Somebody to You

Ch. 55

Demi

The morning after Damon had run onstage, I got up & Joe was sitting in the kitchen part of the bus, reading something on his phone. He looked concerned, so I cleared my throat, then smiled at him when he looked in my direction. "Everything okay?" I asked him as I sat across the small table from him.

He shrugged his shoulders, letting out a deep sigh. "Damon still sleeping?"

"Yea." I chuckled, glancing toward the back of the bus. "He had a late night with his performance & then having to apologize. I don't think he fell asleep until after two."

Joe's eyes widened in amusement. "Dang. Well, he's all over the internet today." His eyebrows went up as he turned his phone so I could see what he had been reading.

"Does Nick Jonas have a love child?" I read the headline, then rolled my eyes. "So what? They think Damon is his kid?"

"Yep." Joe's lips pressed together & he leaned back, letting out a breath. We jerked a little when the bus slowed then went over a curb. "Guess we're stopping for breakfast." He said & I nodded, sighing deeply. "What's wrong?" Joe asked.

"Nick's gonna have to explain to the world that he's dating his nephew's mother." I pouted as I looked up at him.

"Yea. Looks that way." Joe gave me a sympathetic head nod & reached to squeeze my hand.

Joe & I were silent for a moment as we both were deep in thought about how this controversy could affect Nick's career. We were so into these thoughts that we didn't hear the bus doors open, but we both jumped when we heard Nick's voice. "Don't you two look cozy." Nick's voice sounded very irritated. "You two should have a kid together." He mumbled as he came into the bus further. Joe dropped my hand the moment we heard Nick's voice & looked annoyed as he glanced out the window. "Oh wait. You already did that." Nick chuckled as he sat on the bench across from us.

"What's your problem?" I asked, trying to not sound too angry. I hated arguing when Damon was within ear shot.

"What's my problem? Damon ran out on stage & it was captured on video & everyone's effen cameras & the label people have been messaging me since the first piece of media hit the internet, wanting me to keep my mouth shut. They don't want me to tell the world that I am with my brother's ex. They don't want this interfering with my success, the fact that I am with my nephew's mother." Nick leaned forward to lean on his knees & hung his head. I heard him sigh. Joe fumed across from me, so I touched his arm & gave him a look.

"Joe, relax. He's stressed." I muttered, under my breath. "Damon is in my bed & should be getting up. Why don't you go wake him & when Chloe gets out of the shower or is dressed, she can take him to eat & we can meet them there?" I said in a soothing voice. Joe continued glaring at Nick as he sighed & got up to wake Damon.

"I'm getting a shower." Nick said, standing up.

"Wait." I said as I stood up to face him. I looked to the back of the bus to see Joe taking Damon into his room to get him dressed. "Are you embarrassed that you're with your brother's ex, Nick?" I asked in a fierce whisper. Nick glanced down & shook his head. I noticed how bloodshot his eyes were so I figured he had been up late partying, probably why he was cranky, from lack of sleep. "Or is it the fact that I have a kid with him?" I was still whispering, but it was louder this time.

"Of course not. I've been with you for a year, Demi. If that bothered me, I would have never started dating you." He was speaking in a low voice, too. "I'm just frustrated about the shit I'm dealing with. I'm sorry if I sounded like a dick when I first came in." He flashed me a smile, showing me his crooked teeth & my heart melted. "I'm not in a great mood, so forgive me for anything I say today."