“That was so good.” Eva rubbed her stomach. “I think I’m in a food coma.”
“None of that. The night is still young and we have games to play,” Hudson said.
“Games?” She smothered a yawn. “I’m not sure I have energy for games.”
“Eva, Eva, Eva, you’re killing me here. We wanted to take you out on the town but Alistair-Wouldn’t-Know-What-Fun-Is-If-It-Hit-Him-In-The-Ass pulled the manager card and put us on lockdown, so here we are.”
“Hey, give a girl some credit. Until a couple of months ago, I was just a high schooler tryin’ to get through senior year.”
“How’d your parents take it?” Damon asked. “It couldn’t have been easy letting you quit senior year.”
A sad expression washed over Eva. If anyone else noticed, they didn’t say. I saw it though. “It’s the dream, right? And I’m eighteen. Besides, I have a lifetime to get my GED.”
Her words felt forced. Fake, even. Damon’s words about her parents swam around my head. But it wasn’t the time or place to ask her.
“I can’t even remember what it was like to be in high school.” Levi kicked his feet up onto an empty chair. “I can remember fucking hating that place with every breath though. Remember, Rafe, it should have been me keeping your ass in class, but it was always you dragging me there.”
“It wasn’t that long ago,” Eva said, nibbling the last slice of pizza.
“Long enough, Angel.” Levi used the nickname so easily now, but it was still like a punch to the gut every time it rolled off his tongue. Damon caught my eye. I dropped my gaze, unwilling to go there.
“School had its uses,” Hudson added. “I learned a lot from the senior girls back in the day.”
“Ugh, gross,” Letty fake gagged, but it only spurred him on. He made a V with his fingers and licked the air. “Can it, Ryker. We don’t know where that has been.” She balled up a napkin and threw it at him.
“You’re just jealous because it’s never been on you,” he teased.
“Yeah, that must be it.” She rolled her eyes, murmuring, “I can’t believe I ever thought you were the hottest member of the band. Pig.”
“Lighten up, Letty. Sounds like you need a good hard—”
“Ryker,” my brother hissed. “Shut the fuck up. If Eva doesn’t want to play a game, we don’t have to play a game. It’s her night, her rules.” Everyone’s eyes slid to Eva and she shrank into the bench. “So, Angel, what would you like to do?”
She tapped the end of her nose and then pointed to the corner of the ceiling. “Does that work?”
Quiet laughter rumbled in my chest. Here she was, in the middle of a tour bus with four rock stars and Evangeline Star Walker wanted to watch a film.
“Do we even have any DVDs?” Hudson asked.
“I think there’s a box in that overhead bin somewhere.” Damon got up and went to find a movie.
“This has been great, you guys, truly, but I’m exhausted.” Eva yawned again, stretching her arms high enough to make her Black Hearts t-shirt rise, revealing a sliver of skin. Fuck. This was like torture. Having her right there and not being able to touch her. But I would manage, the way I always did.
“Chick flick or action film?” Damon called. Letty and Eva shared a conspiratorial look.
“Chick flick.” Eva grinned, returning her assistant’s high-five.
“Never thought I’d see the day…” Hudson grumbled as he grabbed a cushion and stuffed it behind his head. We all spread out over the bench and chairs, getting comfortable. Eva was too far away for my liking but at least I wouldn’t be tempted to do something stupid like reach for her hand.
“Okay, we should be good to go.” Damon joined us.
“Before you hit play,” Eva said, her voice turning serious. I sat a little straighter. “I just want to say…” She hesitated and alarm bells rang in my head. “I… well, thank you. For tonight, for makin’ me so welcome. It means a lot. More than you’ll probably ever know.”
“Jesus, Walker, I thought you were about to tell us you and Hunter were having a secret love child or something.” Hudson realized his error instantly, the color draining from his face. “Shit, I didn’t… excuse me while I go bury myself in the giant fucking hole I just made.”
Eva laughed it off, but I saw the tightness around her eyes. Letty and Damon watched the two us, trying to see past our façades. All while Levi sat there none the wiser, a wolfish grin plastered on his face, because he didn’t think Hudson meant me.
He assumed the joke was on him.
And he didn’t seem in the least bit bothered.
Eva
I woke to the sound of the small television crackling. Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes and scanned the dimly lit bus.
“Hey,” Rafe’s whisper cut through the air and I found him across from me, relaxed back in a chair.
“I fell asleep?”
“You weren’t the only one.” His eyes went to Hudson and Levi who were both out cold, their gentle snores creating a strange symphony.
“Ugh, my neck,” I tried to stretch out the sore muscle. “Damon and Letty?” I asked, and his eyes slid to the bunks further down the bus. “Together?” My brows hit my hairline.
“No.” Rafe chuckled. “Letty took a spare bunk. Old habit, I guess. You can take the bedroom, get some sleep.”
My eyes flicked to Hudson and Levi again. “Show me where it is?” I gingerly inched out from behind the table, careful not to knock Hudson.
“It’s right down—”
“Show me,” I reached Rafe, gazing down at him, “please.”
His eyes shuttered as he drew in a harsh breath. I half-expected him to say no. We were on the band’s tour bus, surrounded by his, albeit sleeping, bandmates. But Rafe didn’t refuse me. Instead, he got up and moved down the bus, stopping outside a narrow door. “It isn’t much, but it’s private.”
I slipped past him, the weight of his stare burning into my back. I glanced over my shoulder, ready to ask him to stay a minute, but he was already there. Rafe hooked his finger into my jeans and pulled me around, crowding me against the wall. “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve wanted to do this today?” His lips hovered over mine, teasing and tempting.
“Rafe.” I slid my hands up his chest, pulling him closer. “We shouldn’t...” The last thing I wanted was to get him in trouble but the tether between us snapped taut.
I needed him.
I needed to know we were okay.
“Don’t move, Starshine, don’t move an inch.” Rafe kissed me, soft at first, slipping his tongue into my mouth with slow shallow licks. My body trembled, his touch almost too much to bear, but at the same time, nowhere near enough to douse the flames growing inside me. Rafe pressed his hand against the wall beside my head and leaned in, pushing his hard lines against my soft curves.
“Can you be quiet?” he whispered the words against my lips.
I nodded, smothering the moan building in my throat. Taking a step back, Rafe let his eyes move over me. He lingered on my lips, the curve of my breasts, the hem of my leggings.