“Are you crazy?” I shriek, looking at the tiny scrap of fabric.
She cackles. “I wanted to see your reaction.” She stuffs it back into the closet and instead hands me a pair of jeans and…
“A Willow Creek tour shirt? Really, Kira?”
She points at it. “Hey, that’s from their first major tour. It’s practically vintage.”
I look down at the dark blue t-shirt with Willow Creek’s logo of a glowing willow tree and tire swing. “And you don’t think we have plenty of these at home?”
She snatches the shirt back from me. “You’re no fun. I thought your dad’s reaction would be funny if you showed up in it.”
She pulls out another shirt, a simple baseball tee. “That’s better,” I say, heading for her bathroom. I lock the door behind me and freshen up. Breakfast didn’t take too long, but class is starting soon leaving no time to dawdle. I wash my face free of lingering traces of makeup and brush my hair, pulling it back into a ponytail. I change into Kira’s clothes and gather mine in my arms to toss in my car.
When I open the door, Kira is already dressed in a pair of high waisted shorts with a body suit underneath. She ties a plaid shirt around her waist and fluffs her hair. Somehow in the time I was in the bathroom she’s managed to apply makeup. The girl has makeup lying around everywhere so it isn’t like she’d need to be in the bathroom to put it on, unlike me who has the bare minimum and definitely no spares.
We head out together and she locks the door to her apartment.
“I still say you should think about moving into your own place,” she says the words lightly but with a slight edge. “You’re barely home anyway. It seems like if you had your own place you’d have more time to relax.”
As we reach the street I look at her and shrug. “It’s something I’ve actually been considering these last few weeks,” I admit. It has nothing at all to do with Hollis’s appearance in my life. “With school starting back up and working and helping at the studio … it’s a lot. I wanted to go here to be able to stay home, but even this is too much of a commute.”
“It is,” she agrees, slipping on her sunglasses. “I’ve been wondering how you’re able to keep up. You’re superwoman. I know of some apartments available if you decide you want to look.”
“I don’t know,” I hedge. Getting my own place is a scary decision. I’d be on my own, with no help from my parents. While there’d be plenty of perks to being on my own there would be negatives too.
“Looking isn’t deciding,” she tells me. “At least it would give you an idea of what’s available.”
“True,” I agree with a sigh. “We better get going.”
She waves goodbye and we make plans to meet at the cafeteria later.
I pull out of the spot and onto the street. On my way to school I pass the studio and I can’t help but slow down as I do, peering through the front windows like I can see all the way inside to the recording booth in the back.
I say a silent prayer no one knows what we did last night on that couch.
18
Hollis
I made it back to the hotel, managing to avoid my friends, or else they’d already left. I didn’t bother to stop to check when I got there. I took the quickest shower of my life, washing Mia’s scent off my body. I hated for it to go, but I knew it was necessary. I changed my clothes before quickly heading out.
Now, my steps are hurried as I walk down the street. I’m late, and I have no doubt the guys know I didn’t return to the hotel last night. I only hope they keep their big fat mouths fucking shut.
I open the studio door, heading straight for the recording room.
Hayes swivels in his chair at the sound, his eyes narrowed. “You’re late.”
“Sorry,” I say, trying to sound as truly apologetic as possible. “I overslept.”
“Mhmm,” he hums.
From the couch Cannon glares at me, shaking his head.
Fox is already in the booth and Rush…
“Where’s Rush?” I ask.
“We were hoping you knew,” Cannon drawls. “You headed off with him last night and neither one of you returned.”