“Youlook so weird, man,” Steve laughed, shaking his head, still staring at my hair.
“Yeah,I know,” I agreed, pushing my fingers through the short blonde strands. I hopedthat eventually they’d stop having phantom pains, and I’d recognize myself inthe mirror. “Okay, Greyson, behave. Don’t set anything on fire and don’t stealanything, got it?”
Greysonrolled his eyes. “Uh-huh.”
“Hey,I have to say this shit, because true story, that happened, and my parentscouldn’t leave me anywhere,” I informed him. Mel nodded in corroboration. “See?I have back-up.”
Wesaid our goodbyes and were out the door, being let into the limo and having thedoor close behind us. Tabby adjusted the dress over her lap, crossing her legsand staring out the window as we pulled away from the curb. An excited littlesmile tugged at her red lips.
“So,you’re going all out tonight, huh?” she commented quietly, as if she didn’t wantthe driver to overhear.
“Holdon,” I smirked, pressing a button to roll up the partition window. “There, nowit’s like we’re in our own little world.”
“Beingaround youislike being in my own little world.” She shook her head, aflush creeping up from her neck. “What’s with all the bells and whistles?”
Ishrugged, leaning back in my seat and making myself comfortable. “I figuredit’d be nice. I haven’t really gone out since being off, and once thefall-winter tour starts up in September, I’m going to wish I had.”
“Ibet that’s tough for you.” She tipped her head, an almost sympathetic glimmerin her eyes. “To go from being such a party animal to living the single dadlife.”
Thecomment reminded me of what Mel had said. About Tabby probably being attractedto Roman for his sense of responsibility, as though she was under theimpression that I had none. Despite owning a house, cooking regularly, anddoing my own laundry.
Ifurrowed my brow and shook my head. “I really don’t know what you think I do whenI’m on tour. I mean, is there some drinking and having a good time? Sure, but Iam nowhere near what I used to be like back in the day. I tour with a marriedcouple with a baby, for crying out loud. We don’t exactly snort lines of cokeoff the asses of strippers.”
“Haveyou ever?” She was testing me, eyeing me studiously and flashing me a pinchedsmile.
“Snortedlines off a stripper’s ass?” I chuckled, shaking my head. “Thumbelina, that’sone thing I’ve never done.”
“Whichpart?”
“Allof it.” I narrowed my glare. “Drugs have always been a hard no for me. A littleweed here and there, I could get down with, but the hard shit? Fuck no. I valuemy life, thanks.”
“Hm,”she nodded, diverting her gaze to the window. “I really like the dress, by theway.”
“Sodo I,” I commented, laying my head against the back of the seat.
Herhair was pulled to the side, cascading in waves over one shoulder and leavingher back exposed. With a hand in desperate need of possessing her, I reachedout, pressing my palm between her shoulder blades, touching my fingertips tothe nape of her neck and into the nest of her hair.
“I’vemissed you.” My mouth said the words, but it was my heart doing the talking.
Sheturned to glance over her shoulder, smiling sweetly and nodding. “Yeah, I guessI’ve missed you too,” and she moved toward me, nestling under my arm andagainst my side. Her palm pressed over my thundering heart. “Can I be honestabout something?”
“Youbetter be,” I smirked, finding a comfortable spot in her gaze and staying there.
“I’mnot sure I miss your hair.” She bit her lip, lifting her hand to touch thefreshly-cut ends. “It looks so fucking good. It’s like … like you’ve beenhiding underneath it.”
Laughinghoarsely, I snickered. “I had it up more than half of the time.”
“Yeah,I know, but I think it kind of distracted the eye from everything else. Likeyour eyes—”
“Whatabout my eyes?”
“Well,”she swallowed, and I pulled her deeper into my gaze, edging my mouth closer, “they’rejust unusually dark, and so pretty.”
“That’swhat every man wants to hear; that he haspretty eyes,” I teased,batting my eyelashes.
“Shutup.” She smacked my chest playfully. “You asked.”
“Idid,” I submitted. “What else?”
