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“I’m not going to get emotional because I’m going to see you in a week. But, just like I told Noah, I expect you to be in safe hands. I’m so proud of you, Tiny,” Dad says, his voice soft and sure.
I flash a barely there smile. “Thank you. I couldn’t have made it this far without you.”
He shakes his head. “Yes, you could have.”
Stubborn. “Either way, I appreciate everything you’ve done to help me.”
“That’s what family is for. You ready for this?”
My eyes find Noah’s, and he nods, not a hint of doubt in his expression. His confidence in me—inus—makes me soar. Then, I look at Mom. She’s watching me softly, and when she nods, I swallow a new lump in my throat.
“Yeah, Dad. I think we are.”
10
NOAH
My phone vibratesin my pocket as I follow Tinsley onto the tour bus. I grit my jaw and tense my fingers, ignoring it for the third time. It’s my dad, and I have no desire to speak with him. To hear a weak good luck and congratulations that I doubt he would even mean.
“Oh, wow,” Tinsley mutters, head swivelling to take in the interior of the bus.
Yeah. It’s big. Big butcrowded.
Three men and a sleeping child are sprawled on the couch and solo armchair, watching a loud movie on the TV hung on the wall. Bags and suitcases are piled in front of them, blocking the walkway to the kitchen and the rest of the bus. It smells like body spray and sweat.Already.
The lights are dim, some tinted red. There’s a tablet on the kitchen counter, and it probably controls the lights. I don’t reach for it. Red is fine for now.
Justice is the first to acknowledge us, daring to look away from the sleeping girl in his arms. His daughter. “Finally,” he groans. “We were about to take bets on whether you’d wimp out or not.”
“This is my tour. I would simply kick you off the bus, not quit.”
“Nah, man. You need us here, whether you like it or not,” he returns, grinning like always.
I cock my head, eyes tightening as I glare at him. “Need you? No.”
His smirk pulls at the scar on his cheek.How did someone who shits rainbows get such a nasty scar?I don’t care. “Hear that, boys? I think Noah’s hinting that hewantsus around.”
“Fuck off.” My glare intensifies.
“Do I get a hello? Iamone of your new roommates, after all,” Tinsley smarts, arms folded across her chest.
Her words instantly grab the attention of the other two guys. I swallow a growl when they boldly ogle her as if I’m not right here. Dagger’s doing it on purpose, just to spite me. The way his eyes glitter with amusement has me clenching my jaw so hard my teeth have begun to ache.
“I’m sorry. You just make me so nervous that I forgot how to speak for a moment,” he says, voice way too fucking smooth. He wouldn’t be able to speak if I ripped his tongue out. The idea is appealing. “It’s not often Noah brings such beautiful women around. He’s been hiding the infamous Tinsley from Justice and me for months now.”
Josh snorts a laugh, and I fling my glare at him, one eyebrow slipping up my forehead. He rolls his eyes.
“You know damn well that Tinsley is the only woman willing to be around Noah. And that’s saying something because you won’t be thinking of her as a woman once you spend enough time with her.”
Tinsley gasps dramatically, seeming to ignore the dig. That’s not the case for me. Desperate to keep myself under control, I give in to my instincts and settle a hand on the centre of her back, letting my palm fill with her body heat.He just wants to get a rise out of you,I remind myself.
Tinsley clucks her tongue and says, “Josh, honey, your jealousy is showing. You know just as well as any of us that I’m the only woman hewantsaround him. Maybe one day, you’ll have half the groupies Noah does. Don’t lose faith just yet.”
Justice and Dagger snicker at the insult while Josh glowers at her. I let my face split with a carnal smile as my cock throbs at her protectiveness. Fuck, this is why Tinsley’s meant to be mine. She might look sweet, but there’s a sliver of darkness trapped down inside of her that I would get on my knees and worship if she’d allow me to.
She turns slightly toward me, just enough that my hand slides to her waist before I pull it away. Lifting the arm that’s holding her duffle bag, she says, “Now that we got that cleared up, I’m going to take mywomanlystuff to my bunk instead of leaving it in a pile on the floor like a slob. Excuse us.”
I follow her as she moves, not giving it a second thought. Justice and Dagger watch us as we walk, but when I glance over my shoulder, I find Josh staring at the TV again. He’s the only one besides myself who knows Tinsley at all, and he’s clearly unfazed by her presence. Even then, he barely knows anything.
