Creed of Redemption (S.I.N. Rock Star Trilogy #2) (5 page)

“I’m not interested in doing a tell-all, Diesel. It won’t be anything scandalous. It would be more of a rags-to-riches kind of story. The highs, the lows, and the in between. How you guys started, what gigs you initially took, how you were discovered. That type of thing. Rehearsing on the road, the glamorous, and the not-so-glamorous part about your lives on the road, even though this bus is pretty spectacular, you get my point. You guys will have input on the story of your band.” I entwine my fingers as I wait for him to shut me down again.

“Fine, but we get to read it before you publish that shit and anything that we feel would taint our image will get thrown out. Capisce?”

“Agreed,” I say ecstatically.

“Don’t get too excited,” he warns. “I only agreed to bring your idea to the guys for a vote. They still need to say yes.”

“Of course.” I think the hardest part is over. I don’t see the guys voting against Diesel if he is okay with it. Now to tell Brooke that I won’t be back in a month, but if all goes as planned, I will have my very first book written at the end of the tour. This is the happiest I’ve been in a while.

Within the next hour, they guys finally begin to emerge from their bunks. They must have had a late night. I was in bed before nine. I wait until they’ve all grabbed a plate and, more importantly, a cup of coffee. The same coffee that I forgot to make apparently. My stomach growls, reminding me that I need to eat. I haven’t eaten yet. I’m too nervous and too excited.

“Guys, Lourdes has an idea she would like to propose,” Diesel says suddenly when everyone is sitting around the table. A lump the size of a golf ball swells in my throat. What if they say no?

“Spill it already, Lourdes. Your pacing is going to giving me motion sickness,” Xander jokes. Everybody laughs and I can feel the tension release. I give my spiel like word vomit. I just want to get the idea out there so I can run and hide.

“Hmm. I think you’re on to something there, sis. Not to mention, once we get big, readers will be clamoring to get their hands on it.” I hadn’t really thought that far.

“Really wasn’t thinking about turning a profit. I just think it would be great for school. I’m sure a firsthand knowledge book will go over really well in future classes.”

“Nonsense. You have to always consider your return on an investment. From the time you take to write this book, to the money it will cost to get it published—it’s all worth something,” he assures. “I’m completely fine with it. What do you guys say?”

“Just don’t put my body count in there, and we’re golden,” Keyser teases

“Body count?” From the three heads Diesel just spouted, I’m sure that was a dumb question.

“The number of women he’s bedded,” Xander clarifies as he shakes his head.

“No, it’s the number of women he’s fucked or will fuck,” Diesel reiterates. He throws his head back in laughter. “Xander, stop trying to sugar coat shit for your sister. She is a grown ass woman. She should know what a body count is. Stop going all
Pride and Prejudice
on us, Mr. Darcy.”

“I don’t care to know that tidbit anyway,” I assure. “Just
ewww
.”

A smile breaks across my lips. Diesel’s reference to the classic book written by Jane Austen is pretty clever. I don’t remember if she used words like bedded in the book, but it’s funny as shit all the same. I can’t hold it in anymore. I double over in laughter. Soon everyone is in hysterics. Lily walks in with a puzzled look on her face. I guess our loudness woke her up.

“Morning, everyone. Hmmm something smells heavenly,” she says walking toward the kitchen.

“Diesel made omelets for everyone,” I say as I get up to join her. I think I’ll eat now. And make that coffee I was originally going to make. I fill Lily in on my book idea while I look through the k-cups. I find the last Starbucks Vanilla Blonde one, while making a mental note to get more the next time we stop at a store.

“That’s a brilliant idea, Lourdes. Way to go girl,” Lily says, congratulating me. “If you’re staying, maybe I’ll stick around a bit, too.” Lily is also taking a couple classes online. Thank goodness for the advancement of technology and that you can pay for your own Wi-Fi through your cell phone. Not sure if they have Wi-Fi on this bus, but it seems to have everything else. It would be sweet if it did.

“Thank you.” I smile. “And it would be great to have a female here with me if you could stay,” I add

“I don’t see why not. My parents think I’m still in the dorms anyway,” Lily admits. “But don’t tell Xander. I don’t want him to feel bad. My parents are just a little uptight when it comes to these types of things.”

“Your secret is safe will me. What parent would want to hear that their precious daughter has left school to travel with a rock band? A band that calls themselves Sex in Numbers, no less.” I laugh.

“True,” she states and joins in on my laughter. Lily is a pretty cool girl. She could never takes Brooke’s place, but it’s nice that I don’t have to do all this without female company. We joke about strict parents, but truthfully, I wish my mother were still here. I wish I knew who my father was. I’m sure my mother wouldn’t have be too keen on the idea of me being on the road with a band either, but then again, I have Xander.

Lily and I get lost in our own conversation, electing to just eat our breakfast in here. We compare classes, goals, and what we think this tour will be like. We should be pulling into Los Angeles by later tonight. The tour starts on the west coast with travel toward the east over the next four months. The guys will perform ten concerts a month with two to three concerts a week. I still can’t believe the whole tour is sold out already.

