The Ruby Riot Series: Box Set Part 21

Liam arrives and Bryn looks behind him. "No Cerys?" he asks.

"Ella's sick so Cerys is staying with her at the hotel. I don't mind doing the dad stuff, but when she starts spewing on me...." He pulls a face. "Just can't."

"Don't you b.l.o.o.d.y catch something!" retorts Dylan. "Last thing we need is one of us sick before we make it to Berlin."

"What do you think I'm doing here?" he replies. "I don't intend to get sick!"

"The joys of parenthood," sn.i.g.g.e.rs Bryn and smiles sweetly at Jem who flashes him a look.

"Are we celebrating?" I ask as a waitress, dressed in clothes straight from a 1950s American diner, sets an ice bucket into a stand nearby. She proceeds to pour gla.s.ses into tall flutes.

"Not especially," replies Dylan.

"Serious?" asks Bryn with a grin. "What about Jem and Ruby's happy event?"

"Yeah, right, because we'd both be drinking," Ruby snaps at him.

"Whoa, Ruby," he replies. "Does being pregnant suck all your sense of humour away?"

Ruby scowls. "Stressful day, thanks to somebody's big mouth."

Jem stiffens. "Well, everybody knows now. We've talked things through with the rest of the band and things are sorted, aren't they?" Jem squeezes her hand. "We can move on with the tour and stop stressing about secrets."

Ruby doesn't look at him; it's clear in her drawn face, she'd like to retort to Jem's comment.

I'm more surprised that Jax is okay with the news now. Maybe my pep talk worked, or he decided to be mature about the issue now he's sober. "The rest of the band not coming tonight, Ruby?" I ask.

"Dunno. Probably." Ruby stands and without another word heads to the other side of the room. Jem straightens and watches her until she heads in the direction of the Ladies Room and he relaxes down in his seat again.

I tip my head at Sky. "Are the band always sweetness and light like this?"

"Ha. Yes," she says with a smile and slides a gla.s.s of champagne toward herself. "Have a drink and ignore them."

As she drinks, Dylan watches and wraps an arm around her shoulder. She's pale too and I'm suddenly aware that, beneath their display of affection, there's a tension between them. I'm not sure what Dylan murmurs to Sky, but their att.i.tude to each other shifts as she relaxes again.

I pick at the edge of the menu, unaware I'd feel this uncomfortable amongst the band.

"How's the job going?" asks Bryn and pours me a gla.s.s of champagne.

I look up. I should've expected Bryn to notice my discomfort. "Fine. Would prefer to do something a bit more interesting."

"What's she doing?" asks Liam.

"Selling merch."

"I'd prefer to help Riley out but no can do. But, keeps me out of trouble," I say with a grin.

"Mostly," mutters Bryn.

"How are you after the other night?" asks Sky. "Dylan told me about what happened."

c.r.a.p. I focus on my fingernails. "Yeah. Good. Thanks."

Silence descends and I wish Sky hadn't brought up a delicate topic of conversation. As far as I'm concerned, the incident is filed away under 'not to be talked about'.

My phone message alert sounds saving me from engaging further, and I immediately check the screen.

Jax.

I stare at the words. Was I too hasty in my decision to put the brakes on my relationship with Jax? This isn't the behaviour of somebody who has taken no for an answer. Since the discussion in my room, I've regretted pushing Jax away so readily and he's consumed my thoughts as I wandered Paris today. Did I do the right thing there? I'm secretly flattered, and torn between wanting to see him and not.

22.

TEGAN.

The volume in the room grows as more of the tour staff arrives. Most keep away from our table, which surprises me. I recognise a few of them - Mac, the security guy I chatted to the first night and Tina from PR of course although Riley isn't with her. I've meant to catch up with Riley since the party in Lisbon but haven't seen her around the hotel or restaurant.

"Tegan." I look at Ruby who inclines her head toward the other side of the restaurant. Her disagreement with Jem over, they're back to quiet conversations excluding those around them.

Across the room, Jax stands scanning the tables and my mouth dries. When I'm with Jax, my attraction to him is intense; his allure, a mix of the body covered in his rock star uniform and not a towel this time, the sculpted perfection of his face, and something between us I can't pinpoint.

Watching him now, the something is clearer. He's not trying to be Jax Lewis, he just is. There's a presence around him he's unaware of, the aphrodisiac of fame and good looks. Jax's arrival draws eyes to him, but his are looking for one thing. Me. I glance at Bryn whose att.i.tude has thankfully shifted in a happier direction after a few drinks, as he shares banter and laughter with Liam.

Jax spots me and his gaze remains on mine as he approaches.

He wouldn't.

"Hey," Jax says with a grin and drags a chair across to the table to sit next to me.

"It's late. I didn't think you were coming," Ruby says, and sips her water.

Jax ignores her, and places his lips on mine. The length of time his mouth lingers screams that we're more than friends.

Next, Jax places his arm across my shoulders and pulls me close.

Holy c.r.a.p.

I look across the table at Bryn. I'm not the only one waiting for his reaction because the amus.e.m.e.nt on Dylan's face is barely controlled.

Bryn watches impa.s.sively but a muscle twitches in his cheek. "h.e.l.lo, Jax."

"Quite an entrance you made their, mate," says Dylan. "Anything you want to tell us?" He arches a brow at me.

