Page 65 of Rebooting Conor Flynn

My gaze tracked from Ashley to Conor, standing next to Marcus, the keyboardist. He heard Jermaine. I could see him clenching his jaw from here, and the desert sun hadn’t caused that flush to his face. Anger pulsed around his body like a red-hot aura.

Sensing my attention, Conor looked over at me and held my gaze. I lifted my arms in a shrug, and he gave a shake of his head.

Jermaine droned on for several more minutes, his talk interrupted by bursts of applause and clinking of glasses. Someone tapped my glass, so I downed my drink and grabbed another from a passing tray. I needed liquid courage for my conversation with Ashley.

The pep talk ended and the wait staff started circulating trays of food. This must be the pre-party, but my stomach couldn’t handle any food right now.

I swung my legs out of the pool and stuffed my feet into my flip flops. Drink in hand, I squared my shoulders and approached Ashley, reclining on a chaise lounge. I stopped next to her, and my shadow fell across her body, clad in a bikini top and a gauzy wrap tied around her waist.

She cut off her conversation with Rhys. “Oh, hey there, Noelle. Jermaine’s news must be music to your ears.”

I blinked behind my non-prescription sunglasses. “I-I mean the numbers are good. I’m happy about that, but the other stuff is getting a little out of hand. We’ll do our best to contain it.”

“What? The little gossip about you and Conor?” She flicked her fingers. That’s just nonsense. Fans are always looking for conspiracies.”

“You’re not upset about it? It doesn’t make you look bad at all. None of those comments are negative towards you.”

Because they’re negative towards me and Conor.

“Yeah, I didn’t get that at all. People must be buying the fake relationship between me and Conor and are shipping us harder than ever. That’s a good thing.” She winked. “The other drama adds a little spice and is bringing attention to the tour. That’s totally legit. Well, I don’t have to teach you your job.”

Except the added spice negatively impacted Conor’s reputation while boosting Ashley’s. That’s why Ashley didn’t care about the new cheating boyfriend narrative. It benefitted her.

Ashley’s gaze shifted over my shoulder, and I turned slightly to see Tomo enter the gate to the pool area.

A smile touched Ashley’s lips.

Maybe Tomo was keeping Ashley too occupied to worry about the phony love triangle between me, her, and Conor.

My shoulders finally relaxed, and I took another gulp of my maggie. Social media had just ushered me onto a world stage of whack-a-mole. Ashley wasn’t pissed off about being the pitiful third wheel in a threesome. Her fans painting her as the wronged party was doing more for her image than being in a loving relationship with good guy Conor Flynn. Only Conor wasn’t the good guy anymore.

Tomo appeared beside me and squeezed the back of my neck, his eyes never leaving Ashley’s face. “How’s our backup back-up dancer?”

I answered lightly, “Staying firmly in the alternate category. You missed Jermaine’s meeting.”

He lifted a muscular shoulder. “Busy in the gym. Figured that was more important.”

“It definitely was.” Ashley slid her sunglasses to the tip of her nose as she eyed Tomo up and down like a Big Stick on a scorching summer day.

I scanned the pool party for Shanice. Did she even care that the star of the show was crushing hard on her ex? As long as Ashley still pretended to gush over Conor in public, I didn’t give a shit what she did with Tomo in private. But I hoped Shanice felt the same way.

Conor and I had to put the brakes on the rumors about us. I didn’t want to pump up Ashley’s rep at the expense of his.

Tomo dragged a chair close to Ashley’s, and I took the hint.

“Okay, Ashley. Just wanted to touch base with you and make sure we’re all good and on the same page.”

“I think we’re exactly on the same page, Noelle.” She waved her hands in the air. “Go have some fun. I think Conor wants to talk to you. He’s with Jade by the pool.”

I twisted my head over my shoulder, and Conor tipped his chin at me. If Ashley didn’t have a problem with me and Con talking, I’d grab the opportunity. I was getting sick of tiptoeing around Conor on the tour bus while Ashley flirted openly with Tomo at the pool. Everyone out here knew the lowdown regarding the fake dating, anyway.

“Yeah, I think he wants to ask me about Javeed.” I don’t know why I felt as if I needed an excuse to talk to Conor. Ashley had practically pushed me toward him.

I joined Conor and Jade, but if he had something to tell me he wasn’t going to do it in front of Jade.

After several minutes of looking at me and Conor like she was following a tennis match, Jade got the hint. Patting her stomach, she said, “I’m going to grab some of that food before the crew devours it all. I’ve had two tequila sunrises on an empty stomach, and I’m gonna need a nap before the show tonight.”

“You and everyone else.” My smile stayed frozen on my face until Jade turned with a wave of her hand.