Page 42 of Loved Out Loud
There’s another knock at the door while I’m putting my shoes on. Sierra answers the door, and I hear Jade’s voice as she comes into the room. I look up at her and smile.
“You look gorgeous.” She gives me an up and down look of appraisal so similar to Sierra’s that I have to stifle a laugh. “I love that dress.”
“Thank you.”
She looks around, noticing Sierra’s bag. “Are they that cheap they’re making you share a room?” She pulls out her phone. “I can get you a separate one if you want.”
“No, it’s okay.” Sierra puts her hand over Jade’s and lowers it.
“We like our little slumber parties,” I add.
“If you’re sure.” Jade smiles. “Dan is going with you tonight. The band has a couple interviews scheduled, so I can’t come along, unfortunately. You are infinitely more fun to be around.”
“I don’t think I need security if it’s just me.”
Jade presses her lips together and shakes her head. “Now that people have seen you and Stone together, we don’t want to risk you going out without someone. There are so many things that could quickly go wrong.”
I share a look with Sierra who shrugs, leaving it up to me whether or not to fight them on this.
“Okay,” I say with a sigh. “I just don’t want to take security away from the band.”
She waves me off. “It’s fine. There’s plenty of security to go around.”
After she gives me Dan’s number to let him know when we’re headed out, she leaves. Sierra and I formulate a game plan for answers to questions that skirt the boundary of what I’m allowed to share. Not that I can plan for every possible question. Two signings in, and I already know how off the wall, in a good way, some questions can be. I freeze when I’m put on the spot, and unless I’ve been prepped, who knows what will come out of my mouth.
Fourteen
STONE
Hazel.
Hazel.
Hazel.
She’s all I can think about tonight. My body feels like an ant farm, as if there are bugs crawling around beneath my skin. I had to stop answering questions during the interviews we did earlier because my dark side was emerging. The part of me with zero tolerance for any kind of bullshit.
I’m sure it’s not healthy. Xander and Tobias had my back though, sliding in to answer questions I wasn’t in the place to answer. I’m sure there will be mention of my surly attitude in the press tomorrow. Can’t say that I particularly care, though, as long as the band doesn’t take a hit for it.
My eyes stray to the bone dry mini bar. I know what would soothe this restlessness in me. Thank fuck I don’t have access to it. Instead I pick up the phone and text Adam to see if he wantsto go on a run with me. It’s the only thing I can think of to ease myself out of this downward spiral.
He texts back immediately that he’s down, and we plan to meet at the elevator in ten minutes. I change into running shorts and a compression t-shirt before slipping my shoes on. The sound of women laughing comes from Tobias’s room as I pass by. He’s probably got two or three in there with him as we speak.
I don’t miss that, oddly enough. The never ending rotation of women into and out of my bed was never truly fulfilling. That was one of my breakthroughs in rehab. The women, the drugs, the booze, it all just filled a void inside me. Running fills that void in a similar way, but at least it’s a healthy habit.
Adam falls into step beside me as we begin our run. The summer air is thick with humidity as we run down streetlight lit streets. My shirt clings to my sweat-drenched skin, and I bow my head, hiding behind the bill of my baseball cap when we pass a line of people waiting to enter a nightclub. The last thing I want is to be recognized tonight.
I don’t know how long or far we run, but all the restless itchiness has left me as soon as I step foot back into the hotel lobby. The chill of the air conditioning is a welcome reprieve to my burning skin as we turn down the corridor to the elevator. But it’s nothing compared to the sight of Hazel in a light gray dress that looks like it was painted on her lush body.
Sierra glances over her shoulder as she hears us approaching. I’ll give her credit, she doesn’t react in the normal way when she notices me, instead she nudges Hazel and whispers something quietly in her ear before leaving Hazel and walking back toward the lobby. She gives me a wink as she passes us, and my lips lift in a small grin.
Was that a wink of approval? Does she want me to pursue Hazel?
Not that it matters one way or another, I’m going to pursue her regardless of anyone’s opinion.
I meet Adam’s gaze and look pointedly at her. He nods and breaks away from us, stopping in the alcove by the stairs to give us privacy.
“How was your signing?” I ask quietly as I step up behind her.