Jax shrugs and his nonchalance stuns me. This is the guy who claimed to be terrified of my brother's reaction, and here he is outing us to the whole band.

To the whole venue.

"I wanted to see Tegan and let you guys know what's going on."

"What's going on?" asks Bryn in a cool voice.

Jax looks to me; and when he does, the expression on his face makes the decision for me. He doesn't look concerned, but determined. How much more sincere can he be about wanting us to give this a go? This man screws with my logic.

"Tegan?" Jax asks softly.

I keep my eyes on his, as if this will help the next words. "Me and Jax. We're..." I grapple for the words. "Kind of together."

"Kind of together?" repeats Bryn.

"Dating," says Jax with a smile at me. "If that's what you want to call being with a chick when we haven't -" I dig my elbow hard into his ribs and he winces.

I swear Dylan mumbles 'yet' and grins into his bourbon. Either Jax is being smart about this and letting Bryn know safely, in public, or he's literally telling the world because somebody in this room will share this moment outside of these four walls.

"Right." Bryn drains his gla.s.s and pushes back his chair. "Getting a drink."

Jax watches him go and laces his fingers through mine. "Your hands are damp," I whisper.

"I just outed us to your brother and anybody else whose line of sight we're in," he whispers back.

The rest of the table watches proceedings with interest, and I'm aware the voices around the room have quieted too; the sounds of 60s rock and roll taking over.

"Dude..." Liam shakes his head and follows Bryn.

Jem lounges back in his seat, arm across Ruby's shoulder. "Did you know about this?" he asks Ruby.

"Yeah, none of my business though. Or anybody's."

"Makes no difference to me. Just curious," replies Jem.

I bet this does make a difference to him. Jem's as aware as I am of the undercurrents in Ruby and Jax's relationship.

"Bryn's just gonna have to suck it up," remarks Jax, stunning me. Talk about change in att.i.tude.

"Jesus, this is funny," says Dylan. "I wouldn't underestimate him though." He throws a beer mat across the table at Jem. "Hey, Jem, remember what happened that time you p.i.s.sed Bryn off?"

"Which time?"

"Well, several but the big one. When we..." He glances at Sky. "That evening in Sydney. First overseas tour. Remember?" Jem frowns, but Dylan continues, "Man, never seen him so p.i.s.sed off. How long did it take your arm to heal?"

Jem gives Dylan a sly smile. "Ah, that time."

Jax pales. "What?"

"Really?" I know my brother has a temper; but he's also aware of his strength, and it would take a lot for him to lose control and hurt somebody.

"Mmm. Still have the scars." Jem shakes his head. "Don't envy you, Jax."

"Bryn. He's all calm and collected on the surface, but after a few more of those -" Dylan points at Bryn's empty gla.s.s.

"f.u.c.k, but I thought -" begins Jax.

Sky smacks Dylan on the arm. "Behave! I know this isn't true!"

"Yeah? How?" he asks, mouth curling into a smile.

"Because I know you, and you're lying!" She looks at Jax. "Ignore the pair of them. I think it's sweet."

Jax visibly winces at the word. "Sweet?" His fingers trail along my leg. "I don't do sweet."

"Oh! Listen to you, Mr. Bada.s.s," snorts Ruby. "You'd better be sweet to Tegan or -"

"Or what? I don't think you're in the position to get high and mighty about relationships affecting the band."

"Whoa, okay, mate. We went through this earlier!" says Jem. "No more trash talk about Ruby f.u.c.king up the band. End of."

Awkward. Now I really want to know what happened in that meeting.

A waitress appears with our meals, setting down a huge plate of chips and burger in front of me. Jax and Ruby avoid looking at each other, and Jem glowers at Jax.

My head spins. On tour, I expected the famous Blue Phoenix debauchery, totally forgetting their situation these days. In front of me are a pregnant couple and the lead singer famous for being a heart breaker, now so loved-up he's part of a poster couple for squishy romance. Next to me? The so-called bad boy Jax Lewis who announced we're dating.

Rock stars don't date.

Do I date rock stars?

Bryn's absence is noted by his plateful on the table in front of his empty seat. I look around and spot Bryn resting against the polished wooden bar, with Liam.

Jax steals one of my chips and I slap his hand. "I'm starving! Order your own!"

Jax grins, grabs another chip, and calls over the waitress.

JAX.

The amount of s.h.i.t that's happened the last few days and I'm over the drama. Tegan's there when I need to take a step away from the band; she's downtime from the mounting fame and craziness. Tegan can keep me grounded - she already is - and I don't want to lose that. So, I called her bluff. If this is about her brother, I fixed that problem. If her doubt is about me, Tegan can kick me to one side now before I become attached.

Emotionally attached? b.l.o.o.d.y weird. The last chick I craved hardly noticed I existed, but this one definitely does. Kissing Tegan blows my mind; the softness of her skin beneath my fingers begs me to touch her, taste her... Fine, I could be confused here. My l.u.s.t could be causing the ridiculous tingling in my chest every time Tegan graces me with a smile or kisses me. Whatever this is, Tegan has perfected a trick where she flicks from soothing me, to driving me crazy in a spilt second.

I want her. Simple as that. Apart from it isn't, and now the ball's in her court.