Page 32 of Gabriel's Album

Ariana sits down next to me, and I put my arm around her shoulders, then lean my head against the back of the seat and close my eyes. My entire body is aching. The silence here, plus the semi-darkness, is nice and soothing.

I pick up our text conversation where we left off. “I just wish he’d think things through a little more carefully.”

“How do you know for sure that he’s bringing both of them back to the hotel?” she asks me.

“I’d bet my Vanquish that he’ll come back with at least one, if not the both of them. Can you imagine if that story got out?” I open my eyes to look at her as I say this, and I’m so angry at the thought.

“I would’ve thought it would be good publicity for the band?”

Ariana is so sweet, but her opinion of the rock star lifestyle is probably informing her suggestion. Then again, that’s generally what most people think. Hayden even joked about it with me earlier.

“Not all publicity is good publicity as far as I’m concerned. Yes, we’re a rock band, but we don’t have to be complete and utter assholes. I also think that women should be treated with respect, and Seb doesn’t have the greatest history of that,” I shrug.

I think about his ‘personal rule,’ and I’m disgusted. I hate that people see what Sebastian does and assume that I’m doing the same thing. I have my own playboy rock star reputation thanks to his antics, and it drives me crazy. Hell, Ariana almost split up with me before the tour because she thought I wanted to live like that.

“You know I have my own issues with Sebastian, so I’ll refrain from commenting. All I’ll say is that after that first meeting, he has behaved impeccably toward me, and I don’t have a complaint about him.”

Ariana meets my gaze as she says this. Her tone is soothing, and I find myself calming down. I squeeze her tight and smile at her.

“You’re right; I’m just tired,” I say as I kiss the top of her head.

The rest of the entourage is making their way over to the cars now, and they’re loading into the vans to go back to the hotel. So, obviously, the meet and greet is over.

“Hey guys,” Hayden smiles at us as he climbs into our van. “You left early?”

Sebastian has both girls with him, and I snort in disgust when I see them all get in one of the other vans.

Hayden follows my gaze and nods. “Ah. Yeah. Gotta love him, right?”

“Do we, though?” I ask, but I smile as I do.

“Yeah, bro, we do,” Hayden grins back.

“Or, we could kick him out of the band and ask Slash to join us?” I raise an eyebrow at Hayden.

“Let’s keep that as a backup plan,” he laughs at me.

It’s not long before everyone is in the vans, and we all head back to the hotel.

6

The Sixth Song

We’ve beenon tour for about a month now, and we’ve finally reached New York City. I’m excited because I’ve been here plenty of times, but Ariana has never even left Illinois, and seeing her joy at being here is like visiting here for the first time myself.

We’re staying at the Four Seasons, and when our tour buses pull up outside the front of it, there’s already a bunch of people here. Lots of pictures are taken, and I sign some stuff that fans give to me and thank them for coming to see us.

I see Ariana out of the corner of my eye as she quickly makes her way inside with the rest of the crew. Heather is with her, at least, so she’s not alone. We finally manage to get inside, where we’re greeted enthusiastically by the manager.

“Gentlemen, we’re so pleased to have you staying with us,” he says with a massive grin on his face.

They get us checked in quickly, and I make my way over to Ariana while they’re doing it. I don’t touch her until we’re all standing at the elevators, and there’s a large enough group around to hide us from anyone who’s looking.

I slip my arm around her waist as we get into the elevator, and it’s as though the world has righted itself. Everything's better when she’s in my arms. In every city we go to, though, Ariana insists on checking into her hotel room and going there first, as though everybody we’re traveling with has no clue that she and I are together.

When the elevator stops at level three, Ariana gives me a quick kiss on the lips before she gets out.

As soon as the doors close, Sebastian asks, “Why does she even bother going to her room?”

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