Page 56 of Don't Bang a Bandmate

All the good food, now that I think about it.

And the women.

Midwestern girls arefun,man.

Hannah. Michelle. Clarissa. Just to name a few repeat groupies I’ve kept in my contact book for these long Midwestern lulls throughout the years.

It wasn’t until Jordan mentioned Hannah last night that I realized I hadn’t even thought about calling one yet.

I have Jordan now.

No one else knows that, though.

So, when I drag my ass onto the bus fifteen minutes late this morning, the others waste no time in giving me shit.

“Ooo-la-la,”Knox says, his arm slumped over Harmony’s shoulder near the back. “Long night in the Windy City there, buddy?”

I say nothing as the others laugh and swoon at my expense.

Even Jordan. “Yeah,” she says from her table, flanked on both sides by August and Chrissy. “How’s Hannah?”

“Hannah!”Katrina snaps her fingers.“That’sher name!”

“Who’s Hannah?” Harvey asks by her side.

“One of Bronson’s many conquests scattered across the country,” she explains.

“More likethe world,”Knox quips.

“She keep you tied up this morning?” Jonah jokes.

I stay quiet, merely miming a key against my mouth before plopping onto a seat near the back next to Addison who... oddly, hasn’t cracked a joke yet.

She glances at me over the top of her tablet.

Not one damn word,I tell her with a look.

“All right, everybody!” Jordan says as she stands up. “Mac, take us to Detroit.”

“You got it, boss,” he says from the driver’s seat.

“Wait, wait,” Knox says. “You’re not gonna scold him for being late?”

“No,” Jordan says. “Why would I?”

“Wha—”Knox stutters, his head swiveling around. “But— I—huh?”

Jordan lowers her clipboard, her hands folded over it. “What’s wrong, Knox?”

“We get to the bus on time,” he says. “That’s the rule! Do we not have rules anymore?”

“Yes. We have rules, Knox. I also always ask you to be here an hour earlier than you actually need to be, so no harm done.”

Knox gasps while the others chuckle. Except Addison, whose gaze is still burning a hole in my cheek.

“I feel betrayed,” Knox says. “Outraged!”

“Drink some coffee, you’ll feel better.” Jordan looks at her clipboard again. “Anyway, as I was about to say, we’re heading to Michigan today...”

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