That’s my girl. Whether she knows it or not, whether she admits it or not, she’s my girl.
After Andi showers and dresses, she meets me in the living area of the bus. We stopped somewhere in the middle of the night so the bus drivers could get some rest, too. When I looked out the window, I saw a Waffle House across the street. It doesn’t look like any of the other band members are stirring yet.
“Let’s go eat breakfast before the crowds show up and we cause a riot,” I suggest.
“Let’s go. I’m starving,” she readily agrees.
We dart across the street and have our choice of booths. There are a couple of older men sitting on the bar stools, having their coffee and talking about how much farther they have to drive before they reach home.
Andi picks a booth in the back corner and slides into the side with her back to the others. Taking her cue, I slide in beside her, making her move over. She looks at me quizzically for a second before she just accepts that I’m sitting with her.
“Thought it would be better if both of our faces were turned away from the front windows. Maybe we’ll be less conspicuous that way,” I explain.
“Yeah, that makes perfect sense. Because the six huge tour buses sitting across the street with ‘Sound Bar’ written in gigantic letters is the epitome of going incognito,” she quips.
“You know, I can think of better ways for us to put that quick mouth of yours to work,” I say calmly as I read my menu.
She chokes on the air as she tries to cough and laugh at the same time. “Did you really just say that out loud?”
“I did. Keep pushing me and I’ll prove it to you.” I cut my eyes sideways at her and give her my best smile.
Her breath hitches in her chest, her mouth drops open, and her cheeks tinge pink. My God, she is gorgeous, and she takes my breath away just looking at her. She senses the swift change in my mood. I can see it in her eyes. I’m still being playful with her, but my heart feels like it was just struck by lightning.
I’m man enough to admit that I’ve fallen in love with Andi. She’s not ready to hear it yet, but she saw it in my eyes just now. She looked shocked, but not scared. She knows she’s not ready to hear it, but she wants to feel it. I haven’t achieved everything in my career without being a master at reading people. To me, Andi is an open book, wearing her emotions and thoughts on her sleeve.
“Are you planning to order from the menu? Or are you having me for breakfast?” I lift one eyebrow and smirk.
“I wasn’t aware I had to choose one over the other. That’s too bad,” she sighs. “I guess I’ll have a waffle and crispy bacon then.”
Bursting out in laughter, I can’t hide how much I love how she constantly surprises me, puts me in my place, and makes me rethink everything I thought I knew. Putting my arm around her shoulders, I pull her into my side as we both look over the same menu. While she’s pointing out different items, I lean in and kiss her temple.
Looking up at me, she asks, “What was that for?”
“I couldn’t resist. That spot just looked like it needed a kiss.”
“It did, actually. It was just telling me how neglected it feels. Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?”
“I admit it. I was eavesdropping.” Leaning into her ear, I whisper enticingly. “There are other body parts that are also screaming for a kiss. I’d be more than happy to oblige them, too.”
After a shorter choking fit, she nudges me in the ribs with her elbow. “Eating breakfast with you is hazardous to my health.”
After a few minutes, the rest of my band and the girls from Fireflies join us for breakfast. Andi and I get a couple of sideways glances from Cami and Katelyn, but no one comes out and asks us anything. Anyone who knows me should know better than to ask anyway. I’d tell them it’s none of their fucking business, and if they don’t like it, they can hit the fucking road.
Before long, we’re keeping the waitresses busy, and we’re all stuffing our faces. For this short time that’s still way too early in the morning to be up and around, we act and feel like just regular people. There are no rock stars here. There are no egos, no demands, and no camera flashes. We’re just a group of good friends, sharing a meal, and enjoying insulting each other in every way possible.
“Andi, you’re eating more than I am. How can you eat so much and stay so little, but I have to watch every bite to keep my perfect girlish figure?” Kale shouts at Andi from the next booth.
“Because I burn off the calories with lots of vigorous sex, Kale. You just lie there like a bump on a log,” she replies dryly as she pours the sugary syrup on her waffle.
“I don’t do that,” Kale argues.
“Yeah, that’s what she said,” Andi retorts.
We all erupt in laughter at Kale’s expense, and he throws a piece of his biscuit at Andi’s head. He can’t help but laugh, too. He loves a good insult sparring partner as much as I do. Andi fits in perfectly with us in so many ways. I don’t want to see this tour come to an end.
When we retreat back to the buses, we all climb on mine for the rest of the trip to Oklahoma City. Taking my seat beside Andi, I wrap my arm around her and ignore all the blatant looks of surprise we get.
“Yeah, this is happening, so get used to it,” I announce to the room as I turn on the TV.
“About damn time,” Drew replies. “Thought you’d never make a play for her.”
A commercial promoting the upcoming fight comes on, effectively dousing my good mood. Andi keeps her eyes averted from the screen until the next commercial starts. Leaning in so that only she can hear me, I try to console her.
“You don’t have to do that concert, Andi. I can push back and have you removed from the lineup. Just say the word.”
“No, you don’t have to do that.” She looks up at me, her eyes relaying her openness. “I’m singing with you, Travis.”
She just made me feel ten feet tall.
