Right when I thought Jace was about to kick off again with his insults, he scrubbed a hand over his face and reached for his coffee. Then he just sat down on the couch bench opposite us.
“What’s that?” he mumbled, nodding to my notebook, still lying forgotten on the table.
I shrugged. “Just had a melody in my head that needed to get out. Maybe it’ll fit those lyrics you’ve been writing.” I was poking the bear, but I couldn’t help myself. All his songs were about Billie in some way, shape, or form. Whether he admitted it or not. The fact that he’d started writing again now that she’d stumbled back into his life… No way that was a coincidence.
Jace didn’t take the bait, though. “Maybe.”
“Speaking of songwriting,” I pushed, “have we heard back from the lawyers about Billie’s royalties? As much as I like having her here, I’m sure she would rather it be her choice to stay. Not out of desperation.”
She gave a small squeak of surprise beside me, and Jace’s sleepy eyes swung her way.
“You want to stay on tour?” he asked, his tone flat and unreadable. “Why?”
Her spine went stiff, like she was bracing for a fight. But Jace… something was off with him this morning. He wasn’t as combative or angry. Maybe I should have punched him in the face sooner, if that’s all he’d needed to treat Billie with respect.
“I didn’t—” she started, wetting her lips. “I wasn’t asking to—”
“But you don’thaveto ask,” I quickly cut her off. “I think I’ve mademyfeelings pretty clear by now. I want you here. I want you to stay.”With me.
She softened slightly, melting into my sideways embrace, but I couldn’t ignore the way her eyes darted over to Jace like she wanted to know what he thought about that idea. I groaned internally because he was my best friend and I loved the crap out of him… but I wanted Billie to bemine, and only mine.
Something told me that wasn’t going to be possible, though. Especially with the way her face heated as Grayson came out of the bunk area to join us. She hadn’t said awordabout him watching while I got her off with my hand, but she’d definitely seen him.
“Morning,” Jace muttered as Gray dropped down on the sofa beside him, coffee in hand.
Grayson just grunted a response. His gaze rested on Billie while he sipped his drink, and I stifled a sigh. She was the center of everyone's attention. Did she know?
Flo and Tucker—the fucker—broke the tension, coming out together like they were joined at the hip. Because they were.
“What are we talking about?” Tom asked after Flo had said good morning to everyone.
Jace yawned, running his hand over his hair. “Rhett was asking whether our lawyers have sorted out Billie’s royalties for the first album yet.” Again, totally expressionless. What thefuckwas going on in his head right now?
Tom’s eyes widened, and his jaw flapped a moment. I knew why, too. Jace was supposed to front up aboutwhichsongs she was owed royalties for, and last time Tom had asked, Jace blew his top and stormed out. I hadn’t pushed the issue because I wanted to keep her a little longer, but… I’d rather win her favor by being the one to offer her freedom, not force her captivity.
Flo clearly knew it too because she cleared her throat and changed the subject. “So, what did you think of the show last night, Billie? You caught a few songs before someone gave you headphones, right?”
My girl nodded, wincing slightly, her gaze flicking to Jaceagainbefore she answered Flo. The girls settled into polite conversation about the show—what little Billie had seen before Gray’s minion delivered headphones and a fucking romance novel—while I narrowed my glare at Jace.
He stared back at me for a moment, then tipped his head toward the door of the bus, silently asking me to step outside with him. I gave a small nod, then brushed a kiss over Billie’s cheek as I murmured I’d be back in a minute. Then I followed Jace… as I always did.
We’d barely even made it twenty paces from the bus when he sparked up a joint and took a drag. Maybe that explained why he was so fucking chill this morning?
“What’s up?”
He didn’t answer straight away, just offered me the joint, which I accepted.
“This thing…” he finally said, his eyes downcast as he kicked gravel, “you know, between you and Billie.”
I scoffed, handing back his joint. “Yeah, I knowthis thing. What about it?”
Jace’s eyes snapped up, glaring at me. Then he shook his head and looked away, taking another drag. “You don’t fucking get it, man. She’ll break your heart.”
Logically, I knew part of him was genuinely concerned for me, for his best friend. But part of him, abiggerpart, was just seething with jealousy.
“Then so fucking be it,” I replied, holding his gaze when he looked back over at me. “I’m serious, Jace. If she breaks my heart, then you can have a good laugh and sayI told you so, but I don’t give a fuck. You know what they say, ‘better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Or whatever it is.’”
Jace looked like I’d just slapped him. “Youloveher? You don’t evenknowher!”
