Page 36 of Loved Out Loud
“You missed Pilates,” Stone’s voice comes from over my shoulder as I scroll through my text exchange with Greg earlier.
I turn, surprised at how close he is to me. “I slept late.”
He looks down at me, eyes not dimmed a bit by the baseball cap pulled low over his face. “Guess you’ll have to make it up to me.”
“How so?” I slip my phone into my pocket.
“Watch the concert from backstage.”
“No.”
“Why?” He glowers at me.
“I have my reasons.” Mainly that I would rather die than have them all see me cry for the first twenty minutes of their concert.
“Give me one.”
“I don’t want to be a distraction.”
“What if you’re more of a muse than a distraction?”
I laugh. “A muse for who?”
“Me.”
“You’re such a shameless flirt.”
That comment brings a wicked smile to his face. “It’s one of my better qualities.”
The rest of the band, followed by Darren and Jade, come through the revolving door just as the SUVs pull up to get us. Stone grabs my hand, linking our fingers, and pulls me toward the third vehicle. Adam takes the front seat, and Dan takes the third row with the two of us in the middle two bucket seats.
“Do you know why she won’t watch the concert from the stage?” Stone asks Dan.
He looks back and forth between Stone and me. “I’m pretty sure I do.”
“Why?” Stone asks.
“I think it’s best if she tells you.” He pulls his earpiece out of his pocket and busies himself getting set up.
“You don’t like our music?” Stone guesses.
“What? Of course I do.”
“Then why?”
“You’re not going to let it go are you?”
“Nope.”
“I’m worried it’ll be too loud and overwhelming for me up there.”
He narrows his eyes. “I can get you ear plugs.”
“I don’t want to be in the way.”
“You won’t be.”
The door beside Stone flies open, and Tobias climbs in, effectively ending the conversation. Thank fuck because I’m running out of excuses. It takes him a minute to get settled into the third row because of his long limbs.
