Page 36 of Crimson Desires
Why would Jack Maverick be any different?
I swallowed hard. I couldn’t keep running away from Jack. From my feelings for him. Even though I knew that I’d only end up hurt in the end, I knew that my falling for Jack was inevitable. Like Juliet falling for Romeo. Like Dido falling for Aeneid. Like hope falling for tragedy.
I couldn’t stop myself from falling for Jack. I could only hope that it wouldn’t hurt too badly when I finally collided with the cold, hard ground.
***
Our next stop was in North Carolina.
Wicked Crimson was playing one show in Raleigh and another in Charlotte.
The buses parked outside the first venue, the Red Hat Amphitheater. My stomach filled with dread as I steeled myself to take the walk of shame from the band bus to the crew bus. Jack still hadn’t woken up by the time we’d parked, which I was secretly a little grateful for.
Early riser, my ass.
As I made my way to the crew bus, I was intercepted in the parking lot by Ava.
Ava’s expression told me everything that I needed to know. I had screwed up. Big time.
“In my defense, I was drunk,” I blurted. “Plus, we didn’t even do anything. I mean, we kissed. But that was it. I swear.”
Ava took a deep breath through her nose. She held it for a beat. Then, she exhaled.
“Aster, I really thought you’d be smarter than this,” Ava said. Somehow, her disappointment stung more than an angry reaction would have. “I just want you to understand one thing. I’m Wicked Crimson’s tour manager. That means that for the duration of this tour, it’s my job to make sure that those testosterone-poisoned idiots don’t get themselves into trouble. And if they do get into trouble, I’m the one responsible for fixing it.”
“I’m sorry, Ava.”
“Don’t be sorry. Just know this: your little fling with Jack? Yeah, it’s not going to work out like you think it is.” Ava’s jaw muscles tensed beneath her cheeks. Something about her embittered tone of voice made me wonder if she was speaking from personal experience.
I nodded. I looked down at the cracked pavement beneath my feet. “In that case, it might comfort you to know that I don’t have any delusions of Jack and I working out.”
Ava paused. “If you know that, and you’re fine with it... then, okay.”
“Okay?” I raised my brows.
“I can’t stop Jack from doing what he wants. Which means I can’t stop you two from fooling around,” Ava said. “But Aster?”
“Yes?” I asked.
“For God’s sake, use a condom.”
Chapter Ten
Jack
Where’s Aster?
That was the first thing I thought when I woke up.
Yawning, I stretched out on my bunk. Often, I complained about how small the tour bus bunks were. Which was why it was so strange that the bunk hadn’t felt cramped at all last night when I’d shared it with Aster.
In fact, it felt just right. Large enough for both of us to sleep comfortably. Small enough to keep us pressed together.
And now, I was painfully aware of the empty space that had been left in Aster’s absence.
I rolled out of the bunk, my bare feet landing on the scratchy bus carpeting. I quickly inspected the bunks—only to find that I was the last of the guys to wake up.
I trudged to the front of the bus, grabbed a sugar-free Red Bull from the fridge, and cracked the tab on it. The tangy liquid hit my tongue and put a little bit of life back into my body. On the table was a note from Ava.