My eyes go wide. What the fuck? I haven’t seen a video. I was on high alert that night, too. I never saw anyone recording us. There was barely anyone in the hotel at that hour.
Travis doesn’t even flinch, but my heart is pounding. I have to remind myself to play it cool.
“I don’t know what you’re referring to.”
Phillip chuckles. “Right, it does appear you were heavily intoxicated. Is it hard to balance the partying with the playing?”
A relieved breath quietly escapes me. I thought he was going to pull out the video and make us watch. I risk a glance at the others, and they’re all acting completely unbothered. Tanner’s left eye twitched a little, but it was hardly noticeable.
“Not at all. Playing is the most important, but sometimes we celebrate. We deserve it, we work hard.”
“Of course, but is there ever a time when you’ve overdone it? We see so many tragic stories of fame derailing someone’s life. How do you all make sure it doesn’t happen to you?” he asks, looking at each of the guys.
It’s Tanner who answers. “We take care of each other. We made a promise to put each other first, and that’s what we do. Music is important but not more important than our friendships.”
My heart flutters a bit at his sweet response. It’s clear byhis tone he means it. He may come off like an asshole, but he cares deeply about his bandmates, not just his band.
Phillip nods, but I can tell he was searching for something more dramatic. Before he can keep going, Calvin claps and tells them time’s up.
Tension starts to dissipate from my body now that it’s over. I end the recording and start packing up the tripod as fast as I can, and get the hell out of dodge.
34
TRAVIS
“Barn owls are mostlymonogamous creatures; however, a small portion—25 percent—of mated pairs divorce. Doing so if breeding is unsuccessful.”
“Pfft, monogamy is lame anyway,” I mumble to myself as I lie in my hotel bed, watching an Animal Planet documentary. I haven’t watched a single one since we’ve been on tour, and I forgot how relaxing it was. Not to mention how much I learn. Did you know owls don’t have eyeballs? They’re eyetubes.Fucking weird.
“Hey.” Penn strolls through the door of our shared room. “What are you watc—” He cuts himself off when he sees two owls mating on TV.
“They’re ‘copulating,’” I inform him.
He makes a face. “It doesn’t look like she’s into it.” He flops on his bed and kicks his shoes off.
“How do you know she’son the bottom?”
He shoots me a look.
“Maybe she’s the dominating one.” She’s not. I just like fucking with him.
“That’s how you like it, right?” He wiggles his brows, wearing a knowing smirk.
“I like iteveryway.” Immediately, visions of Ellie riding me flash through my head, making my cock flinch. I haven’t had a lick of action since she started riding the crew bus. Every apology I’ve thrown at her has fallen on deaf ears. She went from barely looking at me to watching me so carefully, as if I’m made of glass and she doesn’t want me to break. I don’t know why. I wish she’d go back to playing with me and stop worrying. Fuck, I wish she’d just talk to me. I miss having her around, smelling her delicious perfume, hearing her laugh, and listening to music with her when she can’t sleep.
Penn chuckles, throwing his head back, staring up at the ceiling, and then he sighs. My muscles tighten at the sound. I already know what’s coming.
“You doin’ ok, man?”
I keep my gaze trained on the TV, watching the owls boink. “Yep.”
“You ready to be home?”
I shrug, like it doesn’t matter either way, but fuck yes, I am.
“I’m so fucking ready. This shit sucks.”
“What if you didn’t have Olivia to run home to? Would it suck?”
