“You don’t have to decide anything yet,” Alistair added. “It’s a big decision and I’ll sure you’ll want to—”
“Yes,” she breathed. “Yes, I want to do it.”
“Holy shit, for real?” Hudson asked, and Eva nodded.
“Well, all right.” My brother whispered something to Letty and she and Phoebe took off.
Seconds later they returned with a bottle of some expensive looking champagne and glasses. Alistair took the bottle from her, doing the honors. The cork popped spraying everywhere.
“Oh shit,” Molly gasped. “Here.” She held up her glass catching the spillage.
“Pass it around. This requires a toast with something other than whisky or those god-awful shooters you insist on drinking.”
“Way to show your age, Ali.” Levi snorted.
“Does everyone have one?”
We all nodded, waiting for our manager to start. “The day I saw you performing in that dive bar in Atlanta, I knew I’d found something great. You didn’t just play your instruments; you became one with them. I’d never seen anything like it. And then Levi started singing and that was that. I knew I was staring at the next big thing.
“You don’t always make it easy for me, and I know I give you a hard time more often than not, but it’s only because I believe in you. Because I have every faith you can rule the industry for the next two... five... hell, even ten years.”
“Hear fucking hear.” Levi lifted his glass up and we all followed.
“You’ve got what it takes to go all the way. I see it, the label sees it, even Dowager sees it. But you’re still young. Impressionable.” He glanced at my brother. “You’ve got to keep your heads about this. Work with me. Take direction when it’s suggested.”
“Boooo,” Hudson teased. “You had to go and ruin a perfectly good speech, didn’t ya?”
“All right, all right, I’ll save the TED talk for another day. But know that I’m proud of you. All of you, and Eva, I’m real happy you’re here. I think I can speak for everyone when I say we all are.” He raised his glass in the air.
“Hang on a second,” Damon chimed in and Alistair stepped back. “Since it’s my birthday I think I should get to say a few words. The last few months haven’t been easy. In fact, at times, they have been downright shitty, but I couldn’t think of a better bunch of guys to experience all the highs and lows with. And now we get to include Eva in that.” His eyes settled on mine.
“I couldn’t think of a better girl to come on tour with us. I mean, damn, if a girl gets you a piñata for your birthday, she’s a keeper.” He winked, raising his glass in the air. “To Eva and the band.”
That was something I would never get tired of hearing.
Eva and the band.
It bound us together.
Made us one.
But most importantly, it meant I got to share every second of this crazy ride with her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Eva
* * *
I was so high I didn’t want to come down.
A world tour... with the band.
With Rafe.
It seemed implausible, and yet, Alistair had stood there and said it—he’d even toasted to it.
The party was a sure-fire hit. I’d switched to soda after the first couple of celebratory drinks. I didn’t want to embarrass myself. Besides, I didn’t need a synthetic buzz, not with the amount of adrenaline coursing through my veins.
“I’m going to see if Johnson and Stalter will join us,” I said to Rafe.
“You worry too much.” He dipped his head, peppering my face with kisses. “You already took them cake.”
“But it’s late. Surely they can leave their posts for thirty minutes and come kick back with us.”
“Kick back, huh?”
“Oh, hush.” I kissed him, letting my tongue tangle lazily with his. Soft, deep licks that had my tummy clenching and my pulse racing.
“We get to do this all over the world...”
“I still can’t believe it,” I breathed.
“Believe it, Starshine.” Rafe’s hand cupped the back of my head as he deepened the kiss. “Is it time to call it a night yet?”
“Soon.” I smiled against his mouth. “I love you.” Untangling myself from his grasp, I grabbed two beers and headed for the hall. But movement in the shadows near the door stopped me in my tracks. Phoebe was caged against the wall, Levi’s body leaning over her, his hand pressed against the wall at the side of her head. They weren’t doing anything besides talking, but it looked like a private moment.
An intimate moment I didn’t want to disturb.
I’d gotten to know Phoebe over the last week or so and had quickly realized my snap judgment about her was all wrong. She was witty and organized. She didn’t push or prod, and the guys all seemed to like her. Much like I had done, she’d slipped into the group with ease, and I already couldn’t imagine not having her around.
Deciding to let them have their moment, I went to double back but Levi’s gravelly voice gave me pause. “It’s okay, Angel,” he said. “It’s safe to look.” There was a hint of humor in his voice.
“Busted.” I turned around and slowly approached them, feeling my cheeks heat. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were out here.”
“It’s okay.” Phoebe sidestepped Levi, smoothing a hand down her dark locks. “We were just talking.”
Levi frowned at that, brushing a thumb over his bottom lip as he watched her. I’d seen that look before—it was the classic Hunter gaze. Hot. Possessive. Levi wanted her. I just wasn’t sure either of them were ready for that.
“I’m going to head back in.” he motioned to the hall leading to the suite. “What you did for Damon, Eva, it was a real nice thing.”
Levi left, leaving me with Phoebe. She let out a shaky breath. “You were right… he’s intense.”
“Is everythin’ okay?” She looked a little shell shocked.
“I’m fine, I just didn’t expect…” Pasting on a warm smile, she added, “It doesn’t matter. Tonight is Damon’s night. And yours. Congratulations, on the tour.”
“Thank you. It still doesn’t feel real.” A beat passed. “Listen, are you sure you’re okay?”
“Honestly? I’m not sure…”
“You’re right. Levi is intense and complicated, but I think he likes you. I don’t want to speak out of turn, but please don’t—”
“Hurt him?” Phoebe didn’t blanch or look offended, and I knew then, that she did understood Levi in a way most didn’t. “I can’t explain it, or maybe it’s just my own screwed up issues, but I feel… something.”
“Just promise me you’ll be careful. Both of you.”
“Oh, trust me, baby steps are all I have right now, for anyone.”
“I’d really like to hear your story one day; if you ever want to tell me?”
She smiled. “I’d like that. Right, I guess I should go back inside.”