Page 109 of I Knew You Were Trouble

In his room, Duncan sits on the corner of his bed, resting his elbows on his knees.

‘So… Aidan and I are… dating,’ I say a little breathlessly, when I’ve relayed the whole story of this morning’s events to him.

‘Aye, I’m pleased for yous,’ he says. ‘Figured something was up. You kept disappearing.’

‘You’re not angry with me?’

‘Why would I be?’

I look to the floor. ‘Because I’ve been honest with you about everything else.’

‘I’m not the one you need to be honest with, Lex. You’re filming a boy band without their consent, and you just made one of ’em your boyfriend.’

I swallow a tight lump in my throat. Ouch.

‘I know that,’ I murmur.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chicago, USA

At the Peninsula Hotel, I wake to a sharp hammering on my hotel room door.

‘Aidan McArthur!’ the familiar voice snaps at full volume.

I moan, and poke Aidan in bed next to me.

‘Shit, it’s Ziggy. I’m late again,’ Aidan grumbles, getting up and stumbling over his clothes, once again piled up on the floor.

He gets half-dressed in a matter of seconds. I get out of bed and throw on a T-shirt and a loose pair of pyjama bottoms.

‘Have a good day,’ I whisper and Aidan squeezes my hand.

When I open the door, Ziggy is standing there with a thunderous look on his face. ‘You are late,’ he snaps, looking past me towards Aidan, ‘and not for the first time this week.’

‘Sorry, Zig,’ Aidan mumbles, and walks out into the corridor.

Ziggy’s brows are drawn together. He glares at me. ‘I need him inhisroom, Lexi, not yours.’

I give him an apologetic look. And then they’re gone.

Before I crawl back underneath the covers, my toes clash with cold plastic. Leaning down, I pick up Aidan’s phone from the carpet, realising he’s left it behind. Going back to the corridor, I lean out, seeing if Aidan or Ziggy are still around. I’m met with silence.

I leave his handset by my bed and pull the covers up. Chicago is on-another-level cold. Since the concerts started again at Madison Square Garden back in New York, moving north to Boston before onward to the Windy City, the tour seems to have stepped up a notch. It seems like every radio station and every TV channel is trying to get an interview with Rebel Heart. Filming has kept us busy, whether it’s interviews with some of the tour support staff, the dance crew, Ziggy or Bodhi, or capturing more general footage of the boys performing and rehearsing.

The speculation around Bianca’s relationship with Cal has remained rife, taking the focus off the other members of Rebel Heart, for which I’m thankful, as is Ravi, who is still being careful about who sees him with Tun. That Bianca is still with us on the tour has sent a message that it’s not simply a PR stunt.

This afternoon will see my last interview with a band member: with Danny Miller. He’s done his best to avoid it.

I lie back against the headboard with a sigh. Aidan has spent as much time with me as he can. It feels odd our relationship being out in the open, where he kisses me in front of the other members of the band. This project has continuously surprised me at every turn, never turning out the way I think it will. I came into it with a negative attitude but the members of Rebel Heart have proved me wrong. And I actuallylikethem.

I still worry about the moment that Vaughn Herrera discovers we’re in a relationship.

I’m wondering whether to get a shower when Aidan’s phone buzzes next to me. I glance right, just catching the notification of a photograph arriving. It’s a tiny thumbnail, but the sight of bunny ears makes the hairs on the back of my arms stand on end.

Picking up his handset, I hit the central button to illuminate the screen. It reads,1 new message. Underneath, the name reads,Taylor.

I toss Aidan’s phone on top of the bed covers, as though it’s on fire. I tell myself it means nothing, that Aidan’s probably still in touch with lots of girls he’s known. He’s a friendly individual so it’s no wonder some of them still want to flirt with him.

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