Music of the Heart (11 page)

“Down the hall.”

Averting her gaze to the floor, Abby mumbled, “Thank you.”

Motherfuckingshit! I had so screwed up.

***

When I shut myself into the grungy bathroom stall, I fought to keep my emotions in check. I felt like

I was on a defective Merry-Go- Round. One minute Jake is showing interest in me and the next

hooking up with some random waitress. What the hell was his deal? I guess the better question was

what was
my
deal? Why in the world was I remotely interested in some asshole who would do that? I

had to be delusional to think that someone like Jake Slater would actually be interested in me or be

willing to give up his manwhore existence.

“I’m so stupid!” I exclaimed.

Once I finished in the bathroom, I drew in a deep breath before heading outside. I half expected

Jake to be waiting on me to try and talk or explain himself, but once again, he disappointed me.

Instead, he sat at the table with his chin propped up on one of his hands while the other guys talked

and laughed.

As I eased down at the table, I didn’t dare look over at him. It was too embarrassing. I tried

occupying myself with my phone. But I felt his eyes burning into me. Then the heat from his body

grew closer as he leaned over, causing me to hold my breath. “Angel, about what happened back

there—”

He was interrupted by his phone ringing. One glance at the caller ID and he tumbled out of his

chair.

“Dude, what’s wrong?”

“It’s Sally,” Jake replied before he stalked out of the restaurant.

Even though I hated myself for it, I asked, “Who is Sally?”

“His aunt,” AJ replied with a grimace. He then downed the last of his beer before adding, “I sure

hope that means nothing is wrong with his mom.”

I then followed the guys out of the restaurant. Frank hadn’t arrived yet, so we stood under the

awning waiting for him. Peering into the night, I caught sight of Jake’s form. His phone was pressed

tight to his ear while he was pacing around the parking lot. With his free hand, he gesticulated wildly.

Whatever it was his aunt was saying was obviously very upsetting to him. Just as he finished the

phone call, the familiar black SUV came screeching into the parking lot.

“Jake!” AJ called.

Without responding, he came stalking over to us. This time he didn’t bother opening the door or

helping me inside. Instead, he disappeared into the backseat without a word to anyone.

I hopped inside and then chewed on the inside of my cheek. Should I forget what an asshat he had

been earlier and at least check on him? Although part of me wanted to tell him where to get off, I

finally bit the bullet and turned back in my seat to look at him. His expression was dark as he stared

ahead. “Everything okay?” I tentatively asked.

“Fine,” he muttered.

Realizing he wasn’t in the mood to talk, I eased around in my seat and looked out the windshield.

While the guys were loud and boisterous on the way back, Jake didn’t say a word. Once the SUV

came to a stop in front of the bus, he hopped out and pounded up the front steps.

“What bug is up his ass, I wonder?” Rhys questioned before getting out.

The boys had all filed out of the SUV when Frank touched my shoulder. I turned back to him in

surprise. “Abby, I know Jake, and from the way he was acting, I’m worried that something bad has

happened with his family. He doesn’t open up easily, but if you can, please try to find out what’s

going on with him.”

“But you saw he wouldn’t say two words to me earlier.”

“I know. But please, keep trying.”

“Fine, I’ll try.” I got out of the SUV and headed onto the bus. While the other guys were lounging

around in the living area, Jake was noticeably absent. I craned my neck around to see if he had

slipped into the bathroom.

“Where’s Jake?” I asked as the bus driver started up the engine.

“He got his iPod and hit the bed.”

A glance at the clock on the microwave showed it was only eight. I couldn’t imagine a guy like

Jake going to bed so early. I decided I better change the subject. “Speaking of, where will I be

sleeping tonight?”

“It’s my night for the bed, but I’ll totally give it to you,” Rhys offered.

“No, no, I don’t want any special treatment. I’m serious about the bet and experiencing all aspects

of life on the road. I’ve slept in a roost before, and I can do it again.”

AJ grinned. “Let me guess though. You’d prefer a bottom bunk.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I like to be close to the ground. A couple of years back I was on the top bunk

when we got in a bad hail storm. The bus skidded on the slick roads, and I fell out.”

“Then the first bottom bunk is yours, Abby,” Brayden said with a smile.

“Thank you.”

He motioned to the couch. “We were just about to watch a movie if you’d like to join us.”

“Nothing NC-17 I hope?” I teased.

Brayden laughed. “No, maybe a little R-rated Will Ferrell comedy. Would that be okay?”

“If it’s Ricky Bobby, you got a deal.”

