“I can read you, remember?” I whispered.
She looked into my eyes. “I know,” she breathed.
I leaned in and pressed a kiss on her lips. “Then you shouldn’t keep your thoughts to yourself, babe. You shouldn’t worry about Aubrey.”
Ever since Shane had had a meeting with her and her manager five days ago, Aubrey hadn’t so much as spared a glance in Zaira’s direction. The only time she even gave me the time of day was when we were filming, because I was unavoidable in her uptight life when we were in front of the cameras.
Shane had once again done what he did best: protect Zaira and I and keep us away from unnecessary drama. For that reason, and for that reason alone, I wanted Zaira to not stress about anything and keep her focus on thepresent.
She flinched a little at my mention of Aubrey’s name.
With a sigh, I rose a little on my knees and touched our foreheads together. “We don't need no map; we know what turn to take. Roll on by, everyone inside, we don't hesitate…” I began singing, because I knew for a fact that the two things out there in the disastrous excuse of our world that were bound to make my girl smile and pull her out of a bad funk were:
1) A Jordan Davis song.
2) My voice, of course.
Totally egotistical about the second one, but hey, it is what it is, right?
Zaira sniffed a little as she looked at me. Her soft lips slowly spread into a smile, and when she gently touched my jaw with her gloved fingertips, I grinned and continued singing.
See that hotel sign
Flickering vacancy
Ain't nobody else around
Just population you and me
Trouble town
Hand 'round the wheel of my heart, girl
And the pedal down
Fast lane to a disaster
Where you light me up, take me high
Kill me with a kiss
And baby, you're dangerous
Better buckle up
'Bout to take a little trip
To trouble town
Yeah, trouble town…
She took a shaky breath and blinked at me. “You don’t play fair, Underwood,” she whispered, and then gave me a long kiss. “You always do this to me.”
I nuzzled my nose against hers. “So what, you don’t want me to get all down and dirty for you?” I asked.
She chuckled. “I’d hardly call your singing dirty. If anything, it’s soulful and soothing. It relaxes me and helps me stay sane, in a way.”
Mission accomplished.
