Page 24 of The Rocker

walker

The momentI saw Pen standing backstage, I wanted to walk off and take her in my arms even though I knew I couldn’t. She’d been gone a week, and it had felt like an entire year went by in her absence. I wasn’t any closer to convincing her we were good together than the day we started our tour, and she ended things. That’s not how I thought things were going. I had planned to have her in my bed night after night. The thought of her being only a few feet away was soothing, even if we couldn’t sleep next to each other. What I wouldn’t give to have her sleep beside me for one night. Now, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get her back to get the chance.

Finishing our final song of the night, I looked out to the crowd and was still amazed this was my life. There were thousands of people out there every night we played, listening to our music and singing along to some of our songs.

I watched as, one by one, the guys left the stage and hugged Pen as they went by her. Okay, not Greer, but he didn’t hug anyone. Ever. I followed suit and pulled her into my arms when I came up to her. I breathed in her citrus scent and never wanted to let go. Pen had other ideas. She patted me on the back and pulled back immediately.

I walked alongside her to the green room, keeping as much space between the rest of the band and us as possible. Leaning down, I spoke quietly enough that no one else would hear. “I missed you. Did you have fun on your vacation?”

When Pen told us she was leaving us for a week to go on vacation, I wasn’t happy. At the time, I thought she was doing it to get away from me and put some space between us. Then I thought for sure she was going to use that time to get us a new manager.

I’d been wrong. I could admit that.

Her head whipped my way, and her whiskey eyes narrowed into slits as she looked at me. “I’m sure you weren’t lonely for long.”

Grabbing her bicep, I stopped us in the middle of the hallway. “What are you talking about?”

Pen pulled her arm from my hold and started walking. “Don’t act like you don’t know. Don’t mistake me for convenience. You can get a different girl each night to sate your needs.”

What?

Before I could even open my mouth, Pen opened the door to the green room. She went around to each guy and asked them how they were doing and if they needed anything. Well, almost all. Pen didn’t even look my way before she was on her phone and ordering something for Kenton. Once Pen was done, she put her phone in the back pocket of her jeans. She looked up at us and smiled.

“Did you miss me?” She asked with a look that said she knew we had.

“Are you fucking kidding us? Cristiano is the biggest asshole. We didn’t know how good we had it until you were gone.” Kenton went down on his knees with his hands up like he was praying. “Please don’t ever leave us again. You don’t have any other vacations planned, do you?”

Stepping forward, she ruffled his shaggy hair. I nearly growled at seeing her touch another guy even when I knew it was only friendly. “Not that I know of. It was for my best friend.” Her lips turned down as she thought of Stella. “She really needed the getaway, and who can say no to a private yacht.”

Cross stepped to her with wide eyes. I was shocked he was so in awe of her vacation. “You were on a private yacht? No wonder you didn’t check in on us.”

“Well, the reception wasn’t great where we were, and the Wi-Fi was spotty at best. I did check your social media once to see how you were all fairing.” Her eyes slid to me. “And Cristiano sent me a report every night you had a gig.”

“Was the yacht ballin’?” Cross pulled Pen across the room to the couch. “Do you have any pictures?”

“Of course, I have pictures. Do you really think I’d go on a private yacht and not take pictures?” She giggled. Fucking giggled. “But I’m not sure you want to see a bunch of women in their thirties in bikinis,” she laughed, shaking her head.

I sure as fuck wanted to see her in a bikini, but I didn’t want anyone else to see what she looked like, barely covered by some flimsy material.

Cross tipped his head toward her, looking Pen in the eyes. “If they look anything like you, I want to see. But…” he drew the word out like he didn’t care if he saw or not. I knew he did since he was paying so much attention to the subject. “If you want to skip the pictures you’re in, that’s cool.”

“Where’d you go?” Kenton asked, sitting beside her.

There was no way Penelope was going to get out of showing the pictures with both of them on her like flies on shit.

“Spain,” she sighed out. “It was beautiful, and I think my Stella got her groove back while we were there.”

Kenton lifted a brow. “And did our dear, sweet manager get her groove back as well?”

Pen looked up. Her gaze locked with mine. “No, but mine wasn’t lost to begin with. If you really want to see some pictures, I’ll show you, but if you want to greet any of the ladies from tonight, I can show you later.”

“Fuck them. We’ve missed you. Let’s get out of here and get some dinner. You can show us while we cram a bunch of carbs in our system.”

Pen stood, pulling out her phone and tapping on it for a second. She was probably letting the bus driver know we would be coming out soon and to be ready. “I like the sound of that.” She patted her stomach through her Crimson Heat band tee. “I think I gained at least ten pounds with all the amazing food the chef made for us, but I can never turn down carbs.”

“Oh, Penny,” Kenton wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “If you gained ten pounds, it went to all the right places. You look damn fine to me. In fact, I’d say you look radiant.”

“Oh, that’s just my Spain tan.” She swatted at him, and I nearly lost my mind. What in the living hell was going on? Kenton didn’t flirt with Pen. None of them did. Why were they all up in her business and touching her like they had a right to? The urge to kick their asses was bubbling to the surface.

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