Blush (19 page)

“Sera's going to stay here with us. Anyone
who's afraid of getting whatever it is she's got should likely stay
on another bus tonight,“ I announce and no one says anything.

I look at my plate of food and notice the
enchiladas have been cut up into tiny bites and I look to Jesse who
grins and winks.

“Thanks, love.“

His eyes sparkle at the endearment. “You're
welcome.“

I use my right hand because eating
left-handed has the food falling all over the place instead of
landing in my mouth.

“Oh my God, Misty! This is so amazingly
delicious.“

She blushes. “Thank you. I'm so glad you like
it.“

“Oh, no,“ I correct. “I don't just like it, I
love it. I'm so glad we found you.“

“We?“ Ben asks. “I think
I
found
her.“

“Hmm. Maybe.“

“When we stop to fuel, will there be time to
stop at a grocery store to pick up some items? I'd like to make
Sera some chicken noodle soup,“ Misty asks.

I look to Damian.

“There should be time. I'll have one of the
roadies run you over in the van,“ Damian replies.

“Nah,“ Ben tells him. “I'll take her.“

Damian nods.

I look to Jesse who shrugs.

Sera and Cage come out of the bathroom and
Meggie makes the sign of the cross with her fingers. Sera flips her
off.

“Ugh, I hate puking,“ Sera complains.

“The worst,“ I agree.

“She just sipped some of this soda, so likely
she'll end up back in there shortly. If anyone needs to use the
restroom, do it now,“ Cage announces.

Xander leads the parade.

“Luce,“ Cage begins. I raise my brows in
question. “I got a call earlier from Jim Price.“

“What?
The
Jim Price of Price
Productions?“ I gape.

Cage nods. “He was asking if you'd be
interested in recording a duet with Lucian Cordero.“

I sit there, mouth hanging open, while Sera
and Meggie go on about how hot Lucian is.

“Cupcake, close your mouth,“ Jesse chuckles
but it sounds strained. I look over to him and he's smiling but it
isn't quite meeting his eyes. I lift a brow in question and he just
shakes his head.

I look to Cage. “Yeah, yeah, of course. Just
me? Or the band?“

“The band. Apparently Lucian heard your album
and thinks you'd collaborate well.“

“Well. Huh. Wow,“ I murmur.

“Wicked,“ Trace says. “I've met Lucian. He's
a cool dude. It'll be a good collab.“

“Yeah?“ I ask.

Trace nods. “For sure. You'll like him.“

“What's not to like?“ Meggie asks. “Tall,
dark, and fuckable.“

I roll my eyes.

“Oh, that's right, you're married,“ Meggie
teases. “But I'm not,“ she sing-songs.

I grin. “Nice, very nice.“

“Whore,“ Jace chides with a snicker.

“I'll remind you of that when we collab with
a female and you're all up in her vagina,“ Meggie teases.

“Gah,“ I curl my lip and Meggie laughs.

“I'm all for vagina,“ Jace says with a
serious nod.

“Oh my God. Is it time for my pain meds yet?
There is no way I can handle this conversation not stoned,“ I
sigh.

“Nope,“ Jesse tells me. “Soon.“

“Not soon enough,“ I mumble. Cage chuckles
and pulls Sera into his side. Frowning, I look over my sister. She
looks so pale and rather green if I'm honest. I wish there was
something I could do for her.

“Stop looking at me, Lucy,“ Sera scolds.

I flip her off. “I can stare if I want
to.“

“Lord,“ Ben mutters. “What are we,
twelve?“

“Aww, Benny,“ I tease.

“Fuck. Don't start that—“

“What's wrong, Benny?“ I move over to where
he's sitting on the sofa and climb into his lap. “What's happening
little bro, Benny?“

He's trying so hard to scowl, nearly loses
it, but then notices Xander grinning like a loon. “What the fuck
are you laughing at?“

Xander snickers. “Nothing much,
Benny
.“

“Dude, don't make me kick your ass.“

“You could try,“ Xander tells him, puffing up
his chest.

“You know I could take you,“ Ben sneers.

“This from the man who called the rest of us
‘twelve' twice today,“ Sera admonishes.

