Page 30 of The Devil's Tattoo
Chapter8
“What didhesay?”
Simone was standing beside me, an anxious look plastered on her face and her usually slick ponytail haphazardly bunched on top ofherhead.
A few days had passed since I had one, yelled at Will, and two, spoken with Chris. And what an eventful few days it had been. We’d played an extra show in Newcastle, did some interviews, and another messy but fun photo shoot on thebeach.
I was glad it was just The Devil’s Tattoo for the latter. I hadn’t spoken to Will since, you know, his crap attempt at apologizing, and he hadn’t tried,either.
We were packing up the bus for another day of driving. This time, we were going down to Sydney, and I wasn’t looking forward to itatall.
“He hasn’t spoken to you?” I asked, surprised. I’d told Chris it was a done deal. Him andSimone.
“No,” she replied, her shoulders sinking. “He’s been really awkwardaroundme.”
“I don’t know why.” At the photo shoot yesterday, he had been quieter thanusual.
“What did youtellhim?”
“Simone,” I scolded her. “He likes you. He told me. I told him you feltthesame.”
“Youdidn’t!”
“Of course,Idid.”
“Zoe—”
“Done deal, Simone. Someone has to be the first one to make a move. May as well be you. Obviously, Chris is still scaredstiff.”
“Why would he be scared?” she asked with afrown.
I looked at her over my sunnies. “Whywouldyou?”
She looked up then and caught sight of Chris lugging his bag across the car park. With a small squeak, she scurried off toward her rental and openedtheback.
As Chris passed me, I said, “Asked her yet?” Knowing full well hehadn’t.
He paled and keptwalking.
“Playing matchmaker?” I stiffened at the sound of Will’s voice inmyear.
“What’s it to you?” I asked flatly, not bothering to turnaround.
“I’msorry,okay?”
“Forwhat?”
Silence. I looked up at him, and he was smiling at me with a lopsided grin, the stubble on his chininfuriatinglysexy.
Anger and desire flared up inside of me, and I snapped, “Still an a-hole I see,” and stalked off intothebus.
Unfortunately, we were a seat down, and I’d waited too long to get on. Will was last, and he could’ve sat next to anyone, but as if he wanted to irritate the hell out of me, he slid into the seat next to mine. “I said I wassorry.”
“Yeah.” I glared at him over the top of my sunnies. “Igotit.”
“Can we startagain?”
“You’ve gotta be straight with me,” I replied. “I don’t do games. I don’t docryptic.”
