Trace of Innocence (No Control Book 3)

Chapter 46 - part ii

(No Control - 46. Still The One - second part)

We lose score after about three volleys, and it ends up being a competition of who can splash the other team the hardest with the ball. By the time we climb out of the pool to sunbathe I am giddy as fuck and drunk on life.

"How was the flight?" I ask as we sit down on the sunbeds. Jess's hair is hanging over the back of her seat and I resist the urge to give it a playful tug.

"Good. We managed to avoid the paps at Heathrow but they saw us at LAX," Liam replies.

"Fucking bumpy landing though," Louis remarks. "We bounced all the way down the runway."

"Which jet was it?" I ask.

"The small one," Liam replies.

"With the squeaky seat?" I grin, and they both roll their eyes.

"It fucking squeaks even when no one is sitting in it," Louis moans.

"He spent ten minutes poking and prodding it," Liam giggles, looking at me. "He got in a right huff."

"It was fucking pissing me off!" Louis snaps. "You fucking sit next to it next time."

We cackle at Louis' annoyance and he pulls a face.

"Did Jess come over on it?" Louis asks.

"Nah, she booked her own flight," I reply, looking over at her to involve her in the conversation but she is texting on her phone and isn't paying attention. "I upgraded her to first class though," I add.

"Course you did," Louis smirks, and mouths no chill at me.

"How is that no chill?!" I hiss. "She wouldn't let me pay for her flight!"

"He's winding you up," Liam grins. "Leave him alone, Tommo."

"Nah, it's too much fun. He's an easy target," Louis says mischievously. "So you're a fan then, Jess?" he asks, raising his voice to get her attention.

She looks up and immediately goes red. "Um, yeah, a bit," she replies.

"A bit!" I tease.

"A big fan then?" Louis grins.

"Well, I like your music," she says casually, shoving her hands under her legs.

She likes our music? She likes our music? Who is she kidding? Miss Play-It-Cool.

"She's crazy. We're, like, her favourite band ever," I joke, in my best attempt at a teenage girl's voice.

"Oh really?" Louis smirks.

At least he's pretending I haven't talked about her non stop since I met her.

"One of my favourite bands," Jess protests.

No way.

Na-uh.

Not having this.

I pick my phone up.

"Which other bands do you like?" Louis asks.

"Um, loads of stuff," she replies.

She sounds rattled. Ha.

"Like...?" I interrupt, as I swipe her name on my screen.

I hope she hasn't changed her ringtone, or the joke will be on me.

"The Wanted," she fires at me, and I laugh at her attempt to slay me.

"Who?" Louis jokes.

Kiss You begins to play loudly from Jess's phone on the table and she blushes crimson as we all laugh, and snatches it up hastily.