Chapter 11

EPOV

I pushed my hair out of my face before pulling my handkerchief from my back pocket and wiping the sweat from my brow as we left the stage. No one warns you when you sign up for this type of gig just how fucking hot the lights are out there. Add in being constantly in motion and I was drenched every single night when I stepped off stage.

"I'm just gonna change my shirt real quick, then I'll meet you out front in a minute, okay?" I called to the guys who waved me off as they made their way out to hopefully greet a whole slew of new fans.

As I walked into the dressing room, I pulled my phone from my pocket and called Bella. I tried as hard as I could to check in every night, but occasionally time slipped through my fingers out on the road. It was easy to get caught up in the rush of everything going on around me, and before I realized, it would be too late to call.

It rang a few times before she picked up. "Hello?" Her voice was rough with sleep, even though it was only 9 at night in Seattle.

"Did I wake you, darlin'?"

"Oh, crap, yeah. I was just so tired after work, I must have fallen asleep as soon as I got home."

That bit of information had me feeling concerned. "Are you feeling alright, baby? Should I send my mom over?"

"What? No. I was just tired. You know how hard it can be to wrangle a classroom full of five-year-olds at the end of the school year. How are you? How was your show?"

I noticed how she changed the subject, but didn't give it too much thought. "Really great. God, it's such a constant rush, baby."

"So, it's still everything you ever dreamed of?"

I propped my feet up on the coffee table, leaning my head back on the couch. "It's fuckin' hard work, but sharing my music with thousands of people, it's... more than I dreamed of. There's only one thing that's missing."

"What's that, daddy?" Her voice became breathy, as though she knew exactly where I was headed.

"You, darlin'. Fuck, I miss seeing your face after a show."

"Mm, just my face?" She giggled.

"And your tits, your ass, your pussy…" I groaned, feeling myself harden at the thought of her tight little body pressed up against mine.

"I miss you, too, daddy," she moaned.

"God, the things I'd do to you if you were here."

"Tell me."

I palmed my length through my jeans, taking a deep breath. "I'd lay you on my bed, my face between your thighs, wrapping my lips around your—" There was a loud knock on the door. "Shit, hold that thought, baby," I told her, chuckling as I heard her quiet, frustrated whine.

"What?" I barked to whoever was on the other side of the door. It clicked open, and Jane poked her head in.

"Eddie, um, the guys are waiting on you. There are a few people who want to meet you."

"Yeah, okay." I sighed before putting the phone back to my ear. "Bella—"

"Yeah, I heard. You need to go, Eddie." I clearly heard the tension in her voice, but it was ridiculous to me how jealous she was of Jane. She had to know by now that I saw no one else but her. No one else caught my attention the way she did, no one else turned me on.

"Bella."

"Look, I'll talk to you later, Edward. I love you," she said in a rush, not even letting me reply that I loved her too before she hung up.

—BtMO—

A few days later, Jane sat down next to me as I strummed my guitar, waiting to go on stage.

"Hey," she said. "So, I was just looking over the schedule, and I know Bella is arriving tomorrow."

With those words, I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. Things had been a little strained between us, but I figured all we needed was some quality time together. It had been an exciting, yet long, month apart, and the further we got into the tour, the more demanding things were going to get.

People were taking notice of us; we were making a name for ourselves as the opening band for Blue Soul. We'd even done a few radio shows in a couple of cities, along with having an article or two written about the new up-and-coming band Midnight Oil. More people were approaching us at concerts, already coming in as fans of our music, having listened to our album before seeing us. It was exciting, yet overwhelming. I'd hoped for us to take off, but it was happening faster than I thought it would.

"Her flight got changed." Jane ripped me from my thoughts.

"Wait, what? Sorry, I got distracted."

She sighed playfully as she rolled her eyes, placing a hand on my bicep. "Okay, let's try this again. Bella is arriving tomorrow, but her flight got changed. Instead of arriving at 12, her plane will get in at 3."

"Oh. Any reason why?"

She shrugged. "Not that I know of. I just took a peek at her itinerary online to double-check and saw the change."

There was a bang on the door.

"Let's go, guys!" our tour manager, Sam, shouted from the other side.

Once again, I felt my body humming with the excitement of taking the stage. It was a feeling I hoped I never lost. And tomorrow, I'd once again be able to share it with Bella.

I jumped up. "Let's do this shit, boys!"

—BtMO—

I groaned as I rolled over, looking at the clock on my phone. It was already half-past one in the afternoon. Our show was killer the night before, and since we were in New York for a few days, we'd decided to go out and celebrate. The night had been a blur of good music and bottles of Jack.

But I was regretting it now. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" I shouted as I unlocked my phone, seeing at least fifteen missed calls from Bella. I didn't even bother to listen to the voicemails as I jumped up, pulling on jeans and a t-shirt. I slipped my feet into my sneakers while dialing her number.

"Edward, where are you? I've called you twenty times!"

"I know, I saw. What do you mean, where am I? Your flight doesn't get in until 3."

"Edward, my flight got in at 12. I've been sitting here for over an hour waiting for you!"

"Shit! But Jane said your flight got changed. It got in at—"

"Of course she did." She pushed out a hard breath. "Look, should I just get a cab?"

"No! I'll be there as soon as I can." I hung up with her before dialing the car service as I rushed out the door of my hotel room. This wasn't at all how I envisioned our reunion.


Well...someone fucked up.