Page 58 of Heart of a Rebel

Not that it means I’m getting a break anytime soon. We still have three weeks left on tour, with one of them being the Sun Daze Festival—a reality already setting me on edge.

Controlling the environment around the band is hard enough at venues and hotels, but at a week-long outdoor concert, it’s a nearly impossible situation. Add in the fact that I still have no leads on Eloise’s stalker and I’m ready to pull the plug on the whole thing.

As if those thoughts aren’t unsettling enough, for the first time in years I’m not sure what’s coming next.

Eloise hasn’t agreed to a new album or tour, so as far as I know, the band will be taking some time off. And while that will free me up to focus on Merry’s next move, I’m not looking forward to what that means for me not seeing Eloise on a daily basis.

The elevator door slides open, and I make my way down the hall, hoping whatever I’m wrestling with in my head isn’t showing on my face as I approach Beau, the security officer standing in front of Eloise’s door.

“Anything?”

Beau shakes his head. “Quiet night.”

“Good.”

He steps aside so I can go in. If he thinks anything about the fact that I’m heading into Eloise’s room in the middle of the night, he doesn’t let it show. I have no doubt in my mind the rumor mill has been swirling with everything that’s been happening lately, but the crew is smart enough not to say shit to my face.

The room’s dark when I step inside, and I’m flooded with a familiar sense of relief from the floral scent that hangs in the air as I close the door. Everything about Eloise is comforting. Her smell, her voice, her presence. It’s exactly what I need after a rough night.

While she’s been back in the room for hours now, I’ve been wrangling the crew and prepping to hit the road again tomorrow—or today. Looking at the clock, I realize it’s already three, and we’re taking off by noon.

I really should go to bed, but I’m stressed, thirsty, and wired.

Dropping onto the couch, I tip my head back, trying to relax my mind.

“Adrian?”

I look up and see Eloise coming out of her room, rubbing her eyes. Her hair is wild around her shoulders and she’s in nothing but an oversized T-shirt, showing off the length of her legs.

“Yeah, it’s just me.” I hate that she has to worry about every little sound. “You can go back to bed.”

Instead of turning around, she walks over and sits on the coffee table in front of me, close enough that her bare legs are between mine and the room starts shrinking in on itself.

“You okay?” I sit up straight and try to read her.

Beau knows to call if anything out of the ordinary happens, and it’s been silent all night, so I figured Eloise was in bed sleeping. But the way she’s sitting this close, chewing at the inside of her lip worries me, and I hope I didn’t miss something.

“I’m fine.”

Her answer and her body language say two different things. Her hands grip the coffee table, and she looks stressed with her whole body tensed.

“Adrian, can I ask you a question?”

My eyebrows pull together. “Always.”

She draws her bottom lip between her teeth and I’m not sure if that was the right answer for the middle of the night, but I’m curious what’s working behind her beautiful eyes.

Eloise pulls her shoulders back like she’s preparing herself for something. Sitting up straight, she looks me in the eyes, not blinking. “What do you see when you look at me?”

“You’re Eloise Kane.” I try to shrug it off, not sure where this is coming from.

“Right.” Her grip tightens on the coffee table. “But who am I to you?”

“I’m not sure if it’s smart I answer that question, El.” I shake my head.

For so many reasons I know it’s better to stay quiet. Her, sitting this close has my defenses faltering. If I’m not careful, I’ll break the promise I made to myself when I accepted a job as the band manager and swore I’d be her friend and nothing more.

“Why?”

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