“Great minds think alike.”

“Just let me get changed.” As I walked back to the bedroom, I paused outside of Jake’s roost.

“Jake?” I tentatively asked. When he didn’t respond, I kept on going. Even though I pushed my

luggage and guitar case against the door, I tore off my dress at record speed. I then threw on my ratty

Jacob’s Ladder’s t-shirt and my yoga pants from earlier. I slid my hair into a ponytail and then headed

back out.

The opening of the movie was already playing when I eased down beside Brayden on the couch.

Even though we’d probably all seen the movie a million times, we were laughing hysterically. I had

to admit that it was fun hanging out with the guys sans Jake. His absence seemed to take the pressure

off, and AJ and Rhys behaved like brothers, rather than potential lovers.

After they started
Step-Brothers
, the exhaustion of the day, coupled with the lull of the bus, caused

me to get drowsy. My eyes grew heavier and heavier until I finally nodded off. When I woke up, the

movie was ending, and my head was on Brayden’s shoulder. I jerked away from him. “Oh, I’m so, so

sorry!”

He smiled. “It’s okay. You were tired.” He glanced over at the other guys. “We should probably

get our asses in bed. Tomorrow is another long day of traveling before the next show.”

Once we all took turns using the bathroom, we settled into our roosts. I glanced down at my phone

and fielded a few texts from the boys. Thankfully, my parents were at a conference with packed

events, so the boys had yet to break the news to them until a few hours before about my mishap.

Because it was so late, I didn’t get a wrath-filled phone call like I normally would have.

Instead, it was a barrage of heated texts from my dad that if he hadn’t been a minister would have

equated to “What the hell do you think you’re doing on a bus with a bunch of horny rockers?” My

mom, who was always the peacemaker, was included in the messages and tried reasoning with my

father, which was pretty hilarious considering they were in the same room.

Finally, I went for the jugular by telling him as a minister, he shouldn’t be so judgmental. After a

lengthy pause, he finally responded with
You’re right, Abigail. We know you have a good head on

your shoulders. Just make sure you let your conscience and your moral compass guide you.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes at the epic guilt trip laid at my feet. Instead, I quickly typed back,

Of course I will. I’ll see you guys in a week
.

My parents were flying in to see my first performance with the boys. I was supposed to have had

this week as preparation, but now I would be heading right off the bus and to my first show. I gulped

down the rising bile in my throat at the thought.

After telling them goodnight, I laid my phone down and settled in the cramped quarters. Just as I

closed my eyes, a long groan came from close to my head. It took me about two seconds to decipher

that I was way too close to Jake for comfort. Each and every time I started to doze off, Jake would

make a noise, and I would be wide awake again.

I fluffed my pillow for what felt like the millionth time and tried ignoring the sounds coming from

Jake’s bunk. Heat flooded my face when the whimpers and groans escalated.
Jeez, it sounds like

something off a porno
! With my brothers, I had a pretty good mind what he was doing, and it

infuriated me, especially after what had happened earlier with Billie Jean.

They all swore to me they’d be perfect gentlemen if I stayed on the bus with them!
I silently

fumed.
What kind of sex-fiend maniac is Jake that he needs to do that again after just getting off at

the diner?
I don’t care if he needs to relieve some stress after the phone call earlier. This is

bullshit!

Flopping back down on the mattress, I crossed my arms over my chest before a frustrated grunt

escaped my lips.

“¿No puedes dormir, Angel?” AJ’s deep voice questioned from behind my curtain.

I flipped back the heavy fabric. He reclined on his bunk, flipping through a sports magazine. “No, I

can’t sleep with all the racket going on next to me.”

He met my gaze and grinned. “Don’t get the sexy, lacy panties I dream about you wearing in a

twist. He isn’t jerking off.”

“That’s not what I was thinking.”

“Yeah right,” he snorted with a wink.

As if on cue, Jake let out a long moan. I shook my head. “Um well, if he’s not doing
that
, then is he

okay?”

“He’s been having a lot of nightmares lately. I try to ignore it—let him save face and not look like

a pussy.”

I rolled my eyes. “Did you ever stop to think maybe you should ask him if something is going on

with him?”

AJ quirked his brows at me. “If I started getting sappy and shit like that, Jake would ask me when I

grew a vagina.”

“Well, I think someone should check on him. I mean, he sounds like he’s in both physical and

emotional pain.”

When AJ didn’t move, I heaved an exasperated sigh before hopping out of my bunk. I could not

believe after everything I had been through with Jake so far in the last twelve hours that I even had