Page 53 of Follow the Rhythm
He stared down at me with an unreadable expression. “I’ll wait.”
Anger buzzed through me. “Then you’ll be waiting forever, asshole.”
“We’ll see,” he said, with that glint of amusement back in his eyes. “I’d better get inside.”
He left. I was still reeling. I dug through my suitcase until I found my industrial-strength descenter and sprayed it all over me, hoping that would be enough to hide the evidence of what these Alphas were doing to me.
Chapter 17 - Kieran
Traveling on a tour bus with Jess was like being stuck in a lion’s cage. She was just as fierce as any captive predator, and more capable of holding a grudge, it seemed. It was doing my head in.
After our encounter on the bus, I’d performed with her scent on me. I spent the entire show in a state of half-arousal that nearly drove me mad.
She had refused to look at me since that day. I couldn’t stop myself from looking at her, though. Or being painfully aware that she was sleeping in the bunk four feet away. I’d lie awake at night, trying to hear her breathing.
Ellis was in her good graces, though. I wasn’t sure when that had happened, but it was strange and frustrating. He spent more time in the main area of the bus over the next ten days, joking with her and Grace, and seeming happier than I’d seen him in a long while.
Bea was gone, apparently trying to close some brand deal or other for Ellis, but I knew she’d be back eventually. She always was.
“You’re grumpier than usual,” Grace said, breaking me out of my reverie. I had been staring at Jess, who was reading on her phone with headphones in. “Not going well, huh?”
I raised my eyebrow at her.
Grace laughed. “Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh, but you guys are ridiculous. Just hook up already! She obviously wants to.”
I sighed. “Yes, I know. That’s the problem. I don’t want to just ‘hook up.’”
Grace’s eyes grew round. “Oh no. You caught feelings?! She’s like, the most commitment-phobic Omega I’ve ever met.”
“I’m aware,” I ground out.
We both looked over at Jess, who was absorbed in her phone, her head bobbing slightly to whatever music she was listening to.
“She would kill me for telling you, but she’s made it pretty clear she has no intention of bonding with anyone. You might want to get over this crush.” Grace patted me consolingly on the shoulder.
I furrowed my brow. Omegas didn’t always have packs, but an Omega that never bonded at all? It just didn’t happen as far as I knew.
“She’ll change her mind,” I said with a confidence I didn’t quite feel. She had to change her mind. Right?
“Yeah, since she’s so notorious for that,” Grace said with a shrug and a sympathetic smile.
Our first full day off was approaching. No traveling, no rehearsals, and a night off the fucking bus. I was looking forward to it like it was my salvation from a slow descent into Omega-induced madness.
As soon as we checked into the hotel, I went for a long run, even though Chicago in the summer was a humid mess. It was bliss to stretch my legs and clear my mind of the faint hints of Jess’s scent that no descenter could fully cover.
By the time I returned to the hotel, I was drenched in sweat.
I stopped at the gym to get a cup of water. Grace was there, almost as sweaty as I was.
“Yuck, you’re disgusting,” she said cheerfully. “Good run?”
“Yeah, brilliant. Good workout?”
Grace sighed. “Yeah, but I’m getting chubby with all this tour food. You got any plans for tonight?”
“Nah, I’m just going to relax.”
“You should come out with us! Austin is here, and we’re gonna go have some fun. We grew up close by, so we know the best spots.” She was bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement.
