Page 32 of The Rocker

“Yeah, and that had nothing to do with how beautiful you are or the fact that you believed in our music and wanted to get us a record deal,” I said in my most sarcastic voice as I walked behind her.

“Oh, fuck, you do look bad.” Kenton choked down a laugh as he stepped back to let me pass by. “I thought you’d faked being sick to get the bedroom, but now,” he held his hands up and got as far away as he could. “I think you should take it. I don’t want your nasty ass germs.”

“Thanks,” I grumbled as I trudged behind Pen. She opened the door to the bedroom and slipped inside.

“Don’t come out until you feel better,” Cross shouted.

I flipped him off even though I knew he couldn’t see it. I would have yelled, but it would have only hurt my throat.

“I’m going to go talk to the driver and ask him to pull into a pharmacy, so I can get you that apple juice.” Slumping down onto the bed, I glared up at her. You could get apple juice almost anywhere. We didn’t need to go to a pharmacy. “Don’t even start with me. It’s better to have something in case you need it. We could be hours away from a store if you come to your senses.”

“I’m not going to fight you. If it makesyoufeel better, then, by all means, buy out the pharmacy. Just because you buy it doesn’t mean I’ll take it, though.”

Pen made an annoyed little noise in the back of her throat, and I could imagine her wanting to stomp her foot. “I’ll be back once we hit the pharmacy.”

Lying back on the bed, I closed my eyes. While I hated being sick, I didn’t mind the extra attention from Pen since she’d been giving me the cold shoulder since she got back from her trip. Now I just had to figure out how to work it to my advantage.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

pen

I could hear Kenton,Cross, and Greer clear across the store. They were running around like they’d never been inside of one before. If this was what it was like to have kids, then no, thank you. I’d gladly pass.

My thoughts immediately went to Walker, and I wondered if he wanted to have children someday.

I shook my hands out. It didn’t matter because I wasn’t with Walker, and I never would be. It didn’t matter if he wanted kids or not. He wasn’t my future.

It didn’t really matter. I was getting too old to have children anyway. Thirty-seven was not the new twenty-five in relation to childbearing.

Stuffing my hand-held basket with everything known to man to help a cold and the flu, I made my way up to the front to check out. He may not want to take it, but if I got sick, I knew for damn sure I was going to take anything and everything to make me feel better. It wasn’t like I could take a day off. Especially not after taking a trip during the middle of their US tour. I’d have to suck it up and go on like I wasn’t sick.

The guys set down a wide range of items on the counter. They had jerky, beer, candy, chips, Lysol, and deodorant. I was thankful for the deodorant because things got stinky on the bus with four guys, and the driver and I were stuck in close proximity for long periods of time.

“Did you get everything you wanted?” They smiled like kids in a candy store and nodded their heads. Okay, Greer didn’t, but he didn’t look angry, so that was a plus. “Good because we’re not making a habit out of this.” I wasn’t sure why I’d offered to buy them whatever they wanted except that I wanted them to keep quiet so Walker could rest.

Three hundred dollars later, I walked out of Walgreens with enough apple juice to choke a man. Kenton, Cross, and even Greer carried the bags onto the bus for me.

“Any other stops you need to make?” Charles asked.

“We’re all set. I’m sorry to disrupt the schedule, but I think things will go much smoother now that we have supplies.”

“Keep that boy back there. I don’t want to get sick,” Charles grumbled. He was usually sweet, but I understood. He couldn’t drive for long hours if he was sick as a dog.

I put all the items away and the apple juice in the refrigerator before I headed to the back to check on Walker. Hopefully, he was sleeping and getting the rest he needed to get better. I wasn’t sure how happy Titan Records would be if their opening act couldn’t play. They’d have to find someone new for a show or two, and that would be a difficult task—one that would put me on Cristiano’s bad side.

When I stepped through the bedroom door, I found Walker lying in bed, his eyes trained on the door. He’d taken his shirt off, and one bare foot hung out of the side of the blanket.

“Hey, how are you feeling? I put your juice in the fridge, but it will take a bit before it’s cold. They didn’t have any in the refrigerated section.”

“Can you get me a bottle of water?” He sounded so tired, like he could fall asleep talking to me.

“Sure. Is there anything else I can get for you?” I asked as I started to walk out.

“Can you stay with me? I don’t think I can call out loud enough for you to hear me if you’re out there.”

I didn’t point out that he could call or text me. Maybe Walker was clingy when he was sick. I didn’t know, but he looked so pitiful I couldn’t deny him.

“We can watch anything you want.” He pointed to the TV that was embedded in the wall. “Your pick.”

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