Page 7 of Love You Like That (Excess All Areas 4)

“Yeah, it has,” Alex said.

When they reached the top, she paused for him to reach her.

“Sorry,” he said. “I said “Yeah it has” on the way up the stairs then realised you likely didn’t hear.”

“I did. Bizarrely, because of where the hearing aids sit on your ear, you can often hear what’s being said behind you easier than what is being said in front of you.”

Alex glanced at her hearing aid. “Huh. Makes sense.”

“It’s my superpower…being able to hear people when they make snide comments behind my back.”

“Hopefully that doesn’t happen too often.”

She looked at the curtained cubbies. “You’d be surprised how mean people can be.”

Alex shrugged. “You’re looking at the guy who was walloped with a cricket bat and told to man up by his dad when he came out. Been dealing with that shit ever since. I get how people can be mean.”

“Alex,” she said, touching his forearm. “People are dicks. I don’t particularly like them as a general rule.”

“I try to believe in humanity and its capacity for good.”

“Are the bunks assigned?”

He shook his head. “Luke and Willow are having the bedroom given she’s only ten weeks from giving birth. And there’s only one set of bunks this side of the stairs. The other side has two sets before the sofa at the end. So, I’m guessing this end would be less busy.”

“Perfect.”

Alex threw his bag, pillow, and phone onto the upper bunk on the right of the corridor. Then he slipped her bag off her shoulder and placed it on the bunk to the left for her. Footsteps thundered through the bus, and it wasn’t long before everyone had claimed a bunk.

Ed, the tour manager, appeared. “Is everyone settled?” he asked, and everyone nodded.

“We’ll hit the road, then. I’ll be on the crew bus, but you can call me if you need anything. Otherwise, see you in Aberdeen.”

She didn’t catch every word, but it was enough. They were off.

She was going on tour with a rock band.

She had a rock star wingman.

And despite her reservations, she was going to try her damnedest to enjoy it.

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