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“There’s that smooth mouth again, Eth.”
Chapter 4
Grayson
“Fuck.Fuck.FuckingTanner.”
I heard Addi storming about outside in the lounge area of our penthouse. We each had our own suite, but we shared the living space. It was meant to make us bond as a band, but the last few weeks had been hell.
“Tanner’s got himself arrested. I need to go and sort it out, but I’m meant to be at a meeting. I could send Rylee, but I wouldn’t trust her not to cry at the thought of having to make a decision. Are any of you lazy ass rock stars free to go and sort the images for the website and the new publicity material? You just have to make sure you like them, and no one has their eyes closed or their head chopped off,” she shouted, sounding frantic and stressed.
I stepped out of my room. “Where do I need to go? And if I do this, you promise this is it? I can start my month off. I love my family, but if I don’t get some space from them, I’m going to murder one of them.”
“Yes. Yes, you can. But promise you’ll keep up with the therapy. You’re improving and I can’t handle another one of you spiraling into loathing and self-hated, like your brother.”
“Promise. Where do I need to go?”
“Ivy’s house. She works from home, so I was meeting her there.”
Shit.
I’d not heard a word from her or Ethan since that night.Oh God, that night.The night that played in my mind on a loop. The night where I’d got to feel her. The night where I’d wanted to touch him as much as I wanted to touch her.
I really am some sort of fucked up sexual deviant.
“Fine, I’ll go, but I’m driving myself, then I am off the grid for a month. You can get me on my phone, but I don’t want to hear from you unless we get booked to play in Vegas, Tanner ends up in the hospital or you need my help for something personal. Do you understand me, Addi? No press, no interviews, no photoshoots, promo, recording. Nothing band related for four weeks. I just want to be a normal twenty-four year old for a bit.”
“You’ll never be normal. You’re too special, but yes, go. I won’t bother you. I promise, but you need to stay on the down low. If people work out it’s you, then you won’t be safe. Promise me you’ll call me if you need security.”
“I promise, Addi. I’m going to find somewhere to hide for a while, so no one will know it’s me.”
“Okay, it doesn’t mean I won’t worry about you, Gray, but go, take some time. Do what your therapist has suggested and take a break while the others finish their bits of the album. Tell Ivy I said hi. Now, how long shall I leave your idiot brother to rot in jail until I bail his ass out?”
“Is a week too long?” I laughed before I kissed her on the cheek, packed a bag to tide me over for the next few weeks, and jumped into my Range Rover Evoque, feeling freer than I’d done in years.
I pulled up at the address Addi gave me about 90 minutes later. I had to check and double check the address as this place was huge… country manor huge. In the middle of nowhere, a curled driveway took me up to the front door. I stared up at the stately home, covered in ivy, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
I knocked.
It took a while, but I heard footsteps and then a voice. The door swung open and there stood Ethan. Grey sweats, a skin tight black t-shirt, clean shaven, his dark blond hair styled perfectly like he’d just stepped from a photo shoot.
I licked my lips, the sight of him making my mouth dry. “Ethan.” I nodded. “Addi sent me. She had a problem she had to sort, so I’m here to meet with Ivy.”
He didn’t even try to hide the wide grin that spread across his face as he moved to beckon me inside the house.
I followed him in and he closed the door behind us. We walked silently, the sound of my feet hitting the floor the only noise.
He reached a door and knocked lightly. “Ivy, you have a guest.”
She opened it, and I couldn’t help the groan that escaped. Her thick curls fell over her shoulders, her green eyes shimmered, her makeup free face showcased all those beautiful freckles, and her lips parted in a silentO. She was dressed in a cream vest top with spaghetti straps and long black linen trousers, her feet bare. In fact, as I glanced back, I noticed Ethan’s feet were bare, too. I groaned again because I felt like I was catching them unaware, and domesticity had never looked as hot.
“Ivy,” was all I could manage to say.
“You’re here to okay the photos? Come on in. Can I get you a drink? Tea. Something stronger?”
“No, I don’t want to disturb you both. Plus, I’m taking a break from the band after this meeting, so I won’t take up too much of your time. There's a whole world waiting for me out there.”
“Time off?” Ethan repeated, suddenly feeling him behind me.Was he that close a minute ago?
