Page 118 of On The Edge
She’s so excited; her head flipping from side to side quickly, leaning over either of them to get closer to the window. So adorable.
“We’ll talk at the restaurant,” I promise.
“Got it,” Adam says, nodding once as his face sets into an angry grimace. I see his hands clench into fists as he realizeswhat it means that I’m not telling him about the phone right now.
“Reis took care of it.” I say as softly as I can to give him that bit of relief at least, but Adam just nods.
The drive is quiet after that. I got the security detail sorted—plain clothes, clear ear pieces to not draw attention, and made sure that they’re bringing us hats and glasses. Add that to our backpacks and obvious travel clothes, hopefully people will just let us slide past.
“You’re going to have to wear your hood up, Adam. You’ve got too many neck tattoos that are recognizable.”
“Yeah, I figured. Thank god, it’s not the dead of summer,” he mumbles, pulling at his collar.
“Our driver will take our bags to the hotel. Then, we’ll meet Louis there while we shower and get ready before heading off to the venue. There will be dinner at the craft table I’m sure, if that’s what we want.”
“Are you kidding? If we’re going out, I want fish and chips. Stuff that we’re not allowed to eat via the stupid fucking food plan. If we only get a day in London with Mel, I’m not going to spend it eating meal-prepped catering when she should get the whole experience.”
I nod and a smile grows on my face. “Well said.”
It’s obvious we want to give her everything, and that started the moment we saw her again.
“Yes,the rest of your party is in the back. Follow me.” The hostess must have been told we were coming because she isn’tshocked, isn’t bubbling at the fact four of the biggest rockstars just walked into her pub, she just stays calm and professional. We all follow her to the back room.
There stands Louis. With a bag in his hand, and his tie pulled down from the knot.
“Boys,” he says warmly in greeting.
“Your waitress shall be with you shortly,” the hostess says, and immediately, Reis and Adam correct her.
“Waiter.”
We won’t be letting another Sarah situation happen. I nod, and Kai crosses his arms over his chest, looking wearily at Louis.
“Right. Forgive me. Yourwaitershall be with you shortly.”
She closes the door behind her, and all our attention goes to the next threat in the room. Melody’s a badass and doesn’t bend under the tension, but I can tell she’s feeling a little out of her depth. She doesn’t quite know the hierarchy of our world, and doesn’t want to get us in trouble.
God, I fucking love her.
“Melody,” Louis snaps, no warmth at all. Fucker still thinks he can talk that way to her.
I’m not the only one who catches his tone either. Reis stands a little straighter like he’s about to start a heavyweight fight, Kai clenches his teeth while his fists clench at his sides, Adam steps to the side to cover Mel, and me? I grab her hand and pull her against me. Showing Louis that she’s protected at all times, by all of us.
“Louis,” she greets him, her tone equally as deadpan, and I have to focus not to smirk. Louis chooses to ignore her, and that makes my jaw set to the side in anger.
“You guys are being so fucking stupid.” Louis shakes his head, moving from around the table to look right at Reis. “Going off—to the tourist traps at that—at midday when the publicknows you have a concert tonight? Rookie move.” Louis brings his hand down roughly on the table.
“I think we know how we want to spend our free time. It’s really none of your fucking business, Louis. We know how to make it safe for everyone, so I think I can speak for us all when I say, get the fuck out,” Kai growls, stepping forward to grab the bag of stuff to help us blend in. While his words were blunt… they weren’t wrong.
Louis looks to Mel and his eyes narrow, his eyebrows pinching together and his hand on the table curling into a fist. He’s looking at her as if this is somehow her fault. Like Kai disagreeing with him, all of us refusing to fall into line. He’s looking at her as if it all stems from her. I do not fucking like that. Louis opens his mouth to say something, but Reis interrupts him.
“What do you want, Louis?” Reis says with a sigh, stepping forward and pulling Louis' attention from Mel.
“I want you to think about this. Really fucking think about it. What would happen if word were to get out that you all are sharing her? The public wouldn’t understand. Hell, I don’t understand why this whole thing went on more than a night,” he says exasperatedly. “You all can have as many girls as you want, and I can make sure that nothing reaches the public. But this?” Louis gestures towards Melody, “This is career ruining.”
And before he can keep speaking, Reis shoves Louis back with a quiet kind of rage. He didn’t shove him hard enough to knock him down, but definitely hard enough to get Louis' head on straight.
“Watch your fucking mouth,” Reis bellows.
