Page 53 of Knot Their Opening Act

It’s got a nice vibe and I can be fairly sure that no one here will know who we are. In other words, safe from questions.

Murray, Shay, Ry, and Gareth choose a big table in the room furthest back, right in the corner with the sunlight pouring in. It’s a gorgeous day outside but a bit chilly, and I didn’t bring a jacket or jumper, just a light knit shirt on over my t-shirt. “Sorry, guys, I don’t mean to spoil the party.”

“It’s all good, Jez, no worries. Peaceful in here,” says Shay. “What’s the tour bus like? Did you all have a lovely little chat?” She chuckles.

“Not a chance,” says Murray with a small grin.

I shake my head as I sit down and peel my thin outer layer off and hang it on my chair back. Caylee places a plastic menu in front of me. “I’ve been assigned the only bedroom on the bus, and I’m rather grateful.”

Murray leans forward, closing his menu. “So you didn’t talk to them at all? Have you spent any time with them, one on one? Maybe that’d be an easier way to try to make things civil.”

My face burns but I will my hands to stay in my lap and force down the urge to make any telltale shows of nerve. “Not on the bus, no.”

Caylee leans over. “What do you want? I’ll place the order.”

“I’ll come with you and get these guys’,” Gareth says, standing up from the table.

“Ah, Blue Moon and the nacho bowl. Extra sour cream, please.” I pull out my wallet and Caylee shoos this away.

“I got it.”

My heart wrenches at this. She’s no doubt earning way less than I will on this tour, but I wonder if Ash has given her a budget to pay for meals. Either way I say thank you and steal a glance around. We’re alone in this back room, so I turn back to my band.

“I ran into Holden last night at the gym, and Thomas and I shared a lift yesterday.” I pull my hair around my shoulder and start to braid it.

Shay raises a brow and Murray nods, while Ry is looking intently at something on his mobile.

“How were they? They’ve been friendly with us, and I even had a long chat with Nico after the show last night, just talking about gear and whatever,” Murray says.

“They were—kind.”

Murray nods as if he expected nothing less, but Shay smiles to herself, and then her head pops up, her eyes widening.

“Incoming,” she mouths.

I turn without thinking and sure enough, Fable on Fire plus Ash file into the room, each with a pint in hand.

My eyes search Thomas’s first, then Holden’s. Neither gives anything away, but both show a hint of a smile and nod at me. Holden holds my gaze, leans his head slightly at Kai, who’s standing behind him chatting with Ash and hasn’t seen me yet I don’t think.

Holden shakes his head slightly. They haven’t told him they know yet.

I take a deep breath.

“Coming to sit with us?” I say. My voice seems to shake Kai from his conversation with Ash.

The usual expressions of disgust, annoyance, revulsion, irritation, or mockery are nowhere to be seen on his angular face. His strong jawline is tensed, but he smiles and those green eyes surprise me with their openness.

“Bet Ash has ripped him a new one,” Murray says under his breath. “How’re ya, mates?” he says, voice raised.

Nico nods at us. “Mind if we sit back here? You don’t have to make room at your table. You lot scored the most private section in the pub.”

“There’s a reason for that,” Caylee mutters, returning with drinks, napkins, and cutlery.

“Nah, we can budge up,” says Murray. We all shift along on the bench on our side, against the wall, just as Gareth returns from the bar as well. Everyone finds a seat.

With Caylee on the end beside me, and Ry to my left, I feel a bit hemmed in. How I ended up in the corner, I don’t know. Murray’s across from me, and then, without warning, Ash and Holden drag chairs over to our end of the table.

Caylee places a hand lightly on my wrist as my other hand pulls the pint toward me. “Is this okay?” She looks meaningfully around at the cramped corner we’re now in.

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