Page 59 of The Bosun

I had a feeling it was also to not see the women pawing at Walker. Women had been screaming his name, flashing their boobs, and throwing their underwear at him all throughout the concert. If Walker was my man, I wouldn’t want women throwing themselves all over him.

After only a few girls nearly blew out our ears with their high-pitched squeals from meeting the band, Lexie and I went to wait out in the hall. She walked further down the corridor but was where I could see her so she could check in with Ryder.

It was only thirty minutes later when Pen and Walker walked out and left the rest of the band with about twenty women.

“Walker’s going to take a quick shower on the bus, and then we’ll be ready to leave. Would you like a tour of the bus while we wait?”

“Why not? When am I going to get another opportunity?”

Lexie and I walked behind Walker and Pen, and I could tell from Pen’s body language it was killing her not to be able to touch him. The moment we stepped inside the bus, Pen’s hand went to Walker’s lower back as she trailed behind him in the cramped space.

“I’ll be right back. Make yourselves comfortable,” he murmured before walking off into the back.

“So, this is it,” Pen laughed. “Their bus isn’t as nice as some big-name people, but it’s still pretty nice. There’s a bedroom in the very back, and here,” she walked a few steps. “This is the bunk area. The back bedroom is on rotation so whoever isn’t sleeping back there is in one of these.”

“Do you have sex in this tiny area?” Lexie asked as she crouched down to get a better look.

“Only once. It was...difficult would be the word. Normally we wait until one of us has the back bedroom or is staying in a hotel like tonight.”

Scrunching up my nose, I backed away from the bunk beds. “It smells like Doritos and feet.”

“Yeah,” she sighed. “Coming from being an only child to sharing a small space with four males has been trying.”

“I’m sure Walker makes handling the situation a whole lot easier.”

Pen looked over her shoulder and then ushered us closer to the front of the bus. Speaking in a hushed tone, she said. “Most of the time, but he can be moody after a show. I don’t know why and from what I gathered, neither do the other guys. Like tonight, he’s being unusually quiet. I don’t know if he had a bad night because from what I saw and heard, they were amazing, or if it’s because you guys are here and he’s giving me my time with you.”

Hopefully, it was the latter, and he just needed to get to know us.

Walker stepped out of the bathroom shirtless with his long hair dripping and his shirt balled up in one hand. Pen let out a noise that was a cross between a sigh and a whimper. She had it bad. I only hoped Walker felt the same about her.

Shaking out his shirt, Walker slid it over his head before he looked to us. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

“So, I did a little research on places to eat here, and there’s a place close to the hotel we’re staying at. We could get an Uber there and then walk. Shit, where are you guys staying?”

“Funny you should ask that. I thought I was going to have to give my first-born child to Christiano to get any information out of him. He pretty much told me not to get you into trouble while we’re here. What have you told him about me?”

“Nothing at all. I wouldn’t tell that man anything voluntarily about my life.” She let out an annoyed huff. “He’s so fucking annoying. I can’t believe he said that to you. Did he at least tell you where we’re staying?”

“He did after a lot of begging and promising that I really knew you. We were lucky to get a room. The hotel said they only had a couple that weren’t booked.”

“At least we’re all staying at the same hotel. We can eat dinner and then chill out at the bar downstairs or something.”

“Perfect, now let’s get ourselves a ride because I’m starved, and you don’t want to see me when I get hangry.”

* * *

Coveringmy mouth and speaking low, so Walker didn’t hear from his spot next to Pen, I asked. “How do you sit by and let those women, and I use the word women loosely, hang all over him?”

Pen leans back, not caring if anyone hears her. “I don’t really have a choice. If I acted all possessive over him, that would only stir up rumors. What about you? How do you handle it?”

“There’s not much to handle. Everyone we’re around knows Ryder and I are together. I can’t do a thing about all the women who eye-fuck him.” She tipped her head in each of our directions. “You two included.”

It was fun to watch as Walker, who’d be acting uninterested in our conversation, stiffened.

“When we were first together, Ryder took care of it for us when we were around new people. He’d claim me on the spot with a kiss that would leave me breathless and a whole lot more if you know what I mean.”

Oh, we knew exactly what she meant. Ryder would kiss her, and she’d want to jump his bones.

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