Page 32 of Rebooting Conor Flynn

Did I?

“Didn’t hear any Fiv2Go songs in your set. Are you adding any? Ian sang them on his sold-out tour.”

I didn’t know where to start first. I didn’t want to answer any of these questions, but I could feel Noelle’s gaze lasering the side of my face.

“Yeah, yeah. No new music this time. Working on some stuff. Crashing? Yeah, loads of good tracks on that one.” I cleared my throat. C’mon Conor. You can answer this one. “I am going to add a Five2 song, but it’s gonna be a surprise.”

Noelle gave me a little nod, and the pack of wolves in front of me seemed to exhale a collective sigh, their shoulders slumping. They were trying to goad me and create some controversy.

But the reporters weren’t done yet.

Licking their chops, they turned their bright lights back to Ashley, who’d been tapping her foot during my exchange with the press.

She could have ’em.

“Ashley, are you and Conor an item again?”

“Is this round 2 of Conley?”

My shoulders tensed at the mention of that daft shipping name. I didn’t mind a few hints that Ashley and I were a couple, but I hated this kind of celebrity shite. Maybe Jay had the right idea. Chickens.

Ashley smirked and batted her eyelashes. “Maybe we are. Tour bus. Close proximity. Love song duet on stage.”

Except Ashley had no intention of boarding that tour bus. Thank God.

“If that’s true, Ashley. How do you feel about those cozy pictures that showed up online of Conor and...the publicist?” The reporter jabbed his finger at Noelle, who shrank behind her clipboard.

My stomach plunged. Pictures? Cozy pictures? What was he on about? My gaze shifted from Noelle’s face, drained of all color, to Ashley’s, whose cheeks practically flashed red warning signs.

It was one thing if Ashley saw those pictures and laughed them off. She had about as much romantic interest in me as I had in her—which was fuck all. But to face public humiliation over a perceived infidelity? No way would she stand for that.

I swallowed as Ashley’s eyes glittered. Pulling back her shoulders, she thrust out her chest—and she had a lot to thrust after her most recent boob job.

I knew that look. Hell, I’d flashed that look myself when I had no more fucks to give and was ready to damn the torpedoes. But I wouldn’t let Ashley shoot down Noelle’s dreams.

“You know what, Gabe?” Ashley wagged her finger in the reporter’s face. “It is Gabe, right?”

“Uh, Gage.” The poor fella seemed mesmerized by Ashley’s...finger.

“I’m going to give you a scoop. I’m going to give you a peek behind the curtain.” Ashley winked at Gage, whose tongue was practically lolling out of his mouth.

Ashley shimmied her shoulders. “I’m gonna give you all the tea.”

“Ashley, luv.” I crossed in front of Ji-yoon, her mouth gaping open as her gaze ping-ponged between Ashley and Gage, a slight frown between her eyes.

Unlike the scene at AM LA, this fuck-up called for drastic action. I pulled Ashley into my arms, cradled the back of her head, sealed my lips over hers, and even added tongue for good measure. She tasted like an ashtray.

I wouldn’t claim she kissed me back, but she didn’t push me away. When we came up for air, I curled my arm around her waist and spoke up for the mics jammed in our space. “Jealousy always was your cutest flaw.”

Ashley stared at me as the camera flashes popped off all around us.

I leaned in to nibble her earlobe. “Don’t fuck this up before we even get going.”

Grabbing my T-shirt, she pulled me close, resting her forehead against mine. Between gritted teeth, she said “Don’t you ever fucking humiliate me like that again.”

“Deal.” I grinned my cheeky grin as my gaze floated to Noelle’s face. Instead of the grateful smile I expected to see, her soft mouth trembled like she was gonna break down in tears.

Chapter 9