Hard Freak

I bet it had an awesome breakfast buffet, too.

I went up to my room, and wow, it was perfect, even if I didn’t have an Eiffel Tower view. It had a sweet little balcony overlooking the street, with a nice cushy chair next to it. I opened the doors and stepped outside, hoping to see someone in a striped top carrying a baguette under their arm. Maybe with a beret on their head.

The bed looked like it’d be a dream to sleep in, too.

I’d just finished looking around when Polly called me. “Do you want to be here for this?” she asked.

“The talk with Crow? Hell yeah. Are we meeting in your room because you have the view?”

“Of course. Damo will be here too.”

God, this was like introducing the new man to my parents. The whole thing was totally cringeworthy. Polly could’ve just said it was all fine with her, but I she took secret delight in doing this to me.

I touched up my makeup before heading to Polly’s room. I wanted to look pretty for Crow. I ran my fingers through my hair, giving it a bit more body, too. Then I headed down the hallway to Polly’s room.

Crow was just getting out of the elevator. I walked toward him, but something stopped me. I’d never been shy before in my life, ever. It was an unknown emotion for me, but when I saw him suddenly like that, a tremor ran through my body. He was a fine-looking man, and he was mine. But was he mine enough to make a hug in the hotel hallway appropriate?

Instead, I grinned, then averted my eyes.

Yikes. My face heated. I had to be going bright red. What was happening to me? This wasn’t me.

In the short distance to Polly’s room, we never exchanged a word. But as we waited for Polly to open the door, he reached out and wrapped his hand around mine. The warmth from his hand spread through my body. With my hand in his, nothing could go wrong. I smiled up at him.

I walked in and went straight to the window, dragging Crow with me.

“Amazing. It’s like something from a movie. I’m so taking photos in your room for my Instagram,” I said. “The public need to see me here. It’s so Paris.”

Damo laughed. “Sure. Do you want us to get one of the lighting guys in for your photo shoot?”

“Damo! Don’t encourage her. It’s our room,” Polly said. “She’ll do it.”

“Hey,” I said. “It’s not about me. It’s about my Instagram followers.”

Crow and I sat down on the sofa. I crossed my legs.

“So, we’re gathered here today,” I said. “Gathered to do what? Give a stamp of approval to Crow dating Fay? So, get out the stamp and stamp me up.”

Polly sat in the chair beside me. “Not so fast. We need to have some rules around this relationship.”

I studied my nails. If she said no sex, I’d die. I didn’t want my sex life up for discussion. Surely, she wouldn’t say that.

“Okay, hit me,” I said.

“Firstly, nothing is going to interfere with the tour,” she said. “Music first and the love stuff second.”

Crow nodded.

That seemed reasonable, on the surface. But it could be a trap.

“Wait. I need more details. I’m not agreeing unless I know what I’m in for. This rehearsing 18 hours a day is not on. I need a life too.”

Polly looked at Damo, and he nodded. They’d discussed this beforehand. That made my neck prickle, the thought of Damo and Polly sitting around discussing me like that.

“You get to have a life. Just not too much of a life,” she said. “We’re on tour. This is work.”

“We have a rest day today,” he said. “Make the most of it.”

“You get a few hours before sound check every day, too,” Polly added. “Maybe more if you get up early.”

“And after shows,” I said.

“Not too late,” Polly said. She leaned forward, staring at my face. “You don’t want to get bags under your eyes.”

“Screw you, Polly. I can use concealer.”

Crow sat back with his arms folded and his mouth twitching. Did this amuse him? This wasn’t funny. The more Polly talked, the more I wanted to die.

Chapter 18

“WHAT’S UP?” I ASKED Crow.

He was the one who had wanted to talk to Polly, but I’d ended up doing all the talking. What was up with that?