Authors: Anne Mercier

Blush (Rockstar #2) (15 page)

I roll my eyes.

“Oh, that's right, you're married,“ Meggie teases. “But I'm not,“ she sing-songs.

I grin. “Nice, very nice.“

“Whore,“ Jace chides with a snicker.

“I'll remind you of that when we collab with a female and you're all up in her vagina,“ Meggie teases.

“Gah,“ I curl my lip and Meggie laughs.

“I'm all for vagina,“ Jace says with a serious nod.

“Oh my God. Is it time for my pain meds yet? There is no way I can handle this conversation not stoned,“ I sigh.

“Nope,“ Jesse tells me. “Soon.“

“Not soon enough,“ I mumble. Cage chuckles and pulls Sera into his side. Frowning, I look over my sister. She looks so pale and rather green if I'm honest. I wish there was something I could do for her.

“Stop looking at me, Lucy,“ Sera scolds.

I flip her off. “I can stare if I want to.“

“Lord,“ Ben mutters. “What are we, twelve?“

“Aww, Benny,“ I tease.

“Fuck. Don't start that—“

“What's wrong, Benny?“ I move over to where he's sitting on the sofa and climb into his lap. “What's happening little bro, Benny?“

He's trying so hard to scowl, nearly loses it, but then notices Xander grinning like a loon. “What the fuck are you laughing at?“

Xander snickers. “Nothing much,
Benny
.“

“Dude, don't make me kick your ass.“

“You could try,“ Xander tells him, puffing up his chest.

“You know I could take you,“ Ben sneers.

“This from the man who called the rest of us ‘twelve' twice today,“ Sera admonishes.

Ben just grunts. “I'd flip you off but you're ill. I can't be rude to the sick.“

“Whatever,“ Sera tells him and gives him a two-bird salute.

Ben laughs.

“See? It's so nice when Benny laughs,“ I taunt, knowing I'm pushing my luck now.

Jesse comes up behind me, wraps his hands around my waist, and lifts me from Ben's lap.

“What?“ I ask.

“Just trying to stop my wife and my brother from getting aggravated with one another.“

“Well. Benny wouldn't get aggravated with me, would you Benny?“ I ask.

Ben deadpans and lifts a brow.

“Seriously? But you're my big bro. My
only
big bro. You should
love
your little sister.“

“Oh, I do,“ he tells me, “but I'm like all other big brothers.“

“Meaning?“ I ask.

“Meaning,“ Kennedy sighs, “all big brothers get annoyed with their little sisters when they're teased and pushed past their limit.“

“Hmm.“ I guess I did push a bit too far. “Sorry if I pushed. I just like calling you Benny.“

Ben runs a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. I know he wants me to stop calling him Benny but I know he doesn't want to hurt my feelings. Ah yes, Lucy manipulation at its finest. I'm not ashamed to admit this.

“It's alright. Just… limit it,“ he adds.

I nod and smile widely. Kennedy, Ethan, Xander, Jesse, Trace, and Jace all shake their heads. I sit up higher in Jesse's lap, lifting my chin, grinning silly. I win!

I WATCH JESSE pace outside the bus. We arrived in Denver a couple hours ago. We're a week into the tour and things are going along pretty well. Granted it's only been a week, but no one's gotten into an argument yet. Yet. It's coming. I have no doubt.

The majority of the fans are actually supporting me in what happened with the whole fight incident. Not my proudest moment yet unavoidable. The male fans thought it was “hot“ which caused me to roll my eyes and I rolled them again when all the guys here on the bus agreed. For real?

“Who's the hubby talking to?“ Ben asks interrupting my musings.

“Your sister.“

His brows furrow. “Which one?“

“I don't know. He didn't say. Just ‘hey sis'.“

“Ah, that's Janalee. He calls Jeni ‘brat'.“

“I see. He looks upset,“ I murmur, biting on my thumbnail.

“That he does,“ Ben agrees.

“I wonder what's going on.“

“We'll find out soon enough.“ Ben takes a seat.

“What's up?“ Damian asks.

“I'm not sure yet.“

He nods.

“Where is everyone?“ I ask.

“Cage was, uh, meeting someone,“ he hedges, glancing quickly to and from Sera. “The rest of the guys went wandering.“

“Hmm.“ I wonder where Cage went. Sera's over lying on the sofa resting, still not one hundred percent recovered from whatever went through a few of us and the road crew. Not everyone got sick, but the ones that did, it was brutal.

“Sound check in an hour,“ Meggie tells us as she climbs on the bus. “Your hubbles is a bit agitated out there.“

“What's he talking about?“

“Just yelling something about having to meet someone and how it'll fuck up his sound check,“ Meggie elaborates.

“Oh fuck,“ Ben says.

“Oh boy.“

Jesse climbs onto the bus, walks over to me and gives me a soft kiss. “Looks like we're going to be one person heavier when we pull out of Denver.“

“What's going on?“ Ben asks.

“Apparently Janalee had it out with mom and dad and, being the fuckers they are, they told her to get out. You know Jana. She won't hesitate to bail out,“ Jesse murmurs, running a hand through his hair again.

Ben nods.

“Well, I'm sure we can fit one more, right Damian?“ I ask.

