“I can see how that would be easier to stomach,” I said. “But before that, when you guys were all hooking up together. You never felt jealous about Riot and Milo? It didn’t bother you if Vi was with them without you?”
He smiled at the memory. “I know it may be hard to believe. But no. There wasn’t any jealousy. I don’t know why. Maybe because she was sleeping with my two best friends rather than some random stranger. But it just worked. And while it lasted? It was amazing.”
I thought about that as we continued through downtown Chicago hand-in-hand like the lovers that we were.
We passed a deli on the way home and picked up some soup for Riot. When we walked into the hotel lobby, I instinctively let go of Cash’s hand and put some space between us. He didn’t comment on that, but he looked sad that our contact had ended.
“I’ll deliver these to Riot,” I said, taking the bags of medicine and soup from Cash. “That way you don’t get sick. Just in case.”
“Probably a smart idea. Although at least I can still perform if I’m sick, since I don’t have to sing.”
We lingered there in front of each other. Neither of us wanted to part, but didn’t know what to say.
Finally, Cash cupped my head in both of his hands and gave me a firm and deliberate kiss. “This was great. Let’s do it again.”
“Yeah,” I said, smiling. “And next time, I don’t want either of us to be quiet.”
Cash gave me the extra key to Riot’s room and I took the elevator up to his floor. I scanned the key at the door, opened it a crack, and then called inside: “I’m here with supplies. If youdon’t want me to come inside, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
A wordless groan drifted from inside the room.
I found Riot curled in a ball on top of the sheets in bed. He was wearing only his boxers, his tattooed body shivering with fever.
“Why aren’t you all bundled up?” I demanded.
“I. Was. Too hot,” he gritted out. “Fever broke. Now back.”
His skin was scalding to the touch as I helped him get back under the covers and propped up against the headboard. Then I emptied the bags onto the table. “We have DayQuil, NyQuil, and three different flavors of cough drops. And soup! We weren’t sure what to get you, so we bought chicken noodle, potato, and cheddar broccoli.”
“Chicken noodle,” he said, closing his eyes for a moment. “You’re amazing. What’s in the third bag?”
“Clothes I bought at a thrift shop. Cash said I wasn’t rock and roll enough for the tour.” I gave a little twirl. “This leather jacket was only twenty bucks.”
“Cash has a good eye for fashion,” Riot said slowly. His eyes opened and found me again. “You look good in it.”
I tossed it over a chair and began preparing the soup.
“You don’t have to stay,” he said. “You probably don’t want to see me like this. I’m not as sexy as I am on stage.”
“I disagree. You’re sexy no matter what you’re doing.” I handed him a container of soup and a spoon. “But you are definitely a mess right now.”
He laughed at that, then fell into a fit of coughing.
“So sexy,” I teased while crawling under the covers next to him with the potato soup.
Riot inhaled the steam coming from his soup and sighed. “I promise to fuck you properly when I’m better. Even if we don’t have a hotel room by then. I’ll kick everyone out of the tour bus and make the whole thingshake.”
“I can’t wait,” I said, excited at the prospect.
But then my excitement was replaced with guilt. We slurped our soup in silence, Riot pausing to cough or blow his nose every few sips.
“You’re awfully quiet,” he said.
“I’m just enjoying my soup.”
I could feel his sideways glance. “You haven’t taken a bite yet. Just wondering what’s on your mind. I feel like I know you well enough to tell thatsomethingis off.”
I put down my soup and took a deep breath. I knew the best thing to do was just to spit it out, so I clung to that certainty and said, “Cash and I slept together.”
