Page 76 of Four More The Merrier

"Tour bus. Now." Beau stands up, towering over us. "Before we lose everything we've worked for over this mess."

We file out like scolded children, the weight of our stupidity settling heavy on our shoulders. The distant sound of Quinn's voice, strong and clear, echoes through the corridors - a reminder of exactly how badly we've fucked up.

Back on the tour bus,I run my hands through my hair for the hundredth time, pacing the narrow aisle while security hovers outside. Quinn's still finishing the show we ruined.

"Real professional, guys. Real fucking professional." Lyle slams cabinet doors in the kitchenette, probably looking for his hidden whiskey stash.

"Like you're any better." Jarron sprawls across the couch, holding an ice pack to his jaw where I clocked him. "You've been making puppy eyes at her since day one."

"At least I didn't claim to hate her, and then end up sleeping with her," Beau mutters.

My head snaps up. Followed by Jarron's. A mix of "How did you-" and "Mind your fucking business" comes out of both of us. Which only confirms what I already knew. She's been with Jarron too.

"That's rich coming from Mr. 'Let's-Move-Her-Into-The-Bus,'" Jarron sneers.

"You slept with her too?" I ask Beau. The silence is answer enough.

Lyle emerges with his bottle. "Jesus Christ, we all did. And now we've gone and made complete asses of ourselves in front of five thousand people."

"She played us," Jarron says, but there's no conviction in it.

"Did she?" Beau's voice is quiet. "Or did we all just fall for the same girl and handle it like idiots?"

The bus door opens and our manager storms in. "You four are the biggest bunch of hormone-driven morons I've ever had the misfortune to manage. Do you have any idea what kind of PR nightmare-"

"How's Quinn doing out there?" I interrupt.

"Better than you clowns deserve. She's finishing your set solo." She glares at each of us in turn. "You better figure this out before tomorrow's show, or this tour is done."

The door slams behind her, leaving us in silence.

"So what do we do?" Lyle takes a long pull from his bottle.

None of us have an answer for that.

We all sit on the sofa, watching Quinn through the bus window as she approaches after finishing our set like a handful of grownded little boys. The light catches her auburn hair just right, and suddenly everything clicks into place.

"You know what? This doesn't have to be fucked up," I say, standing up. "We're making it complicated when it's simple."

"What are you talking about?" Jarron growls.

"Watch." I stride to the bus door and swing it open just as Quinn reaches for the handle. Her eyes widen in surprise.

"Austen, I-"

I cup her face in my hands and kiss her hard, pouring everything I feel into it.

"What the fuck," Beau shouts, jumping off the couch, the bus swaying with his steps.

When I finally pull back, her lips are parted in shock.

"I care about you," I say. "But so do they." I turn her gently toward Jarron. "And that's okay."

Understanding dawns in her eyes as I guide her to my cousin. Jarron hesitates only a moment before pulling her close, his kiss softer than anyone would expect from him.

When they part, Quinn's cheeks are flushed. Beau and Lyle exchange glances before Beau steps forward, ducking his head to meet her lips. His big hands cradle her like she's precious.

Lyle's kiss is playful, making her laugh against his mouth.

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