Page 24 of Touch in the Dark

“What exactly does he want to do?” Jordan asks. He’s sat forward on the chair now, his hands clasped between his knees. “I mean, it’s been a while since the last tour.”

“We’ve never stopped working though,” Adam says thoughtfully. “I was thinking about it the other day. Jenna works all the hours God sends, I want to take her on vacation, but our diaries are so booked up with all the dumb photo shoots, interviews and personal appearances Bianca has us doing. I’m working with Zosia on her new album. It feels like we never have a spare second.”

“And a world tour is huge,” I add. “I mean, it’s almost a year out of our lives.”

“The fans will be pissed. Bianca will lose her damn mind and the label will think they’re losing a huge pay day.”

“What’s more important?” I ask Jordan.

“Just playing devil’s advocate, Nicky. You know my boy’s mental health will always take precedence over what the label wants. Did we sign something? I can’t remember.”

“It’s in the contract,” Adam says. “We’ve not committed to any dates, just that there will be a tour. And a new album later this year. You’re right, Nick, things are in the pipeline but nothing official has gone out. I’ve had Bianca convince them to leave any planning till after the holidays already, so that’s given us a bit of a reprieve on the organisation of it all.”

“So, we could do it, we could get them to put it all on hold?” I ask.

“I mean, probably,” Adam taps his fingers against his knee.

“What in the fuck will I do if we have a break?” Jordan asks.

“You know Red Alert are right in the middle of their new album launching, going on tour and all the shit that comes with it. You think they wouldn’t love to have you along for the ride?” I ask him.

Jordan grins. “Oh yeah, I know someone who would love to have me along for the ride.”

“You’re fucking gross.”

“I’m talking about Ciro,” Jordan gives Adam an indignant look. “That guy loves me.”

Adam and I both laugh. Ciro doesn’t love anyone. He barely tolerates his own band members. The only one I’ve ever seen him have any time for is Alessa.

“Shit, he must hate that you’re dating her,” Adam chuckles. “You know he hooked up with Brooke at our album launch.”

“No shit, really?” I say in shock.

“Keep your mouths shut about it,” Adam says, backpedalling. The worst thing he could have done was spill a secret like that in front of Jordan. “I mean it, Brooke will fucking kill me if she finds out I know, or that I’ve told you.”

“Pssh, as if I didn’t already know,” Jordan says.

“You knew?”

“He’s Alessa’s best friend, he tells her shit. And she tells me.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask.

“She asked me not to.”

“Aw,” I give him puppy dog eyes.

“Fuck off.”

“It’s just so fucking weird man. Seeing you whipped the way you are.”

“Jealous?” Jordan asks me.

“No.” Yes. Shit.

Jordan is eyeing me, but I’m saved by the buzzing of the door. Jordan hops up to go answer it. He comes back in, looking at his watch, letting us know it’s Archer. He’s forty minutes early. “You’re so busted,” he tells me.

“He’ll just think I was early.”

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