“Tonight has been everythin’ I could have wished for and more. I’ll never forget it.”
He cut the engine and shifted toward me, brushing my jaw. “It won’t always be like this you know? After the tour, when the band has some downtime, we’ll have more time.”
“Rafe, it’s okay.” I smiled. “This is your life, I get it. I knew what I was gettin’ into. Things are takin’ off for the band in a big way, and Letty says the label want to get me into the studio as soon as possible.”
“They do?” A dark expression crossed his face, but then it was gone, replaced with a blinding smile. “That’s amazing, Eva. I’m so fucking proud of you.”
I still hadn’t processed everything. I knew the label wanted to capitalize on my growing popularity, but I was focused on the tour, on getting through one day at a time.
“I just want you to know, we have time. I’m not goin’ anywhere, Rafe, okay?”
“And if time isn’t enough?” he said, lowering his voice. “If I want forever?”
My breath caught. But a loud rap on the glass startled me before I could get out a reply. Rafe grumbled something about my bodyguard’s ‘impeccable timing’ before climbing out of the truck.
Travis opened my door and helped me out. “We need to go.”
“You couldn’t have waited five more minutes?” Rafe arched a brow.
Travis didn’t reply, but I was sure I caught him smirking as he ushered me to the SUV. “Thank you,” I said before climbing inside. “For helping Rafe pull this off.”
“I’m not going to lie to you, Eva. What Rafe did tonight, it was a huge risk. But...” He let out a weary sigh. “You deserve a little slice of happiness. Just don’t get too used to it.” He nudged me inside and slammed the door, his warning a stark reminder that for as long as we were in this life, nothing about mine and Rafe’s relationship would ever be normal.
Rafe
* * *
“What the fuck?” I grumbled as we stepped out of the elevator. Laughter drifted down the hall. Loud, raucous laughter.
“Relax,” Eva said, flattening her hand against my stomach. “It’s probably just Hudson foolin’ around.”
But it didn’t sound like Hudson. It sounded like party central. Dread slithered up my spine as we reached Stalter.
“What’s going on in there?” I asked him.
“Don’t ask me. I only just got on shift an hour ago.”
Eva rolled her eyes as she grabbed the handle and opened the door. “I’m sure it’s—”
Music blasted out of the suite.
“The lovebirds are back,” someone yelled, and everyone cheered, raising their cups in the air.
“I’ll fucking kill him.” I started scanning the room for Levi.
“Rafe.” Eva touched my arm. “Don’t make a scene. It’s just a few roadies. Let them have their fun.”
“You can’t be serious?”
She stepped in front of me. “I just had the most amazin’ date with my boyfriend. I’m not goin’ to let anythin’ ruin that, and neither should you.”
“Fine,” I conceded, my jaw clenching. “But I’m going to need a drink to survive this.”
She leaned up, kissing the corner of my mouth. “Just don’t have too many; I have big plans for you later.”
“Shit, Eva.” My hands ran over her ass, fitting her against me. “You can’t say stuff like that to me and then expect me to behave.”
“Wondered when you would show up.” Hudson strolled over to us, handing me a beer.
“Let me guess, this was his idea.” I still hadn’t spotted my brother, which was weird considering he usually loved to be center of attention.
“Actually, it was mostly a group decision. You know, the ones we used to make together.”
“Cheap shot,” I grumbled.
“Play nice, Hudson.”
“Sorry, Eva.” His eyes clouded with regret. “I don’t mean to be an asshole. It’s just everything is different. It’s messing with my Feng shui.”
“You have Feng shui?” She chuckled.
“Hey, I’m a deep guy.”
“Are you feeling okay?” I asked. “You’re acting weird.”
“And on that note, I’m goin’ to find Letty and Phoebe. You two behave.” Eva kissed me again before moving deeper into the suite.
“You struck gold with her, you know?” Hudson leaned back against the wall. “I want to hate her, but she makes it so damn hard.”
Silence settled over us as we watched Letty pull Eva into her arms, the two of them smiling and laughing. Then Hudson said, “So, how’d it go tonight?”
“It was okay.”
“Okay? What kind of bullshit reply is that?” He scoffed.
“What do you want me to say, man? I’m pretty sure you don’t want to hear all about my date with Eva, just like I don’t want to hear all about whatever girl you’re hoping to bang tonight.”
“Nah, man. I’m not feeling it.”
“Has hell frozen over? Did you get a fever?” I leaned over and tried to touch his forehead to check his temperature.
“Get the fuck off me. I’m good. I just... fuck, I can’t get her out of my head.”
“Molly.”
“She’s in here.” He tapped his temple. “I don’t know when the fuck it happened, but after Vegas, things feel...”
“Different?”
He pressed his lips into a thin line, nodding. “But I don’t do relationships, and despite all her bravado, something tells me Molly Steinberg isn’t the kind of girl who will keep putting up my shit.”
“Maybe you won’t know if you don’t try.”
“Nah, man. I’m not that guy. I’m never gonna be that guy.”
“Well, whatever you do, don’t lead her on.” I grabbed his shoulder. “She’s Eva’s best friend, and if you hurt her, it’ll hurt my girl, and then, she’ll want to hurt you. And that will get all kinds of awkward for me.” I smirked.
“Fuck you, man.” Hudson shucked me off. “I know where your loyalty lies, and it isn’t with the band anymore.”
“Jesus, are you ever going to let me off the hook? I needed to fix things with her, Hud. That’s what you do when you love someone. You fight for them.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. You love her more than you love the band.”
“For fuck’s sake will you—”
“Chill man, I’m busting your balls. She’s good for you. I think she’s good for all of us. It’s just weird, you know. She’s changing things.”
I took a long pull on the beer Hudson had given me. Just then, one of the bedroom doors swung open and Levi staggered out, shirtless. “Look who decided to show up.” His eyes landed on me, but then quickly swept the room for Eva. “Country, get over here and make some magic with me.”
“Tell me he didn’t take something,” I ground out.