Page 129 of Dirty Rock

“That woman is all face, no shame.” Grabbing the phone from Jules, I pulled it closer and took a look at the picture of us kissing. “Damn, though. We do look good together. Holding on kinda tight there, baby.”

Her cheeks flushed pink again, and she rolled her eyes as she fell into my body so she could rest her head on my chest. “It’s about to get crazy out there, Rhett.”

“I’m ready. Let the world take us on. I finally have something worth fighting for.”

Chapter Forty-Four

JJ Jones has set the Youth Gone Wild Fandom alight with her recent Instagram post, which shows the lead singer and notoriously naughty Rhett Ryan cosying up with none other than the band’s very own squeaky-clean publicist, Julia Speed. While Youth Gone Wild’s team have remained tight-lipped about the apparent relationship so far, many are speculating that Rhett Ryan is, indeed, trying to break away from the band and move to a solo career without the other four members. A source close to the band reports that Presley West’s relationship and quick engagement with Instagram It Girl Tessa Lisbon has put a serious strain on the band members and their friendships.

Rhett performed his first solo event live on American TV only last week, where he blew the music world apart with his raspy, seductive rendition of Hallelujah.

And we’ll give you one guess who his one and only travel partner was on that trip.

That’s right. Sneaky little Julia Speed herself.

Which begs the question… Is Rhett screwing around with the publicist to get his solo career off to a good start, or is this just another media stunt to get the spotlight on him and away from the band?

Stay tuned for more news on the hour, every hour.

“Should we be worried about this solo talk?” Big D asked me from the other side of the bus. Each member of the band was sitting around two tables. Hawk, Coops, Julia, and Presley on one side. Me, Dicky, Big D on another. A week had passed since the scandal had broken out, and we were back in England with the boys. “You would tell us first, right?”

“There’s nothing to tell,” I answered. “I’m not quitting shit.”

The band and all its crew were heading from London to Edinburgh to perform in Scotland’s first outdoor festival of the year. U2 were headlining—something Presley had a serious issue with for some reason none of us could figure out—while we, alongside a whole load of other current bands, were joining them.

“It’s kind of ironic, though.” Big D grinned. “The publicist is now the one in the centre of the scandal.”

I narrowed my eyes on him in warning. Julia shuffled in her seat, while Dicky’s hands clenched into fists on top of the table we were sitting around.

Since arriving back from America, we’d barely spoken to any of them about what had gone on. The guys of the band already knew, and Dicky was quite clearly pissed, but none of their opinions were going to change my mind on the way I felt. And if they knew anything about me, it was that I always went after who and what I wanted. If someone told me they were off-limits, I went at it harder.

But the tension between us was ridiculous. The silence and unspoken words were creating an atmosphere nobody wanted to be in the middle of—least of all Tessa Lisbon, who had taken herself into the back of the bus where the beds were so she could lay down and read.

“It’s hardly scandal.” Hawk slopped, tucking his Double Decker wrapper back to reveal more chocolate. “So, two consenting adults are fucking…”

I pressed my palm to my forehead and closed my eyes, the muscles in my jaw twitching.

“Big deal,” he finished.

“Everything’s a big deal when you’re in the music industry,” Coops butted in. “Rhett’s hot property. Always has been. The fans are obviously going to be interested when he settles down.”

“Yeah, but this media bullshit is too much. I don’t get it. Maybe I live in a different world to everyone else. I just can’t imagine being so invested in who was fucking who when there’s so much life out there to be lived for myself.”

“Have you always been so stupid, Hawk?” Dicky snapped, making my eyes spring open at him from under my hand. He was glaring at Hawk like he wanted to eat him alive. The veins in his neck were popping, his face turning red. “Your entire livelihood—this band’scareer—has all been based on us counting on those fans being ‘So fucking invested’,” he mocked. “We’ve spent years making sure they want to know everything about you so that when the next record drops, they download or buy it before they’ve remembered to breathe, just so they can hear Rhett’s voice. And you’re sitting here wondering how people can give a shit?”

“Jeez, Dicky, calm down.” Hawk frowned.

Dicky slammed a fist down and stood, making us all look up. “I’m starting to wonder if this is even worth it. If you guys really want this, or if all any of you are interested in is getting some regular piece of pussy every night.” He stormed off to the back of the bus, leaving each of us to watch him go.

I sought out Julia, who had her eyes closed as she sat there, quiet.

“Julia?” I said calmly.

“Just so you all know, I have zero interest in settling down.” Big D chuckled, trying to break the tension. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

“No way am I bringing a woman into this life,” Hawk said. “Not with that bipolar fucker hanging around. Christ, not even my own mother gave me that much shit for getting laid.”

“Julia,” I repeated.

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