Ben just grunts. “I'd flip you off but you're
ill. I can't be rude to the sick.“

“Whatever,“ Sera tells him and gives him a
two-bird salute.

Ben laughs.

“See? It's so nice when Benny laughs,“ I
taunt, knowing I'm pushing my luck now.

Jesse comes up behind me, wraps his hands
around my waist, and lifts me from Ben's lap.

“What?“ I ask.

“Just trying to stop my wife and my brother
from getting aggravated with one another.“

“Well. Benny wouldn't get aggravated with me,
would you Benny?“ I ask.

Ben deadpans and lifts a brow.

“Seriously? But you're my big bro. My
only
big bro. You should
love
your little
sister.“

“Oh, I do,“ he tells me, “but I'm like all
other big brothers.“

“Meaning?“ I ask.

“Meaning,“ Kennedy sighs, “all big brothers
get annoyed with their little sisters when they're teased and
pushed past their limit.“

“Hmm.“ I guess I did push a bit too far.
“Sorry if I pushed. I just like calling you Benny.“

Ben runs a hand through his hair, clearly
frustrated. I know he wants me to stop calling him Benny but I know
he doesn't want to hurt my feelings. Ah yes, Lucy manipulation at
its finest. I'm not ashamed to admit this.

“It's alright. Just… limit it,“ he adds.

I nod and smile widely. Kennedy, Ethan,
Xander, Jesse, Trace, and Jace all shake their heads. I sit up
higher in Jesse's lap, lifting my chin, grinning silly. I win!

I WATCH JESSE pace outside the bus. We arrived in
Denver a couple hours ago. We're a week into the tour and things
are going along pretty well. Granted it's only been a week, but no
one's gotten into an argument yet. Yet. It's coming. I have no
doubt.

The majority of the fans are actually
supporting me in what happened with the whole fight incident. Not
my proudest moment yet unavoidable. The male fans thought it was
“hot“ which caused me to roll my eyes and I rolled them again when
all the guys here on the bus agreed. For real?

“Who's the hubby talking to?“ Ben asks
interrupting my musings.

“Your sister.“

His brows furrow. “Which one?“

“I don't know. He didn't say. Just ‘hey
sis'.“

“Ah, that's Janalee. He calls Jeni
‘brat'.“

“I see. He looks upset,“ I murmur, biting on
my thumbnail.

“That he does,“ Ben agrees.

“I wonder what's going on.“

“We'll find out soon enough.“ Ben takes a
seat.

“What's up?“ Damian asks.

“I'm not sure yet.“

He nods.

“Where is everyone?“ I ask.

“Cage was, uh, meeting someone,“ he hedges,
glancing quickly to and from Sera. “The rest of the guys went
wandering.“

“Hmm.“ I wonder where Cage went. Sera's over
lying on the sofa resting, still not one hundred percent recovered
from whatever went through a few of us and the road crew. Not
everyone got sick, but the ones that did, it was brutal.

“Sound check in an hour,“ Meggie tells us as
she climbs on the bus. “Your hubbles is a bit agitated out
there.“

“What's he talking about?“

“Just yelling something about having to meet
someone and how it'll fuck up his sound check,“ Meggie
elaborates.

“Oh fuck,“ Ben says.

“Oh boy.“

Jesse climbs onto the bus, walks over to me
and gives me a soft kiss. “Looks like we're going to be one person
heavier when we pull out of Denver.“

“What's going on?“ Ben asks.

“Apparently Janalee had it out with mom and
dad and, being the fuckers they are, they told her to get out. You
know Jana. She won't hesitate to bail out,“ Jesse murmurs, running
a hand through his hair again.

Ben nods.

“Well, I'm sure we can fit one more, right
Damian?“ I ask.

“Sure, I don't see why not. We've got five
fucking buses after all.“ Damian gives Jesse a look.

Jesse shrugs. “Seems like it's a good thing
since we're going to , now, be two people heavier with Misty and
Janalee, and we're only a week into the tour. In another couple
weeks, we'll have yet another person on board.“

“Who's that?“ Meggie asks.

“The Blush Baby. Nicole,“ Jesse answers.

“Actually,“ Damian begins, giving me a look
(shit), “we'll be four people heavier.“

“Four?“ both Jesse and I say at the same
time.

