Page 49 of Heart of a Rebel

“I should let you get some rest.” Eloise lifts off the counter but doesn’t let go as the bus swerves slightly.

“Not tired,” I say. “Even so, it’s your bus, pretend I’m not here.”

My phone pings in my pocket and her eyes drop to it, the same expression from earlier this morning straining on her face. She’s wearing all her emotions today, which isn’t like her. And as much as I’d like to help her let go of what’s wound her up, another twisted part of me wants to set us both on high speed and find out if we can finally catch up to whatever has spent the last six years brewing.

“Shouldn’t you get that?”

I shrug one shoulder. “Probably the documentary crew already catching wind of the cops or some shit. It can wait until tomorrow.”

“Or Becca.” The second the words escape, Eloise looks like she wants to take them back. Panic bleaches her face, but she rolls her shoulders back in a move that is so her, I can’t help the smirk that tugs the corner of my mouth.

“Doubt it’s Becca,” I say, really curious about why that draws so much interest from her.

Eloise crosses her arms over her chest, looking me over. “But I thought—”

She cuts herself off abruptly. Like her filter is on the fritz and she’s barely managing to keep a lid on it.

“What did you think?” I cross one ankle over my opposite knee and stretch my arms across the back of the couch. It’s not big and going to be one hell of an uncomfortable bed, but not the worst I’ve ever slept on.

Eloise shakes her head and dips her chin. She runs her fingers through her hair before looking back up at me with a lost expression. “You’re not getting engaged?”

I can’t help but laugh. Loud.

Engaged?

What the fuck is she even talking about?

“Oh, God.” She buries her face in her palms and shakes her head, the faintest peek of a smile not hidden by her small hands.

“Tour life high school got you?” I chuckle.

Something about going on tour turns the crew into teenagers again. Fucking like rabbits, spreading gossip to kill the boredom. A bunch of adults acting like they’re sixteen. And the longer we’re on the road, the worse it gets.

Eloise uncovers her face, and the brush of a smile on her lips is the slightest bit…relieved? Which is when it occurs to me that she thought I was going to pop the question to Becca.

“We split up,” I admit, realizing she had no idea because I don’t talk to anyone about my relationships, especially her.

“I didn’t realize.”

I lean forward, planting my elbows on my knees. “Not one to update everyone on my relationship status, I guess.”

She nods her head, thinking that over as she chews on her bottom lip again, which makes it even plumper than it naturally is.

After a long beat, she comes to sit down on the couch next to me. I might be all the way on the other side, but with her turned to put her feet up and face me, she’s right there.

It doesn’t matter how much time passes since the day I first met Eloise Kane. She’s still the only girl with the ability to send my brain into a tailspin with one look. Which just so happens to be the look she’s currently giving me.

“I’m sorry.” She pulls her knees to her chest and wraps her arms around them.

“Don’t be.” I shake my head. “You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for, got it?”

Eloise stares at me. A whole universe swirling in her eyes. Gold flecks of stars that once made me wish for so many things, and now all I want to do is get one more to save her from any more pain.

“There’s just…” Eloise sighs, pressing her lips together. “There are things I wish I could go back and change.”

Words I can relate to more than she realizes. I’ve disappointed every person who has ever meant anything to me by simply not being there when they needed me. The band was my redemption, my chance to make a difference. Something I failed at on day one without even realizing.

Eloise shivers, and I grab the lavender blanket she has folded on the couch, reaching over to wrap it around her shoulders. It’s the absolute least I can do and feels like an insignificant gesture at a time like this, even if she smiles a thank you at me.

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