Jude
The bus doorsighed as it opened. Jude looked up from under his baseball cap, silently hoping Lucky had decided to surprise him. But when he saw Zoey's dark hair, he let out a disappointedgrunt.
"Well, I'm happy to see you too," Zoey said with the corners of her pursed lips curvingupwards.
Jude lifted his hat off his head, ran his fingers through his hair, then kicked his feet up onto the table in frontofhim.
"Don't start with me," hemuttered.
Cade dried his hands with a kitchen towel as he entered the main bus area. His tour bus was a small apartment on wheels, complete with a tiny gourmet kitchen since cookingrelaxedhim.
"Just ignore him, babe," Cade said. "He's homesick so I'm making him some of my famous tour buschili."
"Killing me is going to make me feel better?" Judeasked.
"Nah, what are you talking about? You love it," Cade said as he whipped the toweltowardsJude.
"What's in the tour bus chili?" Zoey asked as she reached for the lid of thecrockpot.
"It's a secret," Cade said as he playfully swatted her hand, then slipped his arms around her waist and buried his face inherneck.
"You'll find the secret in the trash," Jude said as he pointed to an empty chili container from the local grocerystore.
"That's just a base. I don't have the time to make it how I want to. You know, you're a lot more fun when Lucky is around,"Cadesaid.
"Shhh," Zoey said as she gently stroked Cade's cheek, her simple gold wedding band reflecting the light. "I told you to not bringherup."
"He's sulking," Cade said. "We should be out with Matt and the guys being rock stars right now. A few drinks will help him feel better. That's what we always used to do back intheday."
"Yeah, I remember those days," Zoey said, a touch of jealousy in her voice. "I don't know how many times I accidentally walked in on you with somerandomslut."
"Sometimes it was sluts. Plural," Jude said with alaugh.
"That's how many women it took to keep my mind off of you, Zoey," Cade said withagrin.
Zoey shook her head as she gave Cade a half smile. "So it's my fault you were such a manwhore?"
"Absolutely," Cade said. "I would've been a saintotherwise."
Jude scoffed. "Gimme a break, Cade. No one is believing that for asecond."
"I guess just about how long anyone believes it when you say you're not missing Lucky,"Cadesaid.
"I never said I didn't miss her, I do. The days just aren't the samewithouther."
"Then where have you been vanishing off to? You think no one has noticed? Even the supermarket rags have started reporting that you're back to your old ways." Cade shook his head disapprovingly. "I really thought you were betterthanthat."
Jude stood up and glared angrily at Cade. "You don't know what the fuck you're talking about. And you know what else? It's none of yourbusiness."
As he stormed off the bus, Zoey followed him. "Jude, wait. Cade's only trying to help. He doesn't want to see you mess things up withLucky."
"Really, Zoey? You believe it too?" He pulled a set of keys out of his jeans pocket as he started walking towards a Harley Davidson he kept with him on tour. "I'll see you guys tomorrow. I'm going foraride."
