Wicked Innocence (7 page)

He pulled into the parking lot behind an old looking motel, cutting our conversation short.

“Is this where we are staying?” I asked, my top lip curling up.
I think I’d rather sleep in the van.

“Yes, but not only that, this is where our first gig is,” he chuckled. He pointed to what looked like an abandoned old building across the road. “That’s the bar we’ll be playing at in forty-five minutes.”

“You’re serious,” I muttered. “Are you sure anyone is going to show?” I asked. The place was dark and empty. Was it even open? It was Friday night and the whole town looked deserted.

“They’ll show, don’t worry. The owner is giving us a couple of rooms for the night. You can take one, the boys can have the other.”

“What about you?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I’ll sleep here.”

“You’ll freeze,” I argued.

He laughed and opened his door. “I’ve slept in worse, honey.”

I got out, taking my bag with me. We stood around while Sax wandered over to the office.

Harry yawned, stepping closer to me. “Nervous?” he asked.

“Not really.” I made a face. “Okay, maybe a little.”

“You’ll be fine. You have a good set of lungs on you.”

“Thanks, but that first audition keeps creeping into my head.”

“Yeah, that was pretty bad,” he chuckled. “Too bad we didn’t record them, huh?”

“What, so it could end up on YouTube?” I grumbled. That would have been murder. Thank fuck they hadn’t recorded the auditions or I never would’ve lived it down.

“Are you kidding? We want people to
want
to see the band, not scare them away.”

“Thanks, Harry,” I said, rolling my eyes, “but you’re supposed to be helping me, not making it worse.”

He laughed and wandered off.

Sax walked back over, his eyebrows raised. “Is he giving you trouble?”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” I grinned.

He held out a key. I took it and smiled. A bed at last.

“Harry!” he yelled out.

Harry turned, just in time to catch the key Sax had thrown at him.

“Get cleaned up, and meet us back here in fifteen minutes, okay?”

I nodded and checked my room number: twenty-four. Conveniently, it was right next to where we had parked. Unlocking the door, I threw my bag down on the double bed and headed into the bathroom. I didn’t have enough time for a shower, so I splashed some water on my face and touched up my makeup.

I was the first person back to the van, besides Sax, who looked like he hadn’t left. The others soon followed. Hiking up my skirt, I jumped into the front seat of the van next to Sax. I smiled as I caught him staring at my legs. He looked away, embarrassed.

Even though the place we were performing at was literally cross the road, with all our equipment it was easier to drive there. Half a minute later, Sax parked next to the back entrance of the bar.

I stood back as the guys unloaded the equipment, carrying it inside. I followed behind them, my hands shaking from pre-performance nerves. I was surprised at how many people were crowded into the tiny bar. Oddly enough, seeing the crowd made me feel a little bit better, and by the time we were ready, I was pumped to start singing.

***

Our ninety-minute set flew by, and before I knew it, we were packing up. The owner of the place came over, insisting he buy us a round of drinks.

“What about you, honey?” he asked me. “Can I get you a beer? Or a vodka?”

“A vodka and lime would be great, thanks,” I smiled.

We sat down on the edge of the stage, watching as the crowd began to thin out. A few girls were hanging around, staring at Sax and the rest of the guys. Harry winked at a short, plump brunette, who dissolved into giggles. I rolled my eyes.

“What?” Harry shrugged. “I can’t help it if the ladies want a little Harry action.”

“Harry action?” I chortled, doubling over with laughter. “Anyway, I think they were eyeing up Sax more than they were you,” I teased.

“Bullshit,” scoffed Harry. “Besides, this guy wouldn’t know what to do with a woman anymore. He lost his touch when he lost his fame.” He slapped Saxon on the back.

Sax narrowed his eyes, but said nothing. I smiled at him, my insides fluttering. I was pretty sure he knew how to please a woman. And I was
more
than willing to test that notion. You know, for research purposes.

A waitress arrived with our drinks. Harry reached for his and gulped it down.

“I think it’s time for Harry to get to work,” he muttered, his gaze zeroing in on the group of girls. Sax shook his head and reached for his soda water. He handed me my drink.

“Thanks,” I said. I took a sip as the other guys wandered over to the pool table, leaving Sax and I alone.

