“Hey, Zaria, glad you’re coming along,” Tillie says, pulling me into a hug.
I tense up slightly as I’m still not sure if she’s totally serious, but I quickly wrap my arms around her and embrace her back when I realize she’s not going to let go until I do.
“Thanks, Tillie. I’m hoping it’ll be fun. Glad I’ll have you with me,” I say honestly.
She smiles and pushes her glasses back up her nose from where they’d fallen slightly. “We’re gonna have so much fun, you wait and see.”
“That’s if Lunar doesn’t smother me with a pillow in my sleep.”
Tillie winks at me. “Not her style. If she’s gonna off someone, she’ll make sure to let you know she’s doing it. I’d imagine lotsof slapping, hands around the throat, maybe some hits to the ribs with a baseball bat. You know, something obvious. Lunar doesn’t do subtle, so if she’s gonna kill you, you’ll at least see it coming.”
“Wow! Comforting,” I reply, and Nate chuckles while shaking his head.
“Tillie, that’s not helping,” he says.
“It’s not? Damn! I was trying to be funny. Ryan, you’re not teaching me right. I’m not funnyyet,” she calls out, and I burst out laughing. Her eyes open wide like she’s proud of herself. “Ha! You laughed. Mission accomplished. Tillie, one. Depressed Zaria, zero!”
Nate high-fives Tillie, and she nods proudly as Ryan walks over and smiles. “What’d I miss?”
“I made a funny, babe.”
“God, it’s about time. And I missed it? Oh well, I’m sure you’ll make me laugh on this tour for sure.”
“Challenge accepted.”
“You two are strange,” I say with a laugh, glancing between them as they both nod, clearly reveling in their little world of inside jokes.
“Yeah, we’re in our own little bubble of awesomeness,” Ryan says, pulling Tillie to him and kissing her head.
It’s sweet and tender and tells me everything I need to know about them as a couple.
Nate reaches out, grabbing my hand as another car pulls up. Danger steps out and opens the trunk while Lunar slides out, fussing about her hair.
I tense up immediately.
This tour is going to be awkward if we don’t get along, so I’m going to make an effort.
“Hey, guys,” Ryan calls out.
“Hey, fucker,” Lunar replies with a smirk, like she always calls him that.
Danger pulls bag after bag out of the trunk.
“Oh, if it isn’t the diva,” Lunar says, looking at me as I look atallof her luggage and can’t help but let out a stifled laugh.
“Excuse me? Have you looked at yourself?” I point to her bags without thinking, and I immediately regret it when she glares at me.
Nate squeezes my hand, and I sink back into myself.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lunar scoffs.
“No… nothing. Sorry. Forget I said anything,” I say, remembering to play nice.
Tillie huffs as Lunar flicks her hair over her shoulders. “Lunar, do you really need all this shit? It’s a small tour bus,” Tillie asks, not so gently.
Lunar looks back at the six large bags and exhales, her body slumping slightly. “What did you guys bring?”
“One bag each,” Nate says.
