Page 44 of Show biz

As Atlas hands me the joint, I place my lips on the paper and slowly suck in, allowing the smoke to fill my mouth before I pull it into my lungs. It’s a slow, steady routine that I’m well used to, and my eyes draw closed as I enjoy it.

“The sun is barely in the sky, and today already sucks,” Mav sighs as I hand him the roach. Thankfully we have some time to enjoy smoking before I have to face the music. I know she’ll know we smoked the second I walk into the room, but I do plan to shower and change my clothes.

Just because I need to disconnect from the world right now doesn’t mean I can’t be a fucking professional the rest of the day.

Eleven

LAYLA

“You’re going to wear a hole into the ground, Little Flower,” Tyler says, amused, from the living room as he works. He fired off an email to the label earlier to let them know about the incident at the radio station just in case, and uploaded a few photos from the interview to our social media accounts.

Tyler doesn’t really like Kyle either.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I mutter, forcing myself to stop moving. I don’t even know Draven, so why am I worried about him? Glancing at my phone, I decide to kill some time and call my sister.

Ugh, the guys looked really guilty and kind of sketchy when they disappeared earlier.

Whatever, they’re adults. As long as they can show up and do the rest of these damn interviews without making a fool of themselves or me, I don’t care.

I tell the traitorous part of me that is calling me a liar, to shut up just the same.

“I’m going to go call Lenny since I’m bothering you,” I sigh. I know that’s not what he meant, but I’m feeling twitchy. I miss Uncle Jordan too, because the radio station never would have pulled something like that with him.

I’m also worried because I haven’t heard from him either, and he would usually check in to see how things are going. I hope he didn’t have any issues at O’Malley’s. Mila and those people really do scare the shit out of me.

A strong, tattooed arm wraps around me, and I know I’m in trouble. My ass falling into his lap, Tyler buries his nose into my neck.

“Let’s try that again, Baby Girl. Take a deep breath for me, yeah?” Tyler murmurs. I can feel the deep gravel of his voice rumble through my body, and it makes me shiver.

Taking a deep breath, I nod. “I’m a ball of anxiety,” I whisper. “I don’t know if I need to pace, talk, or get spanked and then fucked.”

Tyler chuckles, squeezing me tightly. “I know which one I prefer, but my way would mean that we cancel all of your future engagements for the rest of the day. I love when you’re naked and begging me to come.”

“Yes, please,” I moan, wiggling.

“As much as I would love that, we don’t have enough time right now. Instead, tell me the top three things that are bothering you,” he says, kissing my neck.

Laying my head back on his shoulder, I think about it. “I’m worried something is wrong with my uncle. I haven’t heard from him, and if he were here, the radio show interview would have gone smoother,” I tell him. “I guess, both of those things are bothering me. Draven also never should have been asked that question, and his face gutted me. He looked like a deer in headlights.”

“It was rough watching it,” Tyler reassures me. “Now tell me why you care that he was hurt?”

Wrinkling my nose, I ask myself that same question. I don’t know him well, he’s friends with Atlas and Mav who think less than well about me. I’m a child in their eyes, regardless of how much I’ve accomplished.

“Layla?” Tyler asks, and I can hear the frown in his voice.

“Sorry,” I mutter. “Small spiral. I shouldn’t care outside of the fact that I really hate a bully. Carla the cuntasaurus was fucking ruthless. Sometimes my mouth gets ahead of me.”

“Can I tell you that it was really fucking sexy?” he teases me. “It truly was. Draven looked like he couldn’t wrap his brain around why you would help him.”

“He confuses me,” I admit. “He didn’t have to insist I sleep in the room the night before last either. I’m pretty sure he was listening to my songs on the way to the radio station too.”

“You have a concert in less than four days. They fucking better care about your music if they want to stay a part of your band,” Tyler growls. “I think you’re getting under Draven’s skin and you confuse him as well. Do you like him?”

Blinking, I turn in his arms. “What do you mean? Like him in what way? It shouldn’t matter if I do or not because I’m with you,” I tell him, brows furrowed.

“I didn’t say you weren’t,” Tyler says, kissing my nose. “I adore you, and you’re my entire world. However, I acknowledge that you have a really big heart. You’re allowed to like other people. I see how much your brothers-in-law adore your sister, and I have eyes, Baby. Atlas and Mav still live rent-free in your head.”

“They didn’t want me then and they don’t want me now,” I mutter. “It again shouldn’t matter because most people have one boyfriend. That’s what’s expected in society.”