Part 73 (1/2)

”No?”

”Yeah.”

”What?”

Will lies next to me again and pulls me closer, the return of his warmth lulling me towards sleep. ”Be part of this. You're in my life; I don't want Ruby Riot Will to be different to your Will.”

”Both Wills are the same to me. Really, I'm don't want to go.” I yawn. ”Sorry.”

”Wait backstage. We can do something later.”

”Backstage? I definitely don't know whether I want to do that.” Nate. Jax. Ruby. People a world away from mine.

”Well, think about it.” I wriggle as he smothers my face in kisses. ”I want you there.”

I push him away and pull the duvet over my head. ”Fine! But I'm tired after last night.”

Will pulls the duvet down and rests his lips on my forehead before placing the soft material back over me. I snuggle back down; the house is cold and I'm not keen on getting out of bed yet. When I hear my bedroom door close, I'm surprised Will never said goodbye.

Half asleep, I'm aware of movement in the room again. I open an eye when somebody sits on the bed and takes hold of my hand.

”What are you doing?” I ask as Will writes something on my palm.

He doesn't respond and, too tired to move, I allow him. ”In case you forget before I see you tonight.”

I pull my hand away with a loud sigh. ”If I go.”

When I wake, Will has left with the part of my heart I gave to him last night. I attempt to push thoughts of us aside; I won't be one of those girls who brood over a guy every minute of every day.

I catch sight of the words on my palm, written in thick black pen and realise how much of his he's given in return.

'I love you.'

I relent. Later that afternoon I shower; my body aches from my night with Will, and arousal streams back through me at the thoughts and images of us together. I soap my hands and guilt washes over me that I'm wiping away Will's words.

Apart from I can't.

I scrub at the words but they stare back at me. Black. Spiked. Will's letters.

As I dress for the night, Will texts me with the time he'll drop by to pick me up. I text him back.

<you used=”” a=”” permanent=”” marker=””><deliberately?> <yes. because=”” this=”” isn't=”” temporary=””><good> I shake my head, body filling with the already building desire to be back with him. Will is away again next week, already our time is split between his future and mine, but I push away the thought. I'm going to live for now, and see what our future holds.

32.

FLEUR.

Ruby Riot plays an intimate venue tonight, the theatre a similar size to the last time I saw them. This time I'm more nervous because Will insists I join him backstage before the band performs. I'm unsure if I'm ready to become part of his entourage.

Talk about out of my depth.

When we arrive, Jax and Nate are lounging on the sofa, feet on the table drinking beer. I hover in the doorway until Will shoves me into the room. Jax looks up, the startling blue eyes arresting me as they did backstage last time. This man is a publicist's dream, and judging by what Will's told me about his ego, their nightmare too. Jax and the twins' ability to broadcast their raw s.e.xuality leads to a promise, girls fantasise over. A promise I can attest lives up to the hype.

Nate looks at Will's fingers gripping mine, then away, and Jax lifts his bottle in salute. ”Hey, Fleur! Will said you were joining us.”

”Hey.”

Nate mutters a h.e.l.lo too and stands to fetch another beer. ”Want one?” he asks us.

”No. Thanks.”

Nate throws Will a beer. ”Shame Tegan isn't around or you could've watched with her. Someone to talk to.”

”She's on her way. Just finished work,” says Jax.

I nod and brush my short dress into place. Why do I feel like I'm meeting Will's parents?

”What do you think about the new alb.u.m?” asks Nate.

”I like it.”

”Yeah? What's your favourite track?”

”Consume,” I shoot back. He's trying to catch me out. ”I hope you're playing that one tonight.”

”Probably. You staying all night?” asks Nate. ”We might be busy later. Me and Will had plans.”

”I told you I was out with Fleur tonight.”

”Yeah, after we arranged the night at Blue Room.”

”You can still go.”

”She could come?” Then he looks at me. ”Yeah, maybe not.”

”What does that mean?” Will asks.

Nate shrugs. ”Nothing.”

”I'm gonna spend time with Fleur. We haven't seen much of each other recently.”