Damian nods. “Yeah. Nicole, the doc, his
brother, and the nurse.“

“Well, shit,“ Xander says as he gets on the
bus. “Think the nurse will wear one of those short white dresses
with the buttons down the front, white thigh highs, and heels?“

I snort. “Not likely.“

Xander tsks. “Burst my bubble, why don't
ya.“

Meggie leans forward, “Pop.“

“Harsh.“

She shrugs.

“So what's going on with your sister, babe?“
I ask.

“I've got to pick her up at the airport this
afternoon. We should flip sound checks otherwise I'll be missing
ours,“ he tells me, pacing again.

“No worries, right Damian?“ I give him a
pointed look.

“No problem, man. I'll just let everyone
know. Easy enough,“ Damian says, then salutes, and walks off the
bus.

“Is your sister okay?“

“Yeah, she's fine. Our parents are pricks.
She just needs somewhere to go.“

“Where's Jeni?“ Ben asks.

“Staying at Casa Falling Down,“ Jesse tells
him.

“What did the old man do this time?“ Ben
asks.

“What didn't he do? He fucking gambled away
the rent, he's in debt to a loan shark, and they threatened the
girls if he doesn't pay up.“

“That can't be good,“ I say. “Maybe you
should have your other sister come with us too.“

“Nah,“ he says. “She's safe. You know our
place is as safe as Fort Knox.“

I nod. “That's true, but if you remember in
Die Hard with a Vengeance they broke into Fort Knox. Nothing is
fool proof.“

“It'll be alright. I've got security on
alert.“ He wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. I
hug him back, knowing he needs the warmth and connection.

“I'm not paying their shit this time,“ Ben
announces.

“Me neither. I told them last time they were
on their own. When you give your parents a million and they piss it
away in six years' time, it's pathetic. Then you turn around and
bail them out how many times?“ Jesse asks.

“Five. Fifty grand was the cheapest,“ Ben
answers, anger darkening his blue eyes.

Jesse sighs. “It's not just him. It's her
too.“

“I'm sorry, baby,“ I rub his back.

“You know they're going to fuck them up if
not kill them, right?“ Xander asks, leaning forward, elbows on his
knees. This is the most serious I've ever seen him.

“I know it,“ Jesse replies. “I can't anymore.
I won't.“

Xander nods.

Ben sighs. “It's only been seven months since
last time. How much do they owe?“

“Five hundred grand,“ Jesse seethes.

“Jesus Christ. What the fuck did they spend
it on?“ Xander asks.

“Drugs likely. Playing the big shots with
their friends. Only this time, their friends are going to see that
they're frauds.“ Ben gets up and grabs a beer from the fridge. It's
only ten in the morning but I'm not going to say a word.

I look over and see Sera blinking up at us
from across the room. I smile a small smile.

“How're you feeling, sunshine?“

She grunts. “I've been better.“

“Nibble on those cracker things Misty left
for you. She left some ginger ale too. She is seriously amazing,“ I
announce.

“Can you imagine her and Mrs. Martinez?
There's going to be a super speedy Spanish going on in the kitchen
when we get home. I love listening to that shit. I can't speak it,
but I can understand it. Kinda fucked up, huh?“ Xander asks.

“No more fucked up than me understanding
Italian but not speaking it very well,“ I respond.

“Oh, I don't know,“ Jesse begins, “when
you're pissed off you speak it perfectly.“

I grin. “I learned that from my mama.“

They all nod.

“Not a shock,“ Ben tells me. “Your mom is a
force to be reckoned with.“

“That's what I said,“ Jesse agrees.

I walk over to sit by Sera, feel her
forehead. She's clammy but not hot.

“How are you really feeling?“

She shrugs. “Cage gone already?“

I nod.

She presses her lips together and nods back.
She reaches for the ginger ale, taking a sip then takes a cracker
and nibbles a bit before sitting up slowly.

I brush her hair out of her eyes.

“I'll get the brush and style you up until
Spenser gets a hold of you later.“

“Thanks.“

I sit on the top back portion of the sofa and
Sera sits on the seat in front of me. My fingers are working a bit
better but I have to remember that my middle and ring fingers on my
right hand are immobile and the cast surrounding them hinders my
actions.