Like I’m stepping on their toes.
But I was brought in to promote them, so that’s what I’ll do, to the best of my ability, anyway.
After about ten minutes, the interview wraps up seamlessly. It went great—we bounced off each other like old friends, the conversation flowing naturally without a hint of anything forced or fake. For once, I felt completely genuine talking about how much I’m enjoying my time with Danger and Recoil, and I’m pretty sure that came through perfectly.
Once we’re all finished, we make our way through the studio while Oliver thanks the host and the producer, and Nate comes to my side.
“You were great,” he whispers in my ear.
I smile up at him and breathe a sigh of relief.
I’m glad he approves.
“Thank you, but I meant everything I said. I wasn’t playing a part in there.”
“You weren’t?”
Reaching out and touching his arm, I smile. “No. I really do enjoy being around you guys. Sure, it hasn’t been smooth sailing with the girls, but the guys are easy. There’s no need to make up stories about liking you all because I do. One a little more than the others, though,” I say, raising my brows up and down insinuatingly.
He chuckles. “Only alittlemore?” He uses his fingers to measure the distance.
“Can’t play blatant favorites now, can I?” I tease.
“Personally, I think you should. No, I think youdefinitelyshould.” He steps in closer, wrapping his arm around my waist. I go to lean in to kiss him, but someone clears their throat next to us.
“Sorry, guys, technically, you’re in public. So, ah, PDAs are a no-no,” Tillie says with a sympathetic frown.
Nate pulls back and sighs. “Fuck! Sorry, Tillie. This might be harder than we thought.”
She nods, looking around obviously to check if any radio personnel saw our little encounter. “It will be hard, but you’ll get the hang of it. Just lucky no one saw but me.”
“Yeah. Sorry again, Tillie,” Nate says.
“It’s all good. Let’s go back to the bus. Then you guys can kanoodle all you like.”
Nate chuckles. “Did you really just saykanoodle?”
“Yes, now let’s go!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
We stride out of the studio, and the fans are still here. I wave to Heidi, and she smiles at me widely as I rush past the crowd and onto the bus. Nate follows me on, and once we’re safely behind the tinted windows, he pulls me to him and kisses me passionately. I melt into his arms and kiss him back. I’m not sure why we need each other right now, but I can’t get enough of him. That is, until loud cheering forces us to break apart. We notice Ryan making a fuss over us with his usual slurping noises and what looks like him making love to his hand.
I laugh, shaking my head as Nate holds me to him.
“Am I gonna have to listen to you two banging below us all the time?” Ryan asks.
Nate rolls his eyes.
“Shut up, Ry, that’s what headphones are for,” Tillie chides.
I gasp as she winks at me. Sex with Nate in the next two months hadn’t crossed my mind, especially on a tour bus withsevenother people.
Fuck!
“Relax. We don’t have to do that. Not if you’re uncomfortable, Ria,” Nate says, seeming to know what I’m thinking.
I turn to face him, and he smiles at me so warmly that it melts my heart. “I just… faking it on a set is easy, but having an audience for thereal thingscares the living shit out of me, Nate.”