After breakfast, the guys head toward the bedroom to rehearse. There is a spot on the bus for them to work on their music that is a bit more formal, but they choose the bedroom anyway. Lily and I shooed them off and let them know we’d get the dishes. So far so good. Diesel and I seem to have mended some of our wounds and the overall atmosphere is relaxed. I suspect things will change once the concerts start, but for now, I’ll enjoy the reprieve.

Two days on this bus and I’m ready to get off for a while. We’re all getting ready for dinner with the other band, Reckless Ambition. Those guys are huge. I love their sound. They’re more metal than rock and they are fucking fantastic. No bias, but I do think our guys are better. Their sound is a mixture of different genres albeit, with a cool ass rock vibe. I don’t know what I’m going to wear. I’m trying not to think about the Ivy chick.

She is so gorgeous—any man’s wet dream. Hell, some women’s too. I rumble through my suitcase trying find something adequate to wear. Lily comes in wearing a simple white strapless tube dress with purple stilettos.
Nice.

“Having a bit of trouble?” she asks.

“That obvious, huh?” I joke. “I guess you can say that. My friend Brooke took me shopping before I left. Most of this is not what I would have picked for myself, so I’m at odds on what to choose.”

“Here, let me have look,” Lily offers. She pulls my suitcase to her before going through my things. “Girl, you have some awesome shit in here. I’m jealous. Your friend has awesome taste.”

“I’ll make sure to tell her that,” I reply, but I’m not so sure. It reminds me I need to give her a ring. It’s been two days. She’s going to kill me for making her wait this long to find out how everything is working out so far. I admit that Brooke has great style, it’s just not my style, so I’ll have to do some adjusting.

“What about this beauty?” Lily pulls out an olive-colored bandage dress. “This is fucking sexy. You can pair it with these,” she says pulling out a pair of black stilettos. I haven’t broken them in yet, but it wouldn’t matter. I don’t think those shoes are meant to walk in for very long anyway. Thank God, it’s only dinner and we’ll be sitting for the most part.

“I guess so,” I say taking the dress from her hands. “Thanks for helping me find something. I’d still be sitting here lost, and I know the guys are almost ready to go.”

The nerves are starting to kick in now. It was one thing when it was just us. Now we’re going to be traveling alongside the other band. I don’t want our vibe to change. I try to remain positive and not worry too much. I change into the dress and work to hide my bra straps. There is no way I could get away with going braless so at least this dress has straps. The girls need all the support they can get. I pull the dress down a little more, willing it to stay put. I have never worn this out, so I pray there are no wardrobe malfunctions. Again, at least I’ll be sitting.

It was easy to be bold with the gym shorts in front of Diesel. I admit I was being a tease. It was a brazen moment that wasn’t planned. I just went with it. I don’t want to make an ass out of myself. Shit never looks as good on me as it does on the mannequin.

“Stop fussing with your dress, girl. You look fabulous.” Lily smacks my ass, and I’m stunned. “Sorry. Your ass just looks nice in that dress. I wish I had a little more to work with,” she says as she looks back at her own ass.

“You’re hilarious. And maybe you’re not the goody two shoes I
may have
assumed you to be,” I confess.

“Looks are deceiving,” Lily warns. “Don’t let this innocent face fool you.” She grabs my hand to pull me out the door. I snag my clutch purse on the way out.

T
he restaurant has arranged a private room for us away from the public. I’m at the opposite end of the table from Lourdes, and it’s a freaking good thing. The dress she’s wearing tonight accentuates every curve of her body that needs to be worshiped. It bugs the shit out of me that I can’t stick to the original plan of not even giving her a second thought. I’m not supposed to be thinking of all the ways that I want to fuck her every time I lay eyes on her. I try to give my attention to my menu and figuring out what the hell I want to order, but each time I hear her voice across the room, I sneak little peeks at her. She is absolutely stunning.

The arrival of Reckless Ambition gets everyone’s attention. Conversations stop to welcome them. Jack and Mitch are the drummer and lead guitarist for the group. Anderson and Miles are the lead singer and bass guitarist. The guys take seats around the table to get acquainted with us. Anderson joins me at the head of the table and we hit it off instantly. He’s a real down to earth guy.

“You ready for this tour, man?” Anderson questions with a grin. The grit of his vocals are impressive so it’s crazy to hear how different his speaking voice is.

“Hell yeah, man,” I assure. “Where’s your back up vocalist?” I ask casually in regards to Ivy.

“Oh, she stopped by the ladies’ room first. You know women,” he says, nudging me.

When she finally walks in, she fucking commands the attention of the entire room. She’s wearing a Rolling Stones T-shirt that is knotted under her breasts with jeans that are ripped from thigh to ankle. No heels. Just Converse sneakers. Her look screams that she doesn’t give a fuck, yet her body has my dick throbbing.
Finally
. Someone else has his attention. I know right away that I will have her under me, even before her eyes meet mine and she makes her way over to find a seat next to me. Sorry, Desiree. If Ivy gives me any indication at all that she is down, I’m going to fuck the shit out of her. I’m not a saint. I can’t keep foregoing temptation. My dick needs attention and right now it wants Ivy.