“You did really well. You hit those high notes perfectly.”

“Thanks,” I said, my face heating from his compliment. We sat there awkwardly for a few minutes. I set my drink down and stood up. “I might go back over to the motel, actually. I’m pretty beat.”

He stood up. “I’ll walk you. I’m pretty wrecked too.”

We walked out and crossed the dirt road to the motel, stopping in front of the van. I shivered. There was no way he could sleep in that van tonight. He’d freeze to death.

“You can sleep in my room. There’s a sofa that looks semi-comfortable. That has to be better than sleeping in that. No arguing,” I added, anticipating his response.

“Fine,” he mumbled.

I nodded, a little surprised that he’d agreed so easily.

“I’ll just grab my bag.”

He disappeared into the van and I walked over to the room, unlocking the door. Turning on the light, I went straight over to the heater and switched it on high. Sax walked in carrying his bag over his shoulder. He locked the door and dumped his bag on the sofa.

“Next time I’ll make sure I get the extra room,” he muttered, running his fingers through his hair. “Are there extra blankets anywhere?” While he went searching through the cupboards, I ducked into the bathroom and changed into my pajamas. I let my hair down and stared at my reflection in the tiny mirror. Glancing down at my tight black leggings and oversized Beatles tee shirt, I silently thanked God I’d packed something I could sleep in that wasn’t going to totally embarrass me.

His eyes were on me when I came out of the bathroom. My face burned as I picked up my pace and practically ran to the bed. I dove under the covers, wishing the room would hurry up and warm up already.

“No blankets?” I asked Sax.

He shook his head. “It’s cool. I’ll be fine stretched out on this.” He slapped his hand against the arm of the sofa.

I sighed and pushed the blankets off me, arranging the sheet as a barrier against my body.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?”

“It looks like you’re building a blanket fort.”

Rolling my eyes, I threw a pillow at him. “Get over here before I change my mind.”

“Micah—”

“Look, I’m not going to be able to sleep with you freezing your ass off, okay? Just get over here.”

He studied me for a moment and then nodded. My heart raced as I watched him swagger over to the bed and slide in next to me.

“Stay on your side. And no funny business,” I grumbled.

He laughed. “I better not wake up to you spooning me,” he retorted, sorting the covers out over his body. He shoved the pillow under his head and closed his eyes, a smile on his face.

“Sleep well, Micah.”

With him lying next to me?

There was no way in hell I was going to be able to sleep. I rolled over, trying my hardest to ignore the warmth that was radiating off him. Just as I was dozing off, a thought hit me: there were plenty of fucking blankets in the van.

Why had neither of us remembered that?

Sax

Four days down.

It was Tuesday and we had just arrived at a motel in the heart of Bendook. Things were going well, but after three nights of sleeping in the van, everyone was beginning to get pretty crabby. Especially Micah. I’d forgotten how temperamental chicks could be. Everything became about them.

“Yo.”

I looked up and saw Harry standing in the doorway. I was lying down replying to a few emails, listening to some music, and enjoying the comfort of a real bed.

“Me and the guys are going to grab some food. You want anything?”

I shook my head. “No thanks, I’m good.”

“Suit yourself.” He turned around, hitting the top of the doorframe with the palms of his hands as he walked through it. I sat up and ran my hand through my hair.

Throwing my laptop back on the bed, I walked out into the living area and picked up my guitar, sitting down and beginning to strum.

Time alone was something I’d missed the last couple of days.

“Knock, knock.”

I looked up and saw Micah leaning against the doorframe. She looked sexy in her fitted jeans and tight red tank with the word ‘rockstar’ splashed across the front in bold, dark letters.

“Hey. Come on in,” I said, lowering my guitar to the floor.

“Don’t stop on my account. I could listen to you sing all day.”

I smiled as she blushed.

“God, I sound like some kind of freaky stalker. I promise I don’t stand outside your window watching you get changed.”

I raised my eyebrows. That wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. She reached over and wacked me. I rubbed my arm and stared at her in disbelief. What had that been for?

“You were thinking dirty thoughts,” she accused. She had me there.

“How would you know? Unless you were thinking them too,” I smirked. She blushed and I laughed. “Sit down.” I gestured to the vacant seat next to me. “You didn’t go out for dinner with the guys?” I added as she sank down into the seat with a sigh.

