I suddenly realized I was touching on a sensitive subject. Milo was drawing in on himself like he didn’t want to discuss it.
I wondered what kind of childhood he’d had, but I didn’t want to push him any further.
“I fucking love my Camero though,” he added with a smile that was forced. It made his vulpine face look more vulnerable. “It’s a janky piece of shit, but it’smypiece of shit, you know?”
“Those are the best kinds!” I replied. “I still think fondly of my first car. A rusted Mercury Cougar.”
Milo leaned forward and wiggled his eyebrows. “Rust is a sign of character.”
Milo and I started playing at least one game of Doubles Solitaire per day. It became part of our routine right after lunch while splitting a can of Pringles. Milo told me that he knows Riot likes to steal his chips, but that he lets it slide because he doesn’t mind sharing.
After Nashville, we headed east to Charlotte. I wished we were staying in a hotel so Riot and I could have some private time, but that would have to wait until our next stop. After parking the bus and making sure everything was situated, the band talked about what we should do. We still had a full day to wait until the show.
“I’m gonna walk around town,” Violet said. “See if I can find the dirtiest bar in town to get a drink.”
“Dirty bars are my favorite,” Milo said. “I’ll come protect you from anyone who wants to start trouble.”
Violet gave a start. “Who would start trouble with me?”
“I don’t know!” Milo threw his hands up in the air. “I’m just trying to be a good ally!”
I felt a moment of hope that Riot and I would get some private time, but then Cash picked up his book and stretched out on the couch. “You guys have fun. After sitting in the driver’s seat for the whole drive here, I just want to relax.”
Damn. So much for private time.
Riot glanced at me. I knew what he was thinking: that it felt like we were being intentionally cockblocked.
I’d received a few new art commissions, so I sat down and worked on one of those projects for two hours while Riot plucked at his guitar and made notes on his sheet music. He was a distracting figure, hunched over the guitar with his dark hair falling across his face, concentrating on his craft. It made me want to jump his bones then and there.
Eventually, he hopped up and stretched his arms over his head. “I’m gonna see what the others are up to. Maybe find a bar of my own. Get a feel for the city.”
“Let me know if you get food,” Cash said. “I might join you, or ask you to bring something back.”
“I’ll come with you,” I tried to say casually, but I could hear my own enthusiasm in my voice.
“First round’s on you, then,” Riot replied with a sly smile.
We left the bus and started walking. I could feel Cash’s eyes on us as we drew farther and farther from the bus, eventually rounding a corner to an alley that connected the loading dock to the main street outside the concert venue.
And as soon as we were around the corner, concealed from sight, Riot threw me up against the wall.
My body surrendered to him the moment his lips touched mine. He pushed in close, hungry for me, and I spread my legs a little so his thigh could press up into me. He smelled and tasted like the most intoxicating glass of whiskey, full of darkness and danger.
“Jesusfuck, that’s good,” he groaned against my neck. “Been dying to do that for a few days.”
“No kidding.” I tugged on his shirt, bringing his lips back down to mine again.
“Wish we could do more than just make out,” he said between kisses.
“I could get us a hotel room,” I said. “It’d be worth every penny.”
Riot groaned again, this time more pained. “The others would figure it out.”
“Would that be a bad thing?”
“Probably not,” he admitted, resting his forehead against mine. “But I really don’t feel like havingthatconversation with the band.”
His fingers slid down to the place where my legs met, digging up into the fabric of my jeans in a way that made me squirm with pleasure.
