AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Honey ignores his protest as she stands and places her lips on his. “Ciao for now.”
I despair inwardly and return to my breakfast. Liam sits opposite and twists the sugar dispenser in circles. Neither of us speaks. This is the first time I’ve been completely alone with Liam since the tour started, and the unsaid hangs thick between us. Liam winds his long hair into a ponytail. The colour fascinates me, an unusual red that stands out, and his hair shares the same unruliness as mine, but this suits him more than me.
“What do you think about touring?” he asks.
“A little tedious,” I admit.
“Yeah, I guess you don’t have much to do.”
“Exactly.” Sure, I’m writing my book but unless I go to the gigs, I spend most evenings sitting alone hoping there’re no more emails from Lily. I’ve received two more and I’m on the verge of telling Dylan. Worried about the effect the news could have on him, I keep quiet.
Some days, we drive to other places and I see more of the cities we stay in, but with Blue Phoenix’s ever present fans and media, this isn’t always possible, especially in the smaller places.
“About Christmas…” Liam trails off and looks at the table.
“Liam, stop worrying, I haven’t said anything. I’ve no idea what’s happening in your life and don’t want to be involved.”
“‘Kay.” He pauses. “What do you think of Honey?”
Oh, crap. “We’re completely different people.”
He smirks. “Very diplomatic.”
“I don’t think she likes me much but that’s okay. I’ll survive the rejection.”
“She’s different to most girls, yeah.”
“And stunningly attractive.”
“Oh, yeah. Girls like Honey used to look at me as if I was scum back in St Davids. But look at me now, and look at them married to the losers who still live there.”
“I can imagine you weren't their type.” I hold back my true thoughts about how I suspect Honey wouldn’t look twice at Liam if he were still one of ‘the losers in St Davids’.
Liam chews on his lip. Is he alluding to the woman I saw? She was attractive in a totally opposite way to Honey.
“What’s it like?” he asks.
“What?”
“Being a normal person, but with us guys? Usually, nobody around Blue Phoenix can be called normal; I just wondered how weird we all seem to you.”
“Do you mean ordinary and not fitting in?”
“No! I mean do you think you can keep living this life with Dylan?” He eyes me warily.
I frown. “That’s something we take one day at a time, Liam.”
“You love Dylan enough to try?”
My neck prickles. “Are you copying Jem and accusing me of playing games?”
“No, again. I can see how you guys feel about each other; I guess you’re lucky that you’re strong together.”
I shift in my seat, uncomfortable with the conversation and I want to leave. One thing I hate is scrutiny of Dylan and me—outside scrutiny is bad enough, but from those around us, I feel judged. How much does Liam know about Lily?
“I’m not comfortable talking about this,” I say and stand.
Liam shrugs and curls his hand around the dispenser. “Funny how you get what you wanted and then realise you wanted something different all along.”
“Now you sound like Dylan.”
He laughs softly. “Yeah, I could learn a thing or two from him.” He winks at me. “Catch you later, summer Sky.”
I walk away, considering how mismatched he and Honey are, and pushing away any inclination to make this my business.
