Page 26 of Heartbeat Girl

“Stop listening to her so much.” Steve exhaled. “Give the woman some privacy.”

“She’s all I can hear,” I said.

“About lunch. I have a feeling you better go grab yours soon. Jayne is going to drag us to the Machine of Death right after we perform. No sneaking away afterward for dinner.”

Chapter Ten

JAYNE

Day Five with the band. I rubbed my eyes and yawned as I dragged myself off the bus. Friday. Last gig of that insane week. My heart fluttered, a slight smile touching my lips. Hotel rooms. I’d have actual privacy until Sunday night. Two nights away from the dreaded Machine of Death. My happiness energized me. The week’s over! If the band hadn’t walked out behind me, I would have clapped my hands together, glanced at the sky, and screamed, “I made it!”

Instead, I turned and watched them step off. Pete laughed at something Steve whispered. Steve winked, said something to me in which I ignored, too busy watching Liam hop off last. With his guitar case slung over his shoulder, furrowed brows and sulky lips, he looked the perfect picture of gloom.

He smiled as often as me lately, which wasn’t much. It was strange considering how much he used to play around with Pete and Steve before Monday night’s incident. There was tension between us that refused to be erased. Not that I wanted to get rid of it. The rift kept Liam sulking and staring, but he left me alone.Thatwas what I wanted. I hadn’t figured out a way to get their phones yet. Things would be so much easier if the band left them lying around.

Another thing concerned me, though. Their sleeping schedule. All the makeup in the world couldn’t hide the bags under my eyes when I barely slept, and yet those guys… I woke up throughout the night to them laughing or chatting. When did they sleep? How did they always have so much energy?

That was when I concluded—drugs. They had to be on something. I narrowed my gaze on Liam’s face. Other than being pale, he didn’t have dilated pupils or sluggish mannerisms. He looked better than me, and I was pretty sure I was the only one who slept on the bus.

Liam stopped, quirked a brow while gripping his strap. “What is it?”

I blinked, averting my obvious stare. “Nothing,” I lied.

He cocked his head. “Spit it out.”

“When do you all sleep?” I bit my bottom lip. “Because every time I wake up from Steve’s loud mouth every night, you’re all awake.”

Liam glanced at the sky. “Don’t worry. We get our rest.”

“That’s not why I asked.”

“I’ll make them quiet down,” he said as he stepped into my personal bubble.

His shadow gobbled mine up on the pavement. The image sent heat rushing down my spine. The reaction was so unexpected. Flustered, I looked away. Such a weird thing to get embarrassed about. Our shadows crossing.

“Walk with me,” he demanded.

I frowned. We were headed to the door. What was the big deal? “Liam? The door is like ten feet in front of us.”

His palm closed over my wrist, and I sucked in a breath. His fingers trailed down my palm until they intertwined with mine.

He wanted to hold hands?

I didn’t pull away from him when I should have. A battle raged within me. Part of me wanted to run away from Liam. The other wanted to stay right there. Maybe move closer.Then I came to my senses. My eyes widened, and I tried jerking away. Instead, his grip tightened.

“Not just to the door. Walk with me.”

His azure eyes sucked me in. The darkness within them called to me. I stopped protesting and walked with him. Swallowing my nerves, I looked up again.

God, his eyes were so bright to be so dark. On more than one occasion, that deep-blue sea absorbed the darkness. He was beautiful. I’d admit that. And the way he watched me… The intensity and hold of his gaze on me set me ablaze. That look he always gave me wore me down and turned me inside out. He made me feel open, raw, and the only thing he ever did was starethroughme.

It's overwhelming.

“This is weird,” I murmured, opening my hand in hopes he’d get the point and release me.

“What is?” he asked, still not letting go even as we reached the door.

He opened it and held it out for me to go in first. I did, and my spine tingled as he pulled my hand back. His fingers grazed my skirt. Unexpected heat zinged through my stomach and made me more flustered.