Total pages in book: 200
Estimated words: 189898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 949(@200wpm)___ 760(@250wpm)___ 633(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 189898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 949(@200wpm)___ 760(@250wpm)___ 633(@300wpm)
Xavier spotted us and quickly made his way over. I already knew what he’d say before he even spoke. “So here’s the deal, Braxton’s bunking with you again until we get the rig fixed,” he announced in a way that brooked no argument. “And before you ask, I’ve already checked. There are no extra bunks anywhere else. The crew is doubled up as it is.”
Xavier, Braxton, and Rich all paused, waiting for my reaction. I silently weighed the pros and cons before deciding the damage had already been done. I needed time to rethink my strategy.
“Let me know when the bus is back in commission.”
Taking Braxton’s elbow, I pulled her toward our bus. The silver lining was that now I might get a good night of sleep. The moment Braxton occupied a room, the air changed, making the people inside feel lighter on their feet. Sometimes she had me thinking I could fly. It was hard to forget that, even when she was gone.
Even after you pushed her away.
I didn’t worry about her bags, knowing one of the roadies would grab and store them on our bus, but Rich didn’t seem to want to take any chances. He was just as eager as me to get Braxton settled back in with us.
“You do know both of my feet work, right? I’m capable of putting one foot in front of the other,” she sassed.
She never. Fucking. Let up.
Neither did I.
I smiled down at her right before I let her go, only to haul her over my shoulder. Her surprised yelp and cry of outrage had every head in the vicinity turning our way. They watched her being carried back to our cave where she belonged. I even caught some of the house staff recording on the sly. Our roadies already knew not to pull that shit. Xavier was already on it, though, handing out threats of injunctions like it was Christmas.
Once we boarded our bus, I set Braxton on her feet, and she looked around like she was seeing it all for the first time.
“Welcome home,” Rich said sappily.
I rolled my eyes while Braxton’s back was still turned.
Looking over her shoulder, she smiled at him in a way that implied they shared a secret between them.
Jealousy was an ugly thing, and mine was about to rear its head. I didn’t like them having a thing.
“Thanks.” She looked around again. “Where’s Loren?”
He’d disappeared again after the meet-and-greet. I knew he couldn’t have gone far since we weren’t sticking around. The drive from Denver to Dallas was too long, and after his latest stunt, I wasn’t taking any chances.
“He’s around.”
Whenever Loren wasn’t getting his way, the social butterfly tucked his wings and cocooned himself in hate. His absence was his way of punishing the world for not appreciating him enough.
The crestfallen look on Braxton’s face told me it was working flawlessly. For once, she didn’t try to hide it, meeting both of our gazes before disappearing inside the bedroom. The sound of the lock sliding into place echoed through me.
I turned to Rich.
He was watching the closed door at the end of the hall like he was debating whether to go after her or not. Feeling my stare, he turned to me.
“Find him.”
“Are you sure you don’t miss it?” I asked our assistant. She’d just finished slipping me the weed I sent her to find.
“For the last time, Loren. No.”
Danielle, formerly known as Daniel, stormed off, swaying her hips paid for by me—so to speak. Her insurance company had refused to cover her surgery because it hadn’t been “medically” necessary.
And there lies the problem with our inherited human nature.
We only bothered to take care of one another when it was too goddamn late.
I was trying to talk myself into going back to the bus when Rich found me. The look on his face told me that I was pissing him off, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. I knew he was just as fucked up about Braxton and Houston screwing, but he and I had different ways of handling our problems. He dealt with them. I didn’t.
Simple.
“Are you really going to do this now?” he asked me as he came to stand in front of me.
“Do what?”
“Sulk and pout and make everyone around you as miserable as you are.”
I nodded once just to piss him off more. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
“What Houston did was fucked up, but you’re no better than he is. You weren’t playing fair either.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Arizona. You told Braxton about Emily.”
I’d forgotten all about that.
To make him feel better, I chose to pretend I hadn’t. “Good fucking thing for you that she was asleep. Close one, huh? Are you planning to tell Braxton that you’re already married, or are you waiting to knock her up first and put a ring on her finger? Bigamy is illegal, you know.”