* * *
“But I wanna get on the plane now,” East whines as we pull up alongside the band’s jet.
“I need to talk to Daddy Dillon first, but I will come and get you as soon as we’re ready. Watch a movie, or listen to your daddy’s album again, or you could color,” I add, pulling the box of coloring pencils and thick coloring book from the back of the seat where I keep an emergency supply.
He pouts but sits back in his booster seat, and I’m glad he’s decided not to argue further. I’m in no mood to deal withtwogrumpy boys. “I shouldn’t be too long,” I tell Leon.
“I’ll keep an eye on Easton. Go fix things with your man.” He smothers a grin, and I narrow my eyes at him. Of course, Leon would have to be outside earlier when we had our fight.
I climb out, wiping my hands down the front of my skinny jeans, thrusting my shoulders back as I walk on high heels toward the plane. I’m wearing a white silk blouse under a formfitting black jacket, and a polka-dot chiffon scarf is artfully wrapped around my neck. My hair is pulled back off my face in a sleek ponytail, and I paid extra attention to my makeup.
I’m feeling confident and only slightly murderous when I walk up the steps and enter the plane.
The interior is luxurious, as I was expecting, with twelve leather seats, six on either side. Jamie and Ash are sitting side by side, facing Conor, while Ro and Dillon are sitting on the other side of the plane, facing each other. All eyes are on me. Ash and Jamie grin. Conor looks stoned already, and Ro looks confused.
Dillon smirks, leaning back in his chair with one leg crossed over his knee. “You’re an asshole,” I hiss, realizing this was all part ofhisplan. “I really want to slap you, but I don’t condone violence.” I walk closer to where he’s sitting.
“Unless it’s Aoife.” Jamie throws it out there. “I bet you’d give her a few slaps.”
I eyeball Jamie. “Truth,” Ash and I say together.
“Put the dickhead out of his misery,” she adds. “He’s unbearable.”
I don’t doubt it because I know Dillon’s hurt was real even if this was part of his game plan. His truths were mixed in with the bullshit, but he wanted me to chase him. “What if I hadn’t come?”
“I would have quit the tour,” he says, without hesitation, sitting upright and losing the grin.
Shocked faces and angry words litter the air.
I turn to his bandmates. “He’s being an ass. Ignore him. I would not have let him quit.” I face Dillon, crossing my arms over my chest. I’m still pissed at him. “You are the hardest person in the world to surprise.”
Crease lines appear on his brow. “What do you mean?”
“I was planning to come all along, although the idea only came to me on Christmas Day. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t know if I could buy another tour bus and get it to Texas on time or if I could hire a tutor for Easton on such short notice.”
I was less concerned about the latter. As long as the school was okay with me pulling Easton out, I knew I’d find a suitable tutor even if it was while we were on the road. And I can always homeschool him if I have to. “I wanted to surprise you. This was going to be my grand gesture of love, but you fucking ruined it all, and now, frankly, I’m pretty pissed.”
“Sweetheart.” He stands, moving over to me.
“Don’t think your sweet talking will get you out of this hole you’ve dug.”
“I was thinking my cock would do the trick.” He waggles his brows as Ash makes a gagging sound behind us.
“Always lowering the tone.” I shake my head, softening as his arms go around my waist. I let my arms drop to my sides.
“You bought us a bus?”
“Yes. There wasn’t enough room on one bus for all of us, and I wanted us to be a family.”
I also didn’t want Easton around Conor and Ronan. They are both single, and I know they’ll be entertaining groupies on the bus. Easton does not need to see that, and I’m sure they don’t want Dillon’s girlfriend and son raining on their parade. Separate buses are the only way this will work.
“Leon is coming with us too.” Ash assured me they have plenty of security on tour, but Easton is familiar with Leon, and I want to make this transition as easy as possible for our son. I know he’s excited, but this is a big adjustment for both of us.
“You’re really coming on tour?” His eyes are bursting with happiness. “The whole tour?”
“Yes, dumbass,” Ash says.
“We are, even though you might not deserve it after the shit you said to me earlier.”