Roux hugged Iona’s head awkwardly, her seat belt cutting into her hips. “I should have just come clean from the start.” She felt loads better. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Iona said. “I’d love you more if you weren’t trying to break my neck at the moment.”
“Sorry.” Roux released Iona’s head and hugged her arm instead. Roux was truly blessed to have her sisters. They might not be blood, but they would do anything for her, just as she would do anything for them.
“I wonder if he’ll be waiting for your arrival,” Iona said, smiling to herself.
“I think his flight lands later. They had to fly all the way from LA and stop to refuel in New York.” That was where Steve had suggested she meet him to join his flight, and lord, had she been tempted. But she was glad she got this time with Iona. It would feel good to love him freely around her sisters, even if she couldn’t love him openly in front of the world just yet. She’d love to show everyone on the planet how wonderful the two of them were together. Not to brag, exactly, but to show that love was real and that it could last no matter what the circumstances. She’d always dreamed of having the kind of romance she could share with anyone, a romance that people would sigh over the same way she sighed over couples who were obviously in love and not afraid to show it.
“Well then, maybe you should be waiting for his arrival.”
Roux smiled, realizing that her sisters really could help her with her romance. They were thinking far more clearly than she was. She likely would have just gone straight to the hotel and paced the floor until he came to retrieve her.
Roux tried out her British accent. “Smashing idea!”
Iona raised an eyebrow. “Smashing?”
“When in Britain . . . ?”
“Don’t be a git, Katie.” Iona’s British accent was only slightly better than Roux’s, which was surprising since she heard Kyle’s accent all the time.
It felt weird to hear Iona call her Katie, but she supposed they’d all better get used to it. Iona leaned forward and stuck her face between the seats in front of her.
“Be sure to call Roux Katie when she’s not in her stage makeup and costume,” she whispered to Azura and Sage.
Two pairs of eyes peeked back at them from between the seats. Azura’s and Sage’s heads conked together as the plane touched down at that exact moment. “Ouch!” they cried in unison and rubbed each other’s foreheads.
“Why?” Azura asked.
“I’ll explain later, but don’t forget. Pass it on.”
Sage leaned forward to spread the word to Lily and Jack, who were sitting in front of them. Iona hadn’t protested when Jack insisted he accompany them for the duration of the tour. Maybe that was why she was willing to help Roux see Steve. Maybe Iona was getting soft. Or maybe it was because she was in love herself and knew love wasn’t easy to find. Or maybe it was because she didn’t want any criticism when she asked Kyle to join them and he actually showed up.
They had only a short layover in Glasgow, so they didn’t have time to venture out and explore, but their third tour stop was in Scotland, so they’d be able to see the sights then. Having sprung for international cell service before leaving the states, Roux texted Steve as soon as they landed. She assumed he was still in flight when he didn’t respond to her text blitz: Can’t wait to see you. Are you in Donington Park yet? Where can we meet? I miss you. It’s foggy here. Their second flight was much shorter and more cramped since there was no business class, but she sat next to Raven, who couldn’t wait to deliver her I told you so.
“I told you Iona would be happy for you. She’s not as scary as you seem to think she is.”
Roux scowled. “I’m not scared of her.” Much. “I just didn’t want to disappoint her.”
“You’re too much of a people pleaser. I say fuck them. Fuck them all.”
“You have been working at that.”
Raven shoved Roux’s arm. “I have not!” But she had broken up with her boyfriend just in case she wanted to continue the job while in Europe.
Roux had always envied Raven’s ability to have casual sex without regret. It seemed like fun. But now that Roux had Steve, she was too hooked on their emotional connection to want anything less.
“I guess this means I’ll be occupying our shared room alone.” Raven grinned, looking pleased with herself.
Roux’s heart rate doubled. Would she be able to spend nights with Steve? She hadn’t really considered that option. She’d figured they’d be stealing limited moments together, enjoying some sex-free sightseeing, and watching each other perform on stage. And all of those things would have been enough, but to be able to spend every night with him? That would be sheer bliss.
“I sure hope so,” Roux said, wiping her suddenly damp palms on her thighs.
When they landed, Roux checked her messages and found Steve had responded soon after they’d taken off in Glasgow. I have a little business to take care of first, but meet me in my room. I told the clerk at the hotel desk to give Katie Williams my spare key.
Raven squealed when she read the text. She hugged Roux’s arm as she said, “He is going to tear you apart when he sees you.”
“And that’s a good thing?” She knew it was and squirmed in anticipation.
As the band and their accompanying guests climbed into the shuttle van that would take them to the hotel, an overabundance of excitement spread among them. They’d arrived—figuratively and literally—and would be performing onstage at one of the biggest hard rock festivals in the world. They weren’t yet renowned enough to play on the main stage like Exodus End and Sinners, but that didn’t dampen their spirits or their enthusiasm.
“I remember my first Download Festival,” Jack said with a nostalgic smile. He clenched his hands in his lap when he added, “And our last.”
Lily squeezed his knee. “You know everyone is waiting for your comeback. Say the word, and that stage is yours.”
“I’m happy teaching,” he said, kissing her lips gently. “And being yours.”
“And I, yours.”
It would be spectacular if The Fallen returned to the music business, but Lily never pushed her husband. Roux smiled to herself, silently vowing to be as supportive of Steve as Lily was of Jack. Especially amid all the professional turmoil that might be in his near future. Would Exodus End seek a new manager or go it alone? Surely Steve could tell her that much without breaking any contracts. She’d have to ask him if she could think straight while in his company, unlikely as that seemed.
The hotel had been recently constructed, its lobby modern and spacious. Iona marched up to the front desk and checked in for all seven of them, getting their room keys and distributing them to each set of roommates. Roux hung back out of sight of the desk, sending Raven to collect her key from Iona because she wanted to limit her time in public with the rest of the band. Out of costume, she couldn’t be recognized as one of them. It had been her plan for weeks, but now, separating herself from the group tore at her insides. She was proud to be a part of Baroquen, and pretending she wasn’t did not sit well with her. Azura offered her a wink, Iona a knowing smile, Raven slipped her room card into her pocket as she passed, and Sage waved imperceptibly, but none of them made it obvious that they knew her. Roux hadn’t felt so alone since she’d been orphaned and not yet assimilated into Mama Ramona’s patchwork family. But if she wanted to spend time with Steve incognito, this was how it would have to be.
She waited a few minutes, pretending to check out the artwork in the lobby, and then went to the desk.
“May I help you?”
The pretty clerk’s British accent sent a thrill of excitement through Roux. She was in England!
Her excitement fluttered with additional nervous energy when she said, “My . . . uh, boyfriend . . .” She took a breath and squared her shoulders. “My boyfriend said to pick up a key to his room at the front desk.”
The clerk didn’t so much as bat an eyelash. Didn’t she
realize that this was new ground for Roux? She’d never done anything like this before.