Irritation flooded Ollie, an emotion that often got the better of him, especially when he knew it was irrational. Shay hadn’t been around to blank him, and before they’d messed around, there’d been plenty of occasions when Shay had been too engrossed in his work to noticeanyone, let alone Ollie, some knobber from a TV company who blew hot and cold like fucking whiplash.
The bus engine rumbled to life. Alarmed, Ollie threw his legs over the side of the bed and planted his feet on the floor. The band was due in Glasgow that evening, but sleeping in had left Ollie no time to ground himself enough to face even the briefest of road journeys.
Fuck this.
He stamped into his Vans, grabbed his camera bag, thankful he’d slept in his clothes, and made it to the front of the bus a split second before the driver took the handbrake off.
“Wait up, mate. I’m getting off here.”
Chapter Eight
“He didsay he wasn’t going to be here for the whole tour.” Corina kept her gaze on her ever-present iPad. “I’ve only got the dates and times he’s booked you for filming in the schedule. Where he is the rest of the time isn’t my concern.”
Shay glowered. He’d asked the question as casually as he could, putting it to Smugs, the bus driver, first and then gradually working his way up to Corina. After an afternoon of dead ends, he’d counted on her having an answer for him. And also on her not giving a witch’s tit why he was asking, which she clearly didn’t.
Swallowing a growl of frustration, Shay stomped out of the side room Corina had commandeered as an office for the next few days. He’d fed her a bullshit reason for wanting to know Ollie’s whereabouts, but the truth was, he couldn’t get Ollie’s abrupt departure from the tour out of his head—Ollie’s tense shoulders and set jaw, his wide, anxious eyes, and the scent of… fear as he’d rushed past Shay’s bunk in his hurry to get off the bus.
Your imagination is fucking nuts. Truth. It always had been. But Ollie had jumped off the bus for a reason, and Shay would’ve bet his oldest banjo that it wasn’t a pleasant one.
He made his way back to the rehearsal room. Most of the band were huddled in corners, tuning up or tapping out lazy rhythms. Only Ben didn’t appear occupied with gig preparation and instead sat hunched over his phone.
Shay cuffed his shoulder on his way past. “Leave that girl alone. You were up all night FaceTiming her.”
Ben grunted. “Fuck off. Not my fault she lives in New Zealand, is it?”
“Ain’t it?” Jumbo called. “She moved backafteryou hooked up with her.”
Ben’s glare would’ve burned Jumbo alive if he hadn’t possessed such a kind face. As it was, Jumbo just laughed, and Ben turned back to Shay. “Anyway. I’m not even talking to Eve. I’m talking to Ollie.”
“Ollie? Why? Where is he?”
If Ben was surprised by the influx of Ollie-themed questions, it didn’t show. He shrugged and held up his phone. “He’s in Glasgow.”
“He’s here?”
“Well, no. He ain’there, knobhead. But he’s in the city. Reckons he’ll link up with us tomorrow.”
“But—” Shay stopped. Swallowed down a mouthful of questions and tried not to scrutinise Ben’s phone screen. He should’ve been relieved. Ollie was close by, and he’d be back on the tour by tomorrow, but Shay couldn’t silence the whisper in his head that something wasn’t quite right. “Um… can I have his number?”
“What for?”
“What do you care?”
“I don’t.” Ben grinned. “I just like watching you squirm. What’s going on with you two? Someone only has to mention him and you get all giddy and shit.”
“Piss off and give me his number.”
Shay had a better mean mug than Ben. After a fleeting standoff, Ben buckled and sent Ollie’s contact card to Shay’s phone.
Ignoring the chuckles that followed him, Shay left the room again, retreating to a quiet corner of the big venue to save Ollie’s number in his phone and then stare at a blank WhatsApp message for the rest of the afternoon. Because really, what was he supposed to say?Please come back. I’m freaking out thinking you left because I snogged you?
Because Ollie’s world was all about Shay.
Idiot.
* * *
Ollie:Meetme at the University of Glasgow Library, tomorrow, 11 am—Ollie
