Page 20 of Anthem of Love and Loathing

“No bed hopping. No... kissing. Here, there, or anywhere. No sleeping in the same bed.” I remove my hand.

He considers it for a few minutes. “If you’re worried about Riot, he and I are fine.”

“I’m not worried about him.” But the fact that I’m still twisted up tells me anything with Bronx would only be to get back at Riot. And that would neither be wise while living in a confined space or fair.

“Fair enough.” He nods a couple of times. “Addendum. Friends who cuddle. I miss being comfortable around someone since we’re constantly on the move, and it’s only going to be harder to connect on the tour. Easy to get laid. But hard to connect. Also, you can’t expect me not to be my charming, flirtatious self. I’m not superhuman.”

“Fine. You can keep your charm.” I forgot how needy my boys could be. Bronx’s need to cuddle hadn’t seemed awkward with the unwritten rule about not screwing with anyone in the band. But now…

Riot and I crossed the line and everything has changed. But Bronx and Golden didn’t change. Napping with Bronx shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

And I should not feel guilt over him going down on me. But I do.

“It’s been two years and I am not the same girl I was. I’m sure we’ve all changed.” Some of us have been barely surviving. Some of us have turned into obnoxious assholes. “Let’s see if we can even live together on a tour bus without making it any more complicated than it’s already going to be. Riot made his feelings clear last night.”

“He wasn’t his best self,” he says as the car pulls around into the underground parking garage. “But I think you know why.”

There were paps out the front when I left this morning. Watching... waiting... Bypassing them is the smart move. Especially since I don’t want to advertise my location to Marco.

“It was Rogue and Ivy’s two-year anniversary yesterday.” Two days after I found out I was pregnant. The morning Riot cheated on me. The night I punched Sonatina in the face and walked away from Riot. From our relationship. With the tatters of my heart and my dignity and my secrets. “It was one of the worst days of my life.”

But not the worst day. That came after Carmine killed my career and my savings ran out. I press a hand to my belly, the ache all too visceral.

The driver parks near the entrance.

“One of the worst for him too,” he says.

“Bullshit.” I overheat in an instant. How dare he talk to me about Riot’s worst days. I understand him being sympathetic to his friend, but he can’t tell me that Riot fucked those women in my presence last night because he regrets cheating on me. “If even our friendship had meant something to him, he would never have stuck his cock in that spoiled bitch.”

Bronx exhales. He turns his attention to the bodyguard waiting for us outside the car. Jasper’s eyes round when he sees me.

He looks good. I look like shit. It’s been two years. Surprise, I’m back.

Bronx taps his thumb on the side of his leg. His lips part and press together several times. “Anything else we need to talk about?”

“Carmine will be furious. He’ll never allow it.” It doesn’t matter that he and the other execs at the label know I was great at my job. I punched the big dog’s daughter. That was unforgivable. And Carmine put a lot of effort into making sure he punished me. “What if he wants me gone?”

“He’ll be unhappy.” Bronx doesn’t sugarcoat it. “I’ll handle Carmine if it comes to that. He’ll see reason.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.”

Bronx slings his arm across the back of the seats. He toys with a tendril of hair at my neck. The lines around his eyes deepen. “You’ll just have to trust me.”

Again, I get the impression he’s keeping a lot in check. A quiet giant capable of holding a multitude of secrets. I am almost certain the secrets he’s sitting on are the ones he thinks will make me change my mind about taking on the role of Riot Maddox’s babysitter. “That’s the only part of this situation I’m sure of. Which is why I need you to meet one more condition.”

“What’s that?”

I hesitate. “Don’t tell anyone about my trouble with my foster brother.”

For a second he sits there and says nothing. His brows crawl closer together. His lips part and shut. He looks like he wants to argue or ask a million questions I don’t want to answer. Eventually he shakes it off. “Got it.”

He climbs out of the car and turns back to offer me his hand.

I put mine in his and slide across the seat. Once I’m on the pavement, Jasper closes the door, and Bronx and I enter the hotel.

We step into the elevator. The box steadily rises toward the top floor. My knee jiggles.

He takes out his phone and does something on it.