Star-Crossed ✔️

15

- 15 -

Chris was totally into Noah. And from what I could tell, the feeling was mutual.

I didn't get it. They had just met in the last month or so and Noah seemed to be completely smitten with my guitarist. I sat on one end of the tour bus couch with my arms crossed, probably like a child. Beside me was Kailey, who was making a phenomenal effort to be civil with me by sharing a bag of chips with me. Then beside her was Chris and Noah.

They were whispering to each other throughout the entire movie. I resisted all urges to hiss at them to shut the fuck up. The movie was good, after all, and they'd miss it all if they kept talking.

At our feet was Oscar and Chester. The fat cat was enamored the bassist as soon as he saw him and claimed him as his lap for the evening. I had rolled a handful of joints and they went around the five of us quickly. Soon we were all enjoying the movie (for the most part) high out of our minds. I relaxed against the couch and tried, tried, tried not to let it bother me that Noah was laughing into his arm to not be too loud.

What did Chris have that I didn't? Balls?

Fuck off, Theo, you fucking idiot. Even if I did have the balls to make a move on Noah, he would reject me because we were just friends. He didn't have history, or a business arrangement, or even a rekindled acquaintanceship with Chris.

I didn't even fucking know my guitarist was gay.

When I sighed for the fifteenth time, Kailey looked at me. "Are you okay?" she asked, her eyes almost hidden by the newly cut black bangs.

"Peachy," I mumbled.

In the corner of my eye, I saw her glance over at the pair beside her, then back over at me. The bus had surround sound equipment connected to the TV, so I was grateful nobody could hear our conversation when she said, "You got a thing for Noah?"

Why did everyone just sense that shit? I didn't feel like lying to her, so I didn't. "Kinda," I whispered back, eyeing her carefully. She didn't have any business spilling mine, so I trusted her. "How the fuck could you tell?"

"Uh, you're jealous, dummy?" she snorted.

"Well," I tried to argue, "yeah."

She looked back at Chris and Noah again before she turned back to the movie. I stood up to get away from all the people for a minute and headed into my bedroom in the back. Chester padded behind me as usual. I sat down on my bed and tumbled back, taking a deep breath.

Kailey appeared in the doorway. "Whew. Been a while since I've been in here," she joked. I rolled my eyes and sat up again just as she sat beside me slowly. "So . . . You and Noah?"

"Not really," I shrugged. "Nothing there."

She hummed and scratched behind Chester's ears, making him purr loud enough to wake a sleeping giant. "Have you told him?" she asked. "Or used your signature move yet?"

"My signature move?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Kailey smirked. She reached a hand up and caressed my cheek, hers fingers sliding up towards the hair curling near my face. I watched her face as she tucked my hair behind my ear, her eyes trained on mine intently. "You know, I get pretty lonely on the road," she said, her voice sultry. "I'd love some company."