I felt marginally better after a shower and some room service, but then I was faced with hours alone in the hotel waiting for the band to return. If I’d been able to bail at this moment, I would have, but there were literally twenty or more security guards outside my door in the hallway—helpful security who had procured my food for me. No way could I get past them, and I wasn’t quite at the stage of shimmying out the twenty-story window to try and escape.
The television held zero interest, even as I flicked through random channels for over thirty minutes until, eventually, I decided to just have a nap. It would be a long time before I had a chance to enjoy a mattress and thousand thread count sheets again, so I might as well take advantage while I had it.
Just as I was settling in to sleep, there was a knock at the door, and I’d been on my own for enough hours that it actually startled me. I’d kinda forgotten there were other people in the world.
Stumbling up, I dragged the edges of my dressing gown together before I strolled over and peered through the peephole. I mean, twenty security was nice, but I would never underestimate the Ricci family, even if the chances of them politely knocking was slim to none.
On the other side, Flo’s gorgeous face peered back at me. Feeling a surge of relief that I was going to have some company, I yanked the chain off the security hook and pulled the door open in a huge rush.
Flo took a second to peruse my bed hair, white gown, and complete lack of makeup before she shook her head. “Girl, we have some work to do before tonight.”
She stepped into the room then, and I finally noticed she had a garment bag in her right hand.
“Tonight?” I echoed softly before I checked the hall and saw the same security at the ready. With a nod, I closed the door and locked it again. “I thought you guys aren’t supposed to leave the venue after soundcheck?”
Flo dropped the bag on the messy bed and spun around. “Fuck that, rules are made to be broken. As for that confused face, girl… This is our New York concert. You are getting super hot for your guy, hanging in the VIP section for a change, and taking in the entire experience. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime. I promise, you don’t want to miss this.”
She dropped into the chair near the office table and grinned all proud-like.
My first instinct was to refuse, but then I thought about it.
This was my last night with the guys. I would have to take off before the concert ended, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t take in their incredible talent one last time.
One last time before it was a true goodbye.
“I’m in,” I said.
Florence’s squeal told me everything I needed to know about the rest of the day. It was time for a glam up.
thirty-six
BILLIE
Florence knew what she was doing, that was for damn sure. When she was done getting me glammed up for the concert, I barely recognized myself. The whole time she was buzzing with nervous energy, and I got the impression she was feeling some sort of guilt over the coffee shop mess yesterday.
I told her to cut it out after she apologized for the fifth time while doing my makeup. It wasn’t her fault that she’d needed to pee right then, and it wasbetterthat she hadn’t been in the line of fire. Fuck, I was relieved she had been inside, or maybe she wouldn’t be here today.
Security surrounded us as we headed down to the parking garage and waiting limo—buses were too obvious and cumbersome in a city like this—with plenty of time to get back to the concert venue. The guys were all waiting for us. Apparently, Flo hadaskedto have time alone with me, and Rhett damn near fucked me against the side of the limo when he got his hands on me. Someone had been thinking about this morning. And he wasn’t the only one.
“Cut it out,” Jace snarled, curling his lip in disgust. “We’ve got a show to focus on. Reckon you can dilute the pheromones a bit, Rose?”
That question made me stiffen with shock. He was insulting, but… he’d also called meRoseagain? What the shit? Guess it was a step up fromwhore, but also… it hurt to hear that name from him again.
He slid his cranky ass into the limo before I could come up with a snappy retort, so I just shrugged it off. At leasthewould be glad to see me gone. Selfishly, though, I didn’t want to leave until after their show tonight… I wanted to actuallywatchthis time and ignore the hateful lyrics about how I’d betrayed Jace back when I was sixteen. The idea of watching both RhettandGrayson perform was appealing enough that I could get over myself.
“Come on, Thorn,” Rhett whispered in my ear, then kissed my throat. “I want to get this concert over with.” Linking our fingers together, he led me into the car behind Jace and Grayson, with Flo and Tom behind us.
Rhett sat down in one of the bench seats, and I slipped into the gap between him and Grayson. Yes, I knew I had to leave them soon… my very presence was painting a target on Bellerose’s back and I couldn’t keep letting them take on that risk for me. But just for right now, just for the short drive to the concert venue, I wanted to feel both my sexy rock stars on either side of me.
Pity it had to include clothes, though.
Grayson casually looped his arm around my waist, tugging me closer, and Jace glared daggers. Oh well, he couldn’t exactly hate memorecould he? He could write another bestselling album about how I fucked his best friend. Again.
Just thinking of Angelo had my pulse racing in fear. He’d broken into the bus with a dozen security outside—did I seriously think I could outrun him forever? I had to, though. There was no other option. It’d be a fine line between calling a tip on myself to draw him away from Bellerose, andnot actually getting caught.
“Are you okay?” Rhett asked softly as the limo carried us toward the concert venue. Everyone else was chatting about the set list and security detail, and I’d just been sitting quietly, lost in my own head. Grayson’s hand still rested on my hip, his fingers stroking my skin above the band of my jeans, and Rhett’s hand was on my knee. I loved it. I badly didn’t want to lose it.
“Yeah, fine,” I lied, offering a weak smile. “Just thinking.”
