Strike (Sphere of Irony 2)

“Now, look at me and listen up.” Her harsh tone gets my attention right quick. “You are not,” she puts up her fingers and makes quotes, “‘some plain girl from the East End’. You’re beautiful, smart, and one of the most talented soccer players I’ve ever seen. You have to stop putting yourself down all the time, Kate. If Dax didn’t want you, he wouldn’t be with you. It’s as simple as that.” She finishes drinking her lemonade and fishes out an ice cube to munch on. “And what makes him so much better than you anyway?”

I shrug, not knowing what she’s looking for me to say.

“Hmph. He’s not better than you, that’s why.” She swallows down the remainder of the ice. “Money, fame, good looks… those things don’t make anyone better than you. Some of the most attractive people I’ve ever met are actually quite hideous on the inside.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t use your psychology crap on me, Abby.”

“It’s not crap. It’s true. God, you need a shrink to help with that low self-esteem of yours. You have to trust that Dax loves you. If he doesn’t, then you’ll find out.” Abby pushes her plate away and signals for our server.

“He’s never even told me he loves me, Abby. It’s just that…” I sigh. “I’ve loved him for so long. He was always unattainable to me. I guess I’m afraid it won’t last.”

“He’s not a guy who lays his feeling out there, Kate. You’re looking for reasons to end things so you don’t have to be hurt if he’s the one to end it.”

“I hate that you’re so smart.” I throw some money down on top of Abby’s when the check comes.

“It’s the psychology major in me,” she giggles. “So, will you answer when he calls?”

Abby bumps my hip with hers as we exit onto the crowded sidewalk. “Yeah, I will.”

“Awesome. Now, let’s go work on our tans. The beach is calling.” She flips down her sunglasses and I do the same. Arms linked, we begin the three-block walk to the nearest beach.

As much as I want to believe Abby, the insecure girl inside is begging me to end things with Dax so he can’t hurt me. I have to swallow down the bile that threatens to rise at the thought of never seeing him again. From that reaction, I’d say there’s a big part of me doesn’t want to let him go.

Dax

“Daxey! I need you!”

Fuck!

I cringe at the sound of that squeaky, high-pitched voice. It’s like nails on a chalkboard. Avoiding her is exhausting and it’s only been two weeks.

“Daxey! I need you!” Adam mocks in a singsong voice, strumming his guitar along with. Hawke and Gavin crack up—at my expense, naturally.

“Sod off, Reynolds.” I give him a quick punch in the arm, earning a loud “ouch” for my effort.

I’ve only just gotten Kate to start speaking to me again after we found out Lila is going to be on the tour. I don’t want to have to deal with any more of Lila’s bullshit that could cock up my relationship again. One week of the cold shoulder from Kate was plenty.

With quick knock on the door of our dressing room, Lila enters without waiting for an invite.

“Fuck, Lila. What if one of us was

changing in here?” I snarl.

She rolls her eyes, teetering on her ridiculous heels as she crosses the room towards me. “You don’t have anything I haven’t seen before, Daxey. Not that I wouldn’t mind seeing what you’re packing.” Lila licks her lips and stares at my crotch. My damn traitorous dick twitches from the scrutiny of a hot woman. It doesn’t seem to care that I despise her.

Son of a bitch!

“Whatever.” I turn my back to her and pick up my guitar plucking on it randomly, determined to do what Ross suggested and ignore her.

“Can we help you, Lila?” Hawke asks, thankfully coming to my rescue.

Lila starts to sneer at him, but fixes a plastic smile on her face. There’s something more going on between Hawke and Lila, some history I don’t know. Not that I’d ask, but they truly despise each other, and it seems to go further back than just this tour.

“Rachel wanted you to know that there’s a mandatory appearance tonight after the show at a club ten minutes from here.”

“Kind of late notice, don’t you think?” Adam growls from where he’s slumped on one of the plush recliners backstage at the United Center in Chicago.

Rachel is in charge of promotions for the band, appearances, media events, interviews… all the crap that comes with celebrity. I continue ignoring Lila as she argues with Adam, thankful for the stupid bastard. I’m lucky to have him running interference for me.