What Do You Mean?

Chapter 9

"So how you liking tour life so far?" I ask Betty, plopping down into the seat next to hers.

She looks up from her phone and lays it down on the table between us. That's something I like about her. When you speak to her, she always gives you her full attention. And it's not just with B and I because she works for us. I've noticed she does it with everyone. Makes you feel like she truly cares about whatever it is you have to say, even if it's stupid small talk on the bus.

Her eyes light up with a grin "I'm loving it! It's so exciting...and I'm beyond psyched we're heading to vegas!"

"Ready to gamble?" I laugh "Don't worry, you lose your ass, I'll just give you a raise."

"Nah, no gambling...that raise thing sounds pretty awesome though." She jokes. I make a silent note to give her one. She deserves it...especially now that we're dragging her all over the damn country.

"Just kidding," she clarifies needlessly "You pay me too much as it is. I'm excited to see my family."

"Your family? That's dope...are you from Nevada?" I can't believe I never thought to ask her where she was from. What a dick. I seriously need to work on giving a shit about other people's lives.

"You didn't know that?" She rolls her eyes at her own question the second she's asked it "Of course you didn't know that...why would you? Anyway, yeah, I am. Raised right in Las Vegas."

"What was that like? Growing up in Vegas? That's sounds crazy."

"Same as growing up anywhere else I guess. It's not like I lived on the strip or something, Justin." She gives me a look that says 'you're an idiot' and then grins to prove she's only teasing.

"What kind of disrespectful shit is that?" I pretend to be slightly outraged "Great, now I have to fire you. Way to go."

"I know you're kidding...but you're right. I apologize. A lot of people ask what it was like living in Vegas."

"You need to quit with that." I tell her, all jokes aside "You don't need to be all formal n shit just 'cause you work for us. I don't even really see it like that. I'm just Justin, act like it."

She's quiet for a brief moment and then smiles "Okay, just Justin...that was a dumb ass question."

I burst into laughter "Fuck you...but yeah, that's better."

"I'm gonna go peek in on those two..." she says, referring to b and baby girl who are currently napping in our room in the back of the bus "Lyric might be waking up...they've been asleep for a while."

"K..." I nod and dig my phone out of my pocket.

The second she starts down the hall, her phone dings quietly where she left it on the table "Aye yo, your..." I start to tell her, but fall silent when I notice my name in the notification.

I lean forward a little trying to see where she is and if she can see me, and then pick it up. Of course it's locked and I haven't the slightest clue as to what her passcode is, so I can't read the entire text. But I can read enough.

"Idk Betty, I still say you should tell Justin because..."

What the fuck is this?

I stand and wait for her at the end of the hall.

"Still sleeping..." she informs me quietly "All this traveling must be wearing her out."

"Come here for a minute." I motion to the other end of the bus, still holding her phone.

She follows with a nervous demeanor "What's up?"

She glances at her phone in my hand and I hand it to her. "What's that all about?"