“There are a lot of things I regret, Eva,” he whispered, pain laced into every word. “But you’re not one of them.”
I fell asleep in his arms. Just a girl in love with a boy, wondering how they were going to survive the odds.
Rafe
* * *
The next three days were grueling. We had back to back shows in Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Chicago, followed by a smaller gig at the Grand Ballroom on Navy Pier tonight. This one was for official fan club contest winners, fans who were gifted tickets through non-profits like Wish Fairy, and friends and family. Except, none of us had friends and family, so it usually amounted to a bunch of industry types and clingers.
“We need to talk.” Riley breezed into the suite we had at The Fairview. Two shows in the same city meant we had a hotel which, after being holed up on the bus for the last three nights with the guys, Eva, and Letty, was a welcomed thing. After that first night, Phoebe had decided to stay on the other bus, but Eva and Letty stuck around. Alistair didn’t like it, but it was either that or I moved onto the other bus with Eva, which we both knew would only cause a bigger rift between the band.
For three days solid, we rehearsed, and we performed. Levi and I barely talked during the day, then at night on stage we found our common ground. Afterward, I dragged Eva back to our cramped bedroom and lost myself in her.
But tonight, there was no escaping. Tonight, we had to perform and then stick around and work the crowd.
“We have around fifty VIPs there tonight,” Riley scanned her clipboard. “Three are terminal.”
“Shit,” Damon murmured beneath his breath. I glanced over at Eva; she had gone as white as a sheet.
“They’re... terminal?” She choked out.
“Yes, why? Is that a problem?” Riley said, barely looking at her. “They’re Wish Fairy recipients. It’s a non-profit that—”
“I know what it is.” Eva grimaced. “I just didn’t realize... it doesn’t matter.” She got up and walked over to the window. It went from floor to ceiling with the best view of the city.
“What’s her problem?” Riley let out an impatient huff, continuing to check her clipboard.
“Seriously, Riley, you went there?” Hudson grumbled.
I narrowed my eyes on her, feeling anger simmer in my veins. As a general rule, Riley kept her distance. I had kept my promise to Eva and hadn’t said anything to Alistair. But every now and again she popped up, usually causing a stir.
“I’m sorry.” She glanced up, batting her eyes. “Is there a problem?”
“Yeah, there’s a problem...” I started but Levi shot up.
“You’re a fucking cold-hearted bitch, that’s the problem.” He stalked off, not sparing her a second look.
“Did he just...?” Riley was flustered, color streaking her neck. “He... he can’t call me that. And where is he going? The meeting isn’t over yet. We still have to go over—”
“I think the meeting is done, Riles.” Hudson kicked his feet up on the coffee table, fighting a smirk. He caught my eye, flicking his head over to Eva. I gave him an appreciative nod and got up to go to her. Not before I heard Damon say, “That was an insensitive thing to say, Riley. You know what Eva went through.”
I didn’t stick around to hear the rest.
“Hey.” I moved behind Eva, rubbing her shoulders.
“Hey.” She gave me a sad smile through the glass reflection.
“Ignore Riley, she just likes to—”
“Act like a cold-hearted bitch?” Eva smothered a grin.
“You heard that, huh? Seems like my brother is doing a fine job of defending you at every turn, when I kind of thought that was my role.”
“He was protectin’ you.”
“How do you figure?”
“We both know Riley will complain to Alistair about Levi. If it wasn’t him, it would have been you, and Alistair is still pissed at you.”
“He’s pissed at Levi too.”
“He’s always pissed at Levi. You’re different.” Eva turned in my arms. “I won’t let her get to me anymore, if you don’t.”
“Deal.” I sealed it with a kiss before groaning, “Do we have to go tonight?”
“If we don’t want to get kicked off the tour, then yeah, we do.”
“Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”
Her eyes widened. “You don’t mean that?”
Didn't I?
“Rafe?” Eva urged when I didn’t answer.
“I’ll be there, I promise.”
“Of course you will, silly.” She beamed at me. Jesus, that smile. It stopped my heart.
“Yeah, and why is that?”
“Because...” Eva pressed herself against me, pushing up on her tiptoes until her lips were brushing my ear, firing up every cell in my body. “I’m not lettin’ you out of my sight. Wherever you go, Rafe Hunter, I go too.”
Now that, I liked the sound of.
“Talk to me,” Damon slid onto the stool beside me. I barely acknowledged him, too busy watching Eva. She had a group of young girls around her, all jostling for selfies and autographs.
“She’s a natural with them,” he added. “Did you see how some of them bypassed us and went straight to her? We must be losing our charm.”
He was right. Eva was a natural. I’d worried how it might affect being with the fans from Wish Fairy, but Eva was as gracious and humble as ever, taking the time to talk to each of them and take photos. I’d had a lump in my throat the whole time, watching her, imagining what she must be thinking, feeling.
“Okay, spill...” Damon nudged my shoulder. “What is going on with you? You look like someone stole your favorite puppy.”
“This thing with Levi, it has me all messed up,” I admitted.
“I thought things were better there? Levi seems... together.”
He did. He was at rehearsals on time, never missed a sound check, and every night, he gave one hundred and ten percent out on stage.
But there was still an ocean between us.
“It’s not the same.”
“Maybe it doesn’t need to be the same. Maybe you need to find a new way forward.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“Want to know what I think?”
“Not really,” I side-eyed him, “but I’m guessing you’re going to tell me anyway.”
“I think you’re waiting for him to screw up again. That way, you can justify leaving and going after Eva. You can justify choosing her.”
“That’s not... fuck,” I breathed.
Was that it?
Was I really waiting for Levi to mess up again so I could alleviate some of the guilt I carried around in my chest?
“It’s okay, Rafe. I’ve known you both a long time. He’s always needed you and I think part of you has always needed to be needed by him. Your relationship is co-dependent, just not in the ways you might think. You’re not only worried about what this will do to Levi long term, you’re worried about what this will do to you.”