“Tyke! Get your fruity ass in here!” Trip yelled at his twin who’s still back in his bunk.
“What?” Tyke calls back grumpy.
Tyke writes the majority of the band’s songs, and likes to be left alone most of the time with his ‘thoughts’ so he can concentrate. I know he really just fucking sleeps when he’s in there, using song writing as an excuse for us not to bother him. He probably busts out the songs right before we get in the studio. I’m down with all his tricks.
“Noel wants to have a band meeting. Hurry the fuck up!”
I shake my head. I’ve known Trip and Tyke since junior high school. I know everything about them, and they know everything about me. Sometimes that’s a real pain in the ass when all you want to do is forget your fucking past.
Tyke fumbles out of his foxhole and shoves his blonde hair out of his face. “What the fuck did we do now?”
I laugh.
Noel raises his pierced eyebrow and cuts me a look that tells me he’s not amused by our distaste of his leadership. “Look, guys, there’s going to be a guest staying on the bus with us for the next couple of weeks.”
“Who?” Trip asks.
“An old friend of mine that I’ve hired to run my children’s charity campaign.”
I shake my head. “Hell no! You aren’t bringing another chick on this bus.”
Noel’s gaze flicks to me. “It’s already done. She’ll be meeting up with us in Columbus tomorrow.”
“This is fucking horse shit.” The idea of Noel bringing his ex-girlfriend on this bus so he can have at her for two weeks behind Sophie’s back is sickening. He’s a bigger fucking douchebag than I thought. “Don’t you have any morals at all?”
“I haven’t forgotten my responsibilities, if that’s what you’re referring to.”
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about. All you do is use people!” I seethe.
Noel jumps up from the table and his nostrils flare. “You obviously don’t know a goddamn thing about me. I don’t fucking use people.”
The muscles in my jaw work under my skin. “What the fuck do you call Sophie then, huh? You’re telling me you didn’t use her?”
He runs his fingers through his hair. “How many fucking times can I say I don’t remember sleeping with her? If it happened, it was a one-time thing that meant nothing to me. It’s not like I set out to deliberately hurt you! You think I like fucking fighting with you?”
I shrug. “You seem too. That’s all we ever do is fight over this.”
“That’s because you won’t let it go!” Noel shouts.
“All I know is you knocked Sophie up, and you promised to stick by her through this pregnancy. How’s it going to look when you’re banging your ex on the bus for two weeks?”
He shakes his head. “Lane can’t stand me anymore. She’s only doing this because I backed her into a corner at her job. If she doesn’t come on this bus with me now, she’ll get fired.”
“What do you mean she’ll get fired?” Tyke chimes in.
Noel scratches the back of his neck. He only does that shit when he’s nervous. Whatever he’s about to drop on us isn’t good.
“I kind of promised the owner of Center Stage Marketing rights to all Black Falcon ad campaigns for the band in exchange for giving Lane this opportunity.”
“What!?” Tyke exclaimed in the tone of voice he usually reserves when his brother does something idiotic. “Without consulting us, you made that big of a business decision?”
“There was no time. The owner of the company forced my fucking hand. She threatened to fire Lane because she didn’t disclose that we knew each other. Long story short, if Lane doesn’t come on this bus, she’ll hate me forever. I can’t have that. I hope you guys can understand.” He drops his head.
“I understand plenty,” I say while I stand up. “This further proves you only think with your dick.”
“Riff—”
“Shut the fuck up, Noel. Do whatever you want, ‘cause you know you will anyway.” I don’t give him a chance to say anymore before I storm off and climb into my bunk, slamming the curtain closed.
It’s really nothing against Lanie. I’m sure she’s harmless, and can even be a good insight on Kitten, but I hate that Noel gets his way all the fucking time. Why should that guy get it so good?
The last thought causes my fists to clench. I know I told Trip I would work on forgiving Noel, but the more he does shit like this, the more I want to see fate turn around and kick him square in the balls.
“Riff?” Noel says on the other side of the curtain.
Doesn’t he fucking get it? I huff and roll over to face the wall.
“I’m sorry, man. I know I should’ve talked to you guys first, but I was desperate…” he trails off like he’s waiting on a response from me. When I don’t say anything, he knocks on the wall at the top of my bunk. “Night.”
I let out a sigh after I’m sure he’s gone. Thank god. I hate fighting. That’s all my family ever did and now that I’m an adult I want to stay as far away from bullshit as I can.
I close my eyes and will myself to sleep, but before I drift off, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I flip over onto my back and grin when I see Aubrey’s name.
I only have three simple rules: