Page 68 of Bind Me

“And I wonder why? You remember she was in a plane crash because you idiots got arrested?”

Charlie rolled his eyes, and I smacked him across the back of the head, not wanting any questions about Miami. It took so long for Addi and Neo to recover from that crash that by the time they got back to work they didn’t ask us to explain, obviously presuming we were being ego-filled, drunk dicks and the boys were happy with that explanation rather than have me be embarrassed.

“You have two gigs in New York, and a week to finish the new album in the studio we’ve hired for you, then you are in Canada, and then to Europe. Six weeks, fifteen gigs, and by the time you get back, we will have set up the promo for the album. Are you all ready for this?”

“We are, Fern. Stop stressing.”

“Addi asked me to make sure you were ready to go. I’m just doing my job. Don’t get arrested. Don’t embarrass the label. You’re already on thin ice with Neo. He’ll be watching like a hawk.”

Neo had taken over running the day to day of the record label as Addi was planning to take some time off to start a family. Dawson, our new manager, was meeting us in New York and would be coming on tour with us, along with our security team.

“Right, the plane is waiting,” Fern announced. “Cars are outside. Ionee, are you sure you want to go with these goons?”

Ionee laughed, sliding her hand into mine. “I’ve got it bad. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

“Get on the plane. Fly safe and one of you text me when you arrive, so I know you’ve not crashed somewhere remote.”

Ionee gasped, and I wrapped my arm around her.

“Jesus, Fern. What the hell are you playing at? That’s not funny,” I hissed.

“Sorry. It’s just, after what happened with Addi…”

“What happened with Addi was a technical fault on an old plane that shouldn’t have been in the air,” I reassured Nee.

I watched as she rolled her lip nervously between her teeth, making me lean in and press a kiss to where I could see her pulse hammering against her neck. “I promise to distract you if you get scared,” I whispered, making her smile.

“Deal,” she murmured back.

Chapter 17

Ionee

“Doyouguyseverget used to living like this? It’s like something out of a movie.”

Nee settled into the large cream leather seat next to me, and took my hand in hers, entwining our fingers together as the private plane we were on leveled out over the clouds of London on our flight to America.

Fox shrugged. “Not really. I mean, we’re well aware it could all vanish as fast as it arrived, so we try to enjoy it but not turn into dicks.”

“What do you think those kids we were would think if they knew we were on a private jet about to go on yet another tour?” Archer asked, looking at his friends.

“I think they would piss themselves laughing and punch us in the face, thinking we were lying to them. There is no way any of us saw this as anything more than three friends spending time together doing something they loved,” Charlie replied.

“I think a lot about what would have happened if Dad hadn’t left or Mum hadn’t gotten ill. I mean, I would never have even met you guys,” Archer murmured.

“And if I’d not gone to the church hall with Fox that night because my douche dad was away yet again and I didn’t want to spend the night with the nanny from hell.”

“And if I’d not gone because I was on a promise with Laura Harrison!” They all laughed, and I leaned into Archer, wanting to feel his happiness vibrate through me.

“And now you’ve hit the big time, do you still have the same worries and fears you did as teenagers, or does it change?”

“Still the same. That I’ll never feel good enough,” Charlie sighed. He was such a lovely man, but usually so shallow that his words surprised me.

“That I’ll never feel fulfilled,” Fox admitted.

“That I’ll end up like Mum or the girls will. I’m not sure I could go through that again.”

“And do you have people you can talk to about stuff? I mean, being in the public eye must make it hard to trust people enough that you can open up.”

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