She tucked her hands under her pillow. “So why aren’t you asleep now?”
“A lot on my mind.”
Guilt flashed across her face before she schooled her features. “A lot on mine, too.”
“You know you can always talk to me, right?”
She smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I hope you do.”
They laid in silence for a few minutes.
“Hey, Claire,” Jake whispered. He still felt restless even after chatting with her earlier, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He knew they had a lot to unpack regarding their history, and didn’t know when they could do it without being interrupted. It was nearly impossible to get alone time on these tours, and the few precious minutes they did get were usually spent in their hotel rooms. With Ben keeping a close eye on Claire, it would be hard for them to find alone time again.
“I really hope we can sit down and chat sometime.”
When she didn’t reply, he glanced up at her bunk and could just make out enough of her features in the dim light to see that she was asleep. He crawled out of his bunk and dragged the curtains of hers closed before getting back into his. Curtains from Theo’s bed opened, and he peeked out.
From the look on his face, he heard at least a little of their conversation over Ben’s snoring.
He tipped his head at Jake, letting him know he was there if he needed to chat. Jake tipped his head back in thanks and then they both closed the curtains on their bunks to get some much needed rest.
The next fewnights were anything but restful, and Jake was feeling it. His body was tired from several days of restless sleep, and their day was jam-packed with interviews and events leading up to the concert that night.
He pulled an energy drink out of the small refrigerator on their bus and cracked it open. Everyone seemed refreshed, except for him. They had all gotten ready on the bus and were just pulling up to the next venue, where they would be whisked away to hair and makeup at a studio before going live on a morning talk show.
Claire stayed behind on the bus with Lonnie and their driver. Ben insisted she come, but Will told them it was best to keep Claire out of the spotlight until she healed up. Gossip ran rampant in this business, and the last thing they needed were rumors flying around that one of the guys did this to her.
She agreed it was best she stay behind and said she wasn’t ready to face crowds. Jake still didn’t know what injuries she sustained from her ex aside from possibly fractured ribs, but knew it was extensive enough that she winced with just the simplest of movements. He knew her injuries were worse than she let on since he caught her trying to cover up her discomfort whenever she was around them.
Leaving Claire behind was getting harder for him with each day that passed. The meaningful looks Theo threw his way told him he also noticed. Jake had yet to get Claire alone again so they could talk, and he felt like he would implode if it didn’t happen soon. He needed it to calm his racing heart.
After they got through hair and makeup at the studio, they waited in the green room to be taken to the stage. The morning show was already in full swing, and the audience was jam-packed with teenage girls waiting to get a glimpse of them.
Theo walked up next to Jake, where he stood watching the TV monitors, but not really watching, and bumped his arm.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, man. I’m good.”
Theo glanced around the small room. The other guys were sitting on the various couches, playing on their cell phones.
“You’re looking a little rough around the edges,” Theo whispered. “I think it might be good for you to see Celine and maybe get some sleeping pills.”
Jake sighed. He knew Theo was right, but if he could just get Claire alone, it would solve everything with no medication.
“I just need to talk to Claire,” he mumbled.
“We’re on the bus again tonight. See if she’ll meet you in the back lounge after everyone goes to sleep.”
“What if she won’t?” Jake asked.
“Then you need to see Celine about getting some medication.”
Theo clapped Jake on the shoulder just as someone with a headset walked in and told them to follow her. Jake took a deep breath. Right now, he needed to focus on getting through the day. Claire was safe. He knew that, despite wanting to keep an eye on her himself. The urge he felt to keep her beside him at all times was nagging at him. Her asshole ex was still out there and no one knew if he would try to come after her. Until they were certain he wasn’t, Jake could never rest.
10
