AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 6
Teagan stomped into the trailer, kicked his shoes off, and flopped onto his bunk. Diego leaned over from his spot on the top and raised his eyebrows. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. Is Fiona in the shower? I stink,” he said, wrinkling his nose.
“She is, and you do, but don’t tell me nothing’s wrong.”
Teagan stared up at the ceiling, ignoring his friend.
“Okay, play it like that.”
Teag shrugged. “I asked Maria out. She said no. It’s a bit of a blow to a guy’s ego.”
“So move on,” Diego said.
When Teag didn’t answer, Diego lifted an eyebrow and frowned down at him. “You really like her?”
“I don’t know. I’m interested in her, for real, not just some quick shag. I’d like to get to know her.”
“You told her this?”
“Yes, but I think she only sees me as a shallow playboy.”
“You do excel at that role.”
“I know. I like sex. Women like having sex with me. So what? I can be serious. I was serious with Natalia,” Teag said.
“Yeah, but the world thinks you were the one who screwed her over, not the other way around. Maybe Maria thinks so too.”
Teag felt a bite of anger flare. “She’d be making an assumption.”
“Probably. Or dude, maybe she’s just not interested. Anyway, there’s plenty of fish in the sea.”
Before Teagan could respond, Fiona emerged from the steamy bathroom wearing pink fuzzy pajamas and her hair wrapped in a towel.
“All yours, Teag,” she said. When she passed by, the subtle scent of vanilla trailed after her.
Fiona could have chosen to have her own tour bus, and she did while Jake and Violet tagged along. They could well afford for her to keep it the entire time, but she liked being with the band. They’d all been friends since college and were totally comfortable living in close proximity. Teag also suspected she had residual trauma from her abduction years ago and simply liked to have the guys around while on the road. He enjoyed them staying all together as well. He couldn’t get lost in his own thoughts nearly as much.
Teagan rolled off his bunk. “Thanks, Fi.”
“You okay, Teag?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’m just buggered. No worries.”
She furrowed her brow at him but didn’t push. He liked that about Fiona.
Under the steaming hot shower, Teag let his body relax. The extra hot-water tank was something they had splurged on. Jumping around onstage or whacking away on a drum kit for hours every night took a toll on the body, no matter how fit they all were.
Teag felt his muscles relax and the last remnants of adrenaline drain away, leaving him exhausted. Too exhausted to think much about the dark-haired enigma who couldn’t hide her disdain for him. It stung. He could admit it. Maria wasn’t interested. She’d made that perfectly clear, and he wouldn’t harass her. Sure, he wasn’t above a little flirtatious teasing here and there, but she’d asked him to leave her alone, so he would.
He toweled off, pulled on a pair of gym shorts, and made his way wearily to his bunk. Staring up at the ceiling, he tried to let go of the hurt, anger, and disappointment that filled him. Maria’s rejection bothered him, of course, but it was her reasoning behind it that irked him more.
He’d purposefully changed his habits on the tour with the hope of having a chance with her. To be honest, his interest in meaningless sex had waned anyway. It had been so much better with Natalia when he’d thought they shared a real connection, but as it turned out, he’d been played. Still, he knew things could be different, and he wanted different. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be with Maria, so he’d have to find a way to take his mind off of her and move on.
**
He spent the day in Miami with Julian, their guitar player, who was as interested in the Arts District as Teag was. Fiona and Diego opted to go to Little Havana, so it was just the two of them and their bodyguards. Perusing the galleries took Teag’s mind off the awkward morning interaction he’d had with Maria. She’d behaved coldly and professionally. He’d behaved dismissively. Everyone had noticed, but no one said anything.
