I knew it. Ben would never leave me unattended, and then it hits me, he wasn’t far away. Maybe he knows what happened last night?
I peek my head over the seat, resting my chin on the leather. “B?”
He smiles at me in the rearview mirror. “Yes, Ms. Ash?”
“You don’t happen to know what happened last night, do you?”
“Other than you ditching me?”
I laugh. The sound makes my head throb, but I’m discordant and somewhat desperate for the details. “I know, but I don’t remember anything other than going to a bar.”
“You went there, then you ended up at Mango’s and stayed there until going back to his hotel room.”
“His?”
“Yes, Mr. Slade’s.”
Oh. I knew that. Hello, I woke up naked there. “Did I make a fool of myself?”
Look at Ben. His smile is genuine when he says, “You looked happy.”
I fight back a smile because you know, I feel happy. All over. Actually, no, I’m sore all over, but underneath the protesting muscles, happiness is invading my Joker veins. “Have you seen Bella?”
Merging into traffic, Ben nods. “She’s sleeping off a hangover on the bus.”
We make our way back to where my bus is parked, three black SUVs lined up outside it. I exit the Tahoe, with Ben’s help, and the moment I’m on the bus, I notice my dad sitting at the dinette, a fixated glare directed my way.
With my coffee still in hand, I take a slow sip and keep my voice chipper as can be. “Morning.”
Dad doesn’t look up and goes straight to business. “I’m adding more security to the venues.”
I close the door behind me, thinking of seeing if I can have the locks changed on my tour bus. “I don’t think that’s needed.”
“I don’t really care what you think,” he adds, voice cool and composed.
I snort. “That’s probably the most truthful statement you’ve made in a long time.” There used to be a time in my life when this man was my hero. He could do no wrong in my eyes, but I was blinded by the blanket of innocence he created around me. He didn’t let me see his faults, until I was old enough to notice.
Dad’s eyes don’t lift from the iPad. “Care to explain this?”
I step forward. No, I don’t want to explain because I don’t remember. I don’t tell him that though. I once had to explain why I snuck out of the house at fourteen to go to a party he said I couldn’t attend, only to have him scold me about “my image,” and if I was to get caught drinking underage, what it’d do to my fans who looked up to me. I saw his point of view that time, it held validity, but now that I’m twenty-one, is it really that bad that I go out and enjoy being young?
I didn’t think so.
Dad slides the iPad toward me with an article pulled up on E! online. I don’t look at it right away. The brightness of the screen hurts my eyes. But then the curiosity is too much, and I cave.
E! NEWS
SLADE AND ASH GETTING COZY ON TOUR
Multiple bands from the One Vibe tour took over Taverns, but it was Revved’s front man and the princess of pop who everyone is talking about this morning. According to those closest to the rock pair, they were seen flirting and laughing the entire time. She was resting her head on his shoulder and he had his arm around her. They looked like they were dating. A video has surfaced of the pair in a lively duet of “Friends in Low Places” aided by whatever they were chugging.
What? That sounds amazing! I’m bummed I don’t remember. I scroll down further. There are a couple of photographs attached, and it’s not the article that catches my attention. It’s him in that fur coat, smiling. I look absolutely giddy, but it’s him that makes my heart swell. He looks. . .happy.
A pang of guilt hits my chest. I really wish I could remember the details of last night. I wish I could recall the way that arm resting on my shoulders felt and the security I imagine enveloping me. In his arms, I appear untouchable.
“I’m going to ask one more time,” Dad says, drawing me from my thoughts. “Can you explain this?”
Not really.My eyes drift from the screen to my dad. “I didn’t know I had to explain myself.”
