Page 31 of The Devil's Tattoo
“Okay.”
I didn’t want to talk about it anymore, so I put my earphones in and turned on some Queens of the Stone Age to drown him out. To my annoyance, he pulled an earbud out, and I snatched it back from him. My breath caught as my hand ran over his, and his gaze snapped up to mine. I never once believed that zap of electricity shit, but right then, that’s exactly what I felt, and by the look on Will’s face, he just might have,aswell.
“Zoe…”
I scowled at him and put the earbud back in with a small shake of my head. I’d just gotten my life back on track. I didn’t need this emotional roller coaster. I was stuck sitting next to him for the next God knows how long. I just had to focus and getthroughit.
I hated that I was so attracted to him. I hated how I fantasized about his hands, his fingers, and his lips. I hated that he crept into my thoughts with ease. The thought of him near me overwhelmed everything else to the point his body against mine was the only thing I could think about. I was thinking this, and he was sitting right next to me. Five centimeters separated us. I was so hyperaware that I squirmed at the tingling between my legs and sank down into my seat. Pulling my hoodie over my head, I hoped he couldn’t tell how amped upIwas.
Thankfully, he decided not to push it any further, but he didn’t move from the seat next to me, either. I’d been bitchy enough, and asking him to move would be the bitchiest thing I could do. We all had to get along for the next five-ish weeks, so I stared out the window and did my best toignorehim.
With the combination of late nights and a smooth ride, it wasn’t long before I fell asleep despite all my best efforts to keep my eyes open. It was only two hours, but two hours extra sleep was better than noneatall.
“Zoe.”
Opening my eyes, I wasn’t sure where I was for a moment. My leg was pressed up against someone else’s, and for a moment, I thought it was Dee, but when he said my name again, I realized I was still sitting next to Will, and it was his leg I was pressed up against. It was so unexpected that I jerked away like a scared animal. Like a lamb who’d been cornered byafox.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, thoroughlyembarrassed.
He frowned at me. “I didn’t mean to scare you.We’rehere.”
I glanced out the window and saw we were in the lot behind the hotel we were booked in for the next couple of nights. The boys were already outsidestretching.
Will slid out of the seat and held out his hand. I eyed him suspiciously and stood onmyown.
“I don’t bite, you know,” he said. “Not unlessyouask.”
When he didn’t move out of the way, Iscowled. “What?”
“I don’t getyou,Zoe.”
“What’s there to get?” I asked, silently praying that he’d move, and I wouldn’t have to push him. If I had to, I’d touch him, and where would that take me? Straight into thedangerzone.
“You just seemuncomfortable.”
Ishrugged.
“Why?”
I looked at him for a moment, blinking, put on the spot. “I guess… I don’t know what to talkabout.”
He smiled at me. “There are plenty of things to talkabout.”
“Well, I have no idea what to say. The idea bank isempty.”
He stood there for a moment too long, the awkward silence stretching into infinity. “Are you going to let me make it uptoyou?”
“Are you going to let me off?” Iretorted.
He laughed wryly and ran a hand through his hair, pushing it away from his eyes. Standing aside, he held out a hand, gesturing down the aisle. “Afteryou.”
Not wasting a second more, I hightailed it off the bus and into the safety of the hotelfoyer.
* * *
I’d really cometo enjoy sound check. It was my quiet time. I know it sounded silly considering the noise level, but it allowed me to sit back and observe. I didn’t have to perform, I didn’t have to talk to anyone, and I didn’t have to put on a face. I could just watch. Sometimes, all of that wore me down. Typically, I was a shy person, and talking took it out of me emotionally, so I relished those small moments where I couldjustbe.
I was watching the support band set up their gear from a step out in the venue. The house lights were up, which gave the place a wholedifferentfeel.
