Page 79 of Doesn't Count

“Slipped my mind. Won’t happen again.” I smirk.

“Why wouldn’t you tell me you’re from Chicago?” She huffs.

“Didn’t think it mattered. A million people are from Chicago. It’s a big city.” I brush her question off. “Now, can you please tell me what you thought of the song?”

Her fierce, blue eyes roil like a threatening storm as she sucks her bottom lip between her teeth. I can practically hear her thoughts warring inside of her mind right now, debating whether she wants to tell me the truth or to fuck off.

Crowding her into a corner of the green room, out of sight from everyone else, I trail my hands along her sides, fisting the fabric of her dress against her hips. As I wait for her answer, I slip my mask off, tossing it to the couch next to us and bring my nose to the crook of her neck. Slowly, I inhale, sucking in the scent of coconut shampoo and lilac flowers. She shivers in my hold, my nose tickling her ever so slightly.

“I hated it.” She swallows.

“Liar. I don’t think you hated it at all.” I call her out, my lips finding the skin above her shoulder.

She tilts her head just enough to give me more access, my lips touching down in soft, little kisses. “I hated it as much as I hate you.”

I chuckle, “So not at all then?”

“More than you can imagine.” She corrects me.

I sink my teeth into her flesh, eliciting a silent scream from her, her head slamming back into the wall behind us. “Let’s get out of here.”

Tying my mask back on, I lead her out of the theater, her hand entwined with mine. The back door flies open, and I’m instantly stunned, a bright flash blinding me followedby a few more. I cover my eyes with the back of my hand, realizing we’ve been ambushed by paparazzi for the first time since touring. Leave it to Chicago to fuck everything up.

Ash rips her hand from mine, covering her own face as we dart for our bus. The guys already waiting inside.

“What the fuck was that?” I wonder out loud.

“What? What’s going on?” Than asks, worried.

“Since when do you have paparazzi following you guys?” Ash questions for me.

“Never.” Hypnos answers.

Ash groans, flashing her eyes my way. “You do know how this is going to look now, right?”

I shrug, unsure, never having been in this situation before.

“Well, you guys just released a new song about a girl and now you’re caught holding hands with said girl...” Sam spells out.

“So what? There are going to be rumors now?” I laugh, not seeing the big deal. “I don’t even go on social media, what do I care?”

“Only, they’re not rumors.” Sam mutters.

“Hey, you know what? It’s not bad press. Maybe this is what we need. Spice up our lives. We’re popular now that we have the paps following us.” Than tries to console a green-looking Ash.

“He’s got a point.” Hailey shrugs.

Ash groans. “I’m screwed. I don’t want to be known as the journalist who’s sleeping with the band-”

“Just me.” I correct her.

She rolls her eyes, “This is just going to give other journalists amo to discredit me and boost their audience.”

“Let’s just wait to see what gets released.” Sam says.

“Agreed. Don’t worry about it right now. I’m sure it will allblow over in a few days and you can go back to being invisible.” I reassure her.

Famous last words... The next two months are brutal. Ash was right, getting caught with her in public is all anyone seems to talk about. Luckily, no one was able to capture a picture of her face. Her hand blocking most of it, but it doesn’t stop the incessant gossip. Who is the girl in the pictures? Has she seen our faces? Are there any other songs written about her? It’s a rollercoaster of praise and destruction, Ash at the center of it all.

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