Page 51 of Doesn't Count

She shutters against me, and I like to think it’s notfrom the cold. With that small victory, I let go of her hair and hand her the box of Plan B. Reluctantly, she takes it, pissed that she knows I’m right.

I turn to head back into the bus, halting when I hear her groan.

“What?” I demand without facing her.

“Did you even read the back of the box?” She asks.

I stiffen because no, that’s for her to do. Slowly, I spin, inching back towards her.

“Why would I have done that?”

She shoves the box into my chest, crushing it for good measure. I rip it from her hands, reading the directions on the back. I nod, but a sarcastic kind of nod, the kind where you know you fucked up and find it hilarious because the shit-storm you’re in is all your fault, but better yet, you even saw it coming from miles away.

“It’s been more than seventy-two hours. It’s useless.” She scoffs.

“So, what now?” I look to her as if she has all the answers when I know for a fact neither of us have ever been in this situation before.

She smirks, crossing her arms and jutting her hip to the side. “Guess I’ll start calling you Daddy.”

I can’t help the chuckle that bubbles from my lips. It’s not funny, this entire predicament is actually pretty terrifying, but no point in panicking yet. “I don’t hate the sound of that. Especially coming from your lips.”

She rolls her eyes, scowling again. It’s cute as hell because I know she thinks she’s being tough, but she should know by now that her anger is like food for strays, I’ll just keep on coming back.

I crowd her, pushing her up against the bus, her chest caged by my arms as I lean into her. She avoids my gaze,pretending she wants nothing to do with me, but I know it’s all show.

“On the plus side, that’s nine months of worry-free fucking.” I tease in her ear.

“Ugh!” Her eyes pierce me with a spear of hatred as she shoves me away from her. “You're insane if you think we’re doing that again and don’t forget, this tour is only six months. By month nine, you’ll be long forgotten, just a completed job assignment.”

“Now you’re just being hurtful.” I tease half-heartedly, rubbing my chest.

She rolls her eyes. “Shut up, like you care. Can we just get inside? It’s cold out here.”

I step out of her way, letting her pass me to the door, her eyes catching mine briefly. They tell me she’s angry, that she’s confused, but also that she’s a liar. As much as she likes to pretend she hates me, her body says otherwise.

The drive to New Mexico is awkward at best. The guys’ lounge at the kitchen table, Koke strumming his guitar while Than hums along, creating a melody. Hypnos is sipping on a beer like its water, every now and then tapping a beat out on the table. I can’t bring myself to join them, my creativity clouded by the hailstorm named Ash.

I need things between us to be better than they are because right now, it’s ruining me. I never thought I would say this, but I’m throwing up a white flag for the sake of my team. They need me to be better than the distracted, raging, animal I have been since Ash arrived.

Begrudgingly, but of my own will, I grab a couple beers from the fridge and plop my ass down on the couch, crushing the tops of Ash’s feet. She glances at me with a deep scowl as I offer her one of the beers. She doesn’t move to take it, reminding me how stupid that gesture is, so I table it for myself later.

I sigh heavily, watching the guys and taking a sip of my beer. I contemplate what I want to say to her because truthfully, I’m not sure that I know how to talk to her without dousing everything in kerosene and lighting it on fire.

I clear my throat, “Can we talk?”

“Are you going to say something stupid?” She quips.

I have to give it to her; the girl makes me smile. It’s been a very long time since someone’s been able to do that.

“No, well I hope not.”

She shrugs, “Then I guess.”

I scratch the scruff under my mask, the hairs on my chin longer than they usually are. Shaving hasn’t exactly been on the top of my mind lately.

“I’m sorry... again.” I start.

She sighs, sitting up a little straighter causing her toes to wiggle under my thigh, but doesn’t retract them. “Our business is between us. Not them. They didn’t need to know I was a virgin or that after you I wasn’t or that you had to buy me Plan B.”

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