“No.” She smiled and looked down, digging at her fingernails intently. “This will sound weird, but I still feel like the new guy. I mean, Harry is friendly, but the others? I don’t even think we’ve had a single conversation. I feel much more comfortable around you.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Why did hearing her say that make my heart pound?

“That’s fair enough I guess,” I replied. “We’ve gotten to know each other a little better.”

She looked up and met my gaze. I watched her lips tug into a smile.

“It’s not even that. I’m not the most approachable person. I have this habit of guarding myself pretty closely. But I feel like I’ve known you forever. I can’t help but laugh at your stupid jokes.”

“That’s because they’re comedy gold,” I said, winking at her. “My talent is wasted on most people. You’re one of the few people that appreciates my gift.”

She laughed again. “See? That’s exactly what I mean.” She pulled her legs up and hugged them to her chest. “Sometimes I wish it could be this easy with everyone.”

“So work on that,” I encouraged her.

She shook her head.

“Why not?” I asked.

“Because it’s safer not to. The less people I let in, the smaller the chances are of me getting hurt.”

Hearing her talk like that just about snapped my heart in two. What had happened in this girl’s life to make her think that way? It just wasn’t right for her to be so cynical about life…about love.

Because you’re so different
, a little voice in my head pointed out.
How many people have you let in?

“I get it,” I finally said. “I do the same thing. But I think I do it for different reasons.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve hurt a lot of the people I love. I think I push people away because I’m afraid of hurting them.” I stood up. This was way too deep a conversation to be having without alcohol. “Drink?” I asked her as I opened the small fridge.

“A soda would be good,” she smiled. She raised her hand at the beer in my hand. “I thought you said you didn’t drink.”

“I don’t,” I said, popping the top and sitting back down. “I also don’t pour my heart out to pretty girls.”

She smiled shyly. “You think I’m pretty?”

My face flushed. Did she seriously not realize what she did to every guy she came in contact with? She was a walking, talking wet dream. And that naivety made her all the more sexy. There was no bigger turn-off than a girl who knew she was hot.

“I’m going to avoid answering that at the risk of saying something I shouldn’t,” I muttered. I focused on the can in my hand, willing the conversation to move away from how hot I thought she was.

Until now, I’d done pretty well at hiding how attracted I was to her. Hell, I’d even managed to hide it from myself. Seeing her sitting opposite me with that pretty mahogany colored hair tied up in a messy bun, losing myself in her stunning emerald colored eyes…I was at risk of fucking everything up.

She’s twenty-one—four years younger than you.

You’re her manager.

But the thing stopping me most from leaping forward and kissing those sexy, plump lips was how obviously fragile she was emotionally right now. I didn’t want to be the guy who fucked her up even more than she already was—and if anyone could do that, it would be me.

I yawned and stretched my arms over my head. “At the risk of sounding old, I think I’m ready for bed.”

She raised her eyebrows, her expression skeptical. “It’s barely eight o’clock.”

“Call me old, whatever. But seriously, you try sleeping in one of those fucking bunks in the van. Especially with how loudly Kam snores. Just be grateful you have the room,” I muttered, getting to my feet.

She giggled and stood up, wrapping her arms around herself. “Sleep tight, old man. I’ll see you in the morning.” She gave me a smile and walked over to the door.

I watched her leave and then flicked the lock on the door.

Fuck. What are you thinking, Sax? You need to stop this before it goes too far.

When we were together, we chatted so easily. I knew how easily things could shift from friendship to complicated—especially with the thoughts that were going through my head. She was such a sweet girl. I’d hate myself if I ended up hurting her.

My phone buzzed over by my bed. I walked over and picked it up and saw a message from Stace.

Hope you don’t expect me to give this loveable mutt back
.

I laughed as I scrolled down to the photo of Broosky curled up in her lap. You could barely see her poking out from under him.

Don’t get too attached. You’re not keeping my dog. Are you still coming to Vegas?

I already knew the answer to that. Nothing would stop her from getting out there to see the Monkeys live. It was just a coincidence that we were going to be there the same week we were in town.

Fuck yes. Do you know me at all?? See you Sunday big brother xx