outing us to the whole band.
To the whole venue.