I choke and gag on my coffee.
“Asshole.” Rooster looms over the table, close to punching Jigsaw.
Jigsaw holds his hands in the air but doesn’t seem all that concerned that Rooster wants to clean his clock. “What? I apologized to Shelby.”
Rooster turns and raises an eyebrow at me.
“He sure did,” I confirm. “But he didn’t have to.”
He shoots a glare at Jigsaw but steps away, returning to my side. “Yes. He did.”
A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. “Now, Logan, you have to admit we weren’t being respectful of our guest last night.”
Jigsaw ducks his head and snickers into his hand.
“I’m not admitting shit,” Rooster grumbles. The sweet way he reaches out and curls his arm around my shoulders negates the harsh statement. “Hey, I need to talk to you about something, okay?”
Dread curls in my stomach. “What’s wrong?”
“I talked to your mom this morning.”
“Really? Is she okay?”
“Suggs sent her a letter.”
“What?” I stagger into the counter, sloshing coffee all over my thumb and wrist. Rooster pries the mug from my hand, setting it on the counter, and thrusts my arm under the faucet. Cold water blasts my warm skin. “I don’t think it was hot enough to burn,” I mumble.
Instead of answering, he shuts off the water and dries me with a small kitchen towel, carefully inspecting my skin for injuries.
“What do you mean he sent my mother a letter?” I ask when he’s finished. “What did it say?”
“Same crazy sort of crap as before. Nothing you need in your head. She didn’t even want me to tell you.”
“Like hell.”
“Yeah, I figured. I spoke to Jackson. He’s sending a field agent to collect the letter from your mom. He’s supposed to check with the jail too. Suggs shouldn’t have been able to get that letter out in the first place.”
“Great,” I grumble. Just what my momma needs. Feds knocking on her door.
“He’s not getting out, Shelby. If anything, this will strengthen the case against granting bail.”
“I hope so.”
“She really wants to talk to you. Why don’t you hop in the truck so you have some privacy and give her a call?”
“Okay.” I grab my phone and a hoodie, slipping it on and pulling the hood over my head.
ROOSTER
I walk Shelby outside, boost her into the truck and then return to the RV to talk to Jigsaw.
“First things first.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me. “Your balls feel better today?”
“Wait until the next time some poor, unfortunate soul wants to hop in your bed. Karma’s a bitch.”
The devilish expression slides off his face and he takes a quick glance out the window before crowding into my space. “Have you ever talked to her about your past?”
“What? No. Why?”
“Before you dropped the news about Suggs, she asked about your parents. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I told her to talk to you.”
“Fuck.” I run my hands through my hair. “Yeah, because that worked out for me so well last time.”
“I get it, bro. But Shelby’s nothing like Ashley.”
“Don’t even mention that fucking name.” My gaze scans the immediate area as if my ex might pop up like a nightmare returning from the abyss. “I don’t want it tainting my space with Shelby.”
Jiggy snort-laughs. “You’re starting to sound like your girl. Should I go find some sage to burn?”
“Fuck off.”
“She would’ve crawled out of her shallow pit by now if she recognized you after your brooding, lovesick face was plastered all over the country on that stupid rag.”
“Who knows if she reads that shit anymore. I really couldn’t give a fuck less.”
“Why not just tell Shelby before she finds out on her own? It’s not that big a fucking deal.” He winces and stares down at his hand, curling into a fist on the counter. “Shit. I’m sorry.”
“I know what you meant.” I pat his shoulder. “After the tour.”
“Sure.” He rolls his eyes.
I gesture toward the truck. “I think I’ve got bigger problems right now.”
“Is Lynn okay?”
The question throws me for a second. “No, she was freaked the fuck out. This letter was even creepier than the originals. Jail hasn’t taught him any lessons.”
He stares at me.
“I called Ice. He’s gonna get it done.”
“Good. Told you we should’ve wasted him when we had the chance.”
“I agree.” My fists curl at my sides. “Especially since Jackson seems to be dragging his feet doing anything about Glenna’s involvement.”
“Never happening, bro. Let’s just help Shelby take over the whole country music universe and push that bitch into oblivion.”
Those words coming out of Jiggy’s mouth ease my black mood. Always a surprise with him. Guess that’s how we ended up best friends for so damn long. “What do you wanna do? Become the mafia boss of country music?”
He shrugs and flashes a maniacal grin. “Stranger things have happened.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Shelby
“End of the road. For now, anyway.” Rooster shifts the truck into park.
Tears fill my eyes and I turn toward the window.
“Shelby?”
I swallow down the pain and paste on a smile before facing him. “Are you sure the RV will be okay here?”
It had been a devil of a time maneuvering it into the hotel’s parking garage. He and Jigsaw had to talk to one of the attendants for a special spot. Every minute of uncertainty had jacked up my anxiety over this situation even more.
He flashes the hotel ticket and places it on the dash. “We’re fine. You’ve got your set of keys, so if you need anything you can come out and get it. Just…don’t walk out here by yourself. Have Trent or someone come with you.”
“I don’t plan on leaving my hotel room.”
Nope, I’m gonna drown my sorrows in some ice cream and delightful romance novels.
“All right. Let’s grab your stuff.”
The guys had already stopped to unload Rooster’s bike. The small bag he’d need for the short trip was already packed. We can’t prolong this goodbye.
Rooster hefts my suitcases out of the backseat with ease, setting them down on the concrete. “Anything else?”
I search the cab of the truck and grab my cell phone charger. Otherwise, I’ve got it all.
“Nope. All set.” I use my sunniest voice.
But a cloud of doom still follows us inside.
ROOSTER
The demons of every mistake I’ve ever made follow me north. Lurking at my back no matter how hard I twist the throttle. Back then I had nothing to lose.
Now, I have everything.
Stupid.
I should’ve insisted on going to the awards show with Shelby. Leaving her in L.A. had hurt like hell.