“Sure, I don't see why not. We've got five fucking buses after all.“ Damian gives Jesse a look.

Jesse shrugs. “Seems like it's a good thing since we're going to , now, be two people heavier with Misty and Janalee, and we're only a week into the tour. In another couple weeks, we'll have yet another person on board.“

“Who's that?“ Meggie asks.

“The Blush Baby. Nicole,“ Jesse answers.

“Actually,“ Damian begins, giving me a look (shit), “we'll be four people heavier.“

“Four?“ both Jesse and I say at the same time.

Damian nods. “Yeah. Nicole, the doc, his brother, and the nurse.“

“Well, shit,“ Xander says as he gets on the bus. “Think the nurse will wear one of those short white dresses with the buttons down the front, white thigh highs, and heels?“

I snort. “Not likely.“

Xander tsks. “Burst my bubble, why don't ya.“

Meggie leans forward, “Pop.“

“Harsh.“

She shrugs.

“So what's going on with your sister, babe?“ I ask.

“I've got to pick her up at the airport this afternoon. We should flip sound checks otherwise I'll be missing ours,“ he tells me, pacing again.

“No worries, right Damian?“ I give him a pointed look.

“No problem, man. I'll just let everyone know. Easy enough,“ Damian says, then salutes, and walks off the bus.

“Is your sister okay?“

“Yeah, she's fine. Our parents are pricks. She just needs somewhere to go.“

“Where's Jeni?“ Ben asks.

“Staying at Casa Falling Down,“ Jesse tells him.

“What did the old man do this time?“ Ben asks.

“What didn't he do? He fucking gambled away the rent, he's in debt to a loan shark, and they threatened the girls if he doesn't pay up.“

“That can't be good,“ I say. “Maybe you should have your other sister come with us too.“

“Nah,“ he says. “She's safe. You know our place is as safe as Fort Knox.“

I nod. “That's true, but if you remember in Die Hard with a Vengeance they broke into Fort Knox. Nothing is fool proof.“

“It'll be alright. I've got security on alert.“ He wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. I hug him back, knowing he needs the warmth and connection.

“I'm not paying their shit this time,“ Ben announces.

“Me neither. I told them last time they were on their own. When you give your parents a million and they piss it away in six years' time, it's pathetic. Then you turn around and bail them out how many times?“ Jesse asks.

“Five. Fifty grand was the cheapest,“ Ben answers, anger darkening his blue eyes.

Jesse sighs. “It's not just him. It's her too.“

“I'm sorry, baby,“ I rub his back.

“You know they're going to fuck them up if not kill them, right?“ Xander asks, leaning forward, elbows on his knees. This is the most serious I've ever seen him.

“I know it,“ Jesse replies. “I can't anymore. I won't.“

Xander nods.

Ben sighs. “It's only been seven months since last time. How much do they owe?“

“Five hundred grand,“ Jesse seethes.

“Jesus Christ. What the fuck did they spend it on?“ Xander asks.

“Drugs likely. Playing the big shots with their friends. Only this time, their friends are going to see that they're frauds.“ Ben gets up and grabs a beer from the fridge. It's only ten in the morning but I'm not going to say a word.

I look over and see Sera blinking up at us from across the room. I smile a small smile.

“How're you feeling, sunshine?“

She grunts. “I've been better.“

“Nibble on those cracker things Misty left for you. She left some ginger ale too. She is seriously amazing,“ I announce.

“Can you imagine her and Mrs. Martinez? There's going to be a super speedy Spanish going on in the kitchen when we get home. I love listening to that shit. I can't speak it, but I can understand it. Kinda fucked up, huh?“ Xander asks.

“No more fucked up than me understanding Italian but not speaking it very well,“ I respond.

“Oh, I don't know,“ Jesse begins, “when you're pissed off you speak it perfectly.“

I grin. “I learned that from my mama.“

They all nod.

“Not a shock,“ Ben tells me. “Your mom is a force to be reckoned with.“

“That's what I said,“ Jesse agrees.

I walk over to sit by Sera, feel her forehead. She's clammy but not hot.

“How are you really feeling?“

She shrugs. “Cage gone already?“

I nod.

She presses her lips together and nods back. She reaches for the ginger ale, taking a sip then takes a cracker and nibbles a bit before sitting up slowly.

I brush her hair out of her eyes.

“I'll get the brush and style you up until Spenser gets a hold of you later.“

“Thanks.“

I sit on the top back portion of the sofa and Sera sits on the seat in front of me. My fingers are working a bit better but I have to remember that my middle and ring fingers on my right hand are immobile and the cast surrounding them hinders my actions.

I manage a simple French braid.

“What's going on with Cage?“

Xander glances over then looks away.

She shrugs as I work the braid down her back.

“He went to meet with Carina.“ There is a definite sneer in her tone.

“Who's Carina?“ I ask.

“His fuck buddy,“ she replies flatly.

“Wow, she's come a long way for a booty call.“

“Apparently she's in Denver on business,“ she takes another cracker.

“Convenient,“ Meggie chimes in.

“Right?“ Sera asks. “Ugh, I don't know what's going on with my stomach but I feel like complete shit.“

“I'm sure it's just a virus. You know you always were sicker longer than everyone else,“ I remind her.