Page 70 of Fractured Frets

Being followed was now my norm, since the hype surrounding our tour had hit a frenzied level. The guys and I were met by a sea of fans and paparazzi at every promotional appearance we did. Our nine-month global tour kicked off in five weeks. It was scary and thrilling and mind-blowing that we’d sold out every show. But like always, something...no, things plural...had rattled our band to the core.

“I have to talk to you.” Too much haste skipped in my voice. “It’s urgent.”

“Quick. Come in.” She grabbed my hand, dragged me into her house, and shut the door behind me.

The second the latch locked, I caught her around the waist and kissed her. Nothing had ever tasted so sweet. I didn’t relent in exploring her mouth, teasing and taunting her tongue with mine. Not until a soft moan hummed in her throat.

I loved that just kissing her made her melt. Relax. Made everything alright. I just hoped the conversation we had to have wouldn’t backfire.

Resting my forehead against hers, I breathed her in. I’d spent the last two nights stealing only a couple of hours with Maddy, and had no plans to see her until her next visit. But after today’s tour meetings, things could change.

“Something’s come up. About the tour.”

“What? Is everything okay?” Worry quivered through her tone.

“That’s subject to you, Mads.”

Puzzlement washed over her beautiful face. “Okay. I’ve only got twenty minutes before I head to the airport.” Yep, back to Vancouver. More time apart. “Come say hi to Mom first, then we’ll talk.”

She took my hand and led me down the hallway. My nerves jumped and swirled into a frenzy. Tonight I could walk out of here a happy man or a broken piece of shit.

I hoped it wasn’t the latter.

Valerie sat in her big recliner, watching a wildlife documentary narrated by David Attenborough. I loved the outdoors but couldn’t watch any form of nature program on TV. I’d rather have my eyes stabbed with a million needles...just like my hip.

But I pasted on a warm smile, stepped over to her, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Hey, Valerie. How are you doing?”

“Not good today.” Redness rimmed her glassy eyes like she was stoned. Angry rashes blotched her face. Her chest heaved with every draw of air. I’d never seen her this bad. “This is an unexpected visit. Maddy’s about to head back to Vancouver.”

“Yeah, I know. I just need to see her for a few minutes.”

“Oh, a quickie, huh?” Valerie giggled then coughed. “You usually go at it for hours. You two may be upstairs, but sound travels in this house. I hear everything.”

“That’s so you know I’m taking good care of Mads in every possible way.” I winked at Maddy. “But that’s not why I’m here.” I really wasn’t, but...I wouldn’t say no if she was up for it. Shit. Focus. I had other pressing priorities.

A flirty smile crossed Maddy’s lips. She tilted her head toward the staircase. “Come on. Let’s go upstairs.”

In her bedroom, she shut the door behind us. My mind raced as I plonked down on the bed bench. Leaning forward, I rested my elbows on my knees and cracked my knuckles on one hand, then the other.

Maddy eased in beside me. She caught my wrist, drew it toward her, and clasped my fingers against her lap. “Slip? What’s going on?”

I couldn’t tell whose hands shook more—hers or mine. But everything was about to change.

Crap. Here went nothing. I swiveled toward her. “We have to tell everyone we’re together.”

She sucked in a breath, shut her eyes, and didn’t move.

So I blabbered on. “We have to. After Flint and Sutton were mobbed by fans outside our gig last week, and the paparazzi are following us more and more, and Cole now has his daughter with him, for safety purposes, we’ve been assigned full-time security. They’ll start shadowing us tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” she whispered.

“Yep. Today, a team went to my house to check the security systems. Then, I had a meeting at their office this afternoon. I had to provide them with info about who comes and goes from my home, where I go, and who I see on a regular basis. I put you on my list.”

“Okay.” Her voice was barely audible. “We’re friends. Nothing wrong with that.”

I chuckled. “Mads, friends don’t come over in the middle of the night and sneak out before sunrise.” We hadn’t always done that, but it’d happened often enough. “With security and the paparazzi following my every move, we can’t keep seeing each other in secret. I don’t want to hide anymore. We can’t.”

A groove pinched her eyebrows together. She stared across the room toward a low bookshelf. Tears glistened in her eyes as she drew in a shaky breath, pursed her lips, and nodded. “I’m just scared. This, what we have, is so good.”

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