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“That we want different things.” Would he take his father’s advice?
“How do you know?” she asked.
He inched closer. “I don’t know, but I say we figure it out.”
“Alright, sis.” Jackson said, interrupting the moment. “We’re leaving.”
Zoe forced a smile as the rest of the group exited the bus. Jackson hugged her first. He avoided eye contact with Alex. He knew Jackson didn’t approve, but that didn’t change how he felt about Zoe.
The rest of the band hugged her, waving goodbye as they climbed the steps back inside the bus. Alex took the opportunity with Zoe when he saw Jackson’s attention move to Bailey. His future wife whispered something in his ear.
>
“Things will be different when I get back,” Alex said.
Zoe’s eyes widened. “What?” Her voice was only a whisper. “Alex, I... I don’t... my brother...”
“If you don’t want me to say anything, I won’t.” He focused his gaze on her. “I’m coming back for you.”
Zoe’s lips parted once more. Alex would do everything in his power to make certain she believed him. He was coming back for her, and he didn’t care what her brother thought.
He wouldn’t hurt Zoe. Not for anything in this world. Whatever was going on between them wouldn’t let either of them go. Her words the other night did more than bruise his ego. She challenged him. It was as if he saw himself in her eyes and Alex didn’t like the reflection. Change would be hard, but if it meant winning Zoe, he’d do it.
Alex walked to the bus, and Jackson met him at the door. “You okay?”
“When we get on the road, it’s strictly about the band,” Jackson said.
“I agree.”
They wouldn’t discuss his sister, but Alex didn’t need for Jackson to say what he was probably thinking. He needed to stay away from Zoe.
Alex sighed. It was too late. He couldn’t walk away if he tried.
Chapter 12
Zoe’s hands fidgeted. She stared at her keyboard, with only a few words left to post her discussion for the week for class. The keys tapped underneath her fingers. She clicked the post button. Done.
Alex. All she saw was him. Were they still on the road? Was he nervous about the band’s performance? Zoe shut her laptop, stood to her feet, and paced the floor of her apartment. She breathed. He wouldn’t call.
She stared at her cell on the coffee table. Her gut twisted. She unbuttoned the top button of her emerald green shirt. Thank goodness she had the night off. No one else needed to see her this way. Her emotions wrapped in a man.
Zoe plopped on her couch. She noticed the look in his eyes this morning. His steady eye contact. His bright eyes. His tone soft when he spoke to her. Zoe folded her arms. Was it only for her?
Her phone rattled on her coffee table, making her shriek. Alex’s name showed on screen. He kept his word. Was that a sign?
“Not too late is it?” he asked.
Zoe played with the loose curls that had escaped from her messy bun. “No. I just finished an assignment. How did the show go?”
He chuckled, and she could picture his smile. “It went great. We blew it out of the water!”
Zoe giggled. Then she heard the faint sound of an engine. “You’re back on the road already?”
“That’s how it works. We have another gig tomorrow night.”
“I can’t imagine. Is it wearing on you yet?”
“We haven’t been touring that long. Maybe in a few years once we got a few awards under our belt.”
