“I thought you’d want to know.” I don’t bring up the photo, which he and Marlowe probably took when they were recording this week. He’ll say it was a promo shot, and I’ll nod because we just broke up.
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
I get into bed and pull the covers up, careful not to disturb Layla, who’s sleeping on top of my comforter with her own blanket on the other side of me. “I was in the shower when this happened, so I don’t know who was here. But sometimes Ozzie leaves and Edmond goes out to smoke. I was too creeped out to check. What if someone boarded the bus while they were gone? The baby was right there.” I cover my mouth because I don’t want to think about the nightmare that could’ve unfolded.
Jace mutters several curses. “Give me ten minutes.” He grabs a duffle from his bunk and ducks into the bathroom, emerging a few minutes later with damp hair and droplets all over his chest, wearing only shorts. “Scoot over,” he says as he stands at the side of my bunk.
“There’s not much room.”
“Aurora.” He gently grabs my face. “Some asshole waltzed in here while you were in the bathroom, basically right under my fucking nose. I can’t protect you and my daughter from over there.” He points across the aisle to his bunk.
That’s a good point. Truthfully, I don’t want to sleep alone. “Okay.”
“Scoot. I’ll stay above the covers. I promise to be respectful.”
I turn my back to him, and he slides in behind me. “You’re ice cold.” This is stupid. I tug at my blanket. “Get under the blanket before you freeze.”
“I’m gonna have to spoon you, or I’ll end up on the floor,” he says quietly against my ear.
Am I okay with that? I suppose it’s nothing we haven’t done before, so I nod. When he wraps his arm around me, I shiver. “Has anyone ever told you you’re a menace?” A menace I’m going to miss every day for the foreseeable future.
He chuckles and squeezes me. “Once or twice.” He kisses the back of my head. “Go to sleep.”
Wrapped in his strong arms, surrounded by his scent, I can almost forget that we just broke up and I’m leaving in two weeks.
52
RORY
The bus rattleswhen we hit a pothole, and my eyes fly open. I’m up against the wall of my bunk.
Where’s Layla? Shouldn’t she be here?
I try to turn, but there’s someone wedged behind me. I crane my head back to look.
Nestled on top of her dad, out to the world, is my little ladybug. Aww. Layla’s face is pressed to his chest, and she grips his hair like she’s afraid he’ll leave. They’re so precious together.
She and Jace both sleep soundly.
I really have to use the bathroom, but I don’t want to wake them. Closing my eyes, I decide to wait a little while.
I think about last night. How Jace raced back from the arena. How he slept cramped in my bunk. How I’m supposed to leave soon.
Needing to get my mind off that, I grab my phone, which is plugged into the wall and tucked into a cubbyhole. Since I skipped last night’s show and don’t have any footage, maybe I can share someone else’s video.
I brace myself for the onslaught of jealousy that usually ravages me anytime I have to watch Jace and Marlowe perform,but when I go through the videos fans posted last night, they have one thing in common. It takes me a few minutes of scrolling from clip to clip, but I eventually watch the whole song.
Jace doesn’t look at Marlowe. Except one time.
After he introduces her, he turns away, looking at the opposite side of the arena. He smiles at the crowd and plays his guitar and sings his heart out.
She prances around, singing harmonies and background vocals. Smiling, she keeps looking at him, probably waiting for him to flirt back, but he’s turned away.
Finally, she drapes her arm around his shoulders, and he faces her.
But he’s not smiling.
And then he leans close to tell her something, and her smile instantly vanishes and she backs away.
