Assured (Soul Serenade #2)(25)

“Good morning.” That voice belongs to the girl who kept me up last night.

“Hey, you ready for this?” Logan asks her.

“Ready as I’ll ever be. Coffee?” she inquires.

I grab Tristan’s arm and move him to my other side. He’s still half asleep so he doesn’t protest.

“Cream and sugar?” I ask her. She has yet to look at me, but my question forces her to do so.

“Um, no, just black. I can get it.”

Reaching into the cabinet, I pull down another mug. I almost hand her mine, but I don’t think I can take seeing her lips where mine have been—it’s too soon for that. I pour her a cup and hand it to her.

“Thank you,” she says as our fingers touch. I feel that gentle brush of her fingers . . . everywhere.

“The bus will be here in thirty minutes. Everyone packed up?” Kacen asks.

We all nod and mumble our answers. I’m about to spend three months on a tour bus with a girl who tempts me, who has done nothing but occupy my mind for the last several weeks. Who am I kidding—I’ve wanted her since the minute I laid eyes on her.

This should be interesting.





The bus is loaded and we’re just waiting on the guys to join us. Logan and I are sitting at the small U-shaped dining table. My hands are resting on my lap, palms sweaty as what I’m about to do sinks in. I’m traveling with Soul Serenade. That’s a lot to wrap your head around.

It’s really happening.

“This is a new bus. I guess the old one only had bunks, and Kacen insisted we have a bed.” Logan places a hand over her belly.

“That’s a good man you married,” I say with a smile.

“He really is. Anyway, there is a bedroom in the back and then four bunks, a full bathroom and this living area that you see.”

“You’ve seen the bus before?” I ask her.

“Just plans and pictures. This is my first time being onboard. The guys designed it.”

“It’s not exactly roughing it.”

“Is that what you expected?”

“Honestly, Logan, I don’t really know what I expected. I’m still a little shocked that this is my life for the next three months. I’m nervous and excited. I don’t want to let you or the band down.”

“Impossible. I knew nothing about this life when they hired me. It’s not hard, just a lot of detail and organization. You have that in spades. Besides, it’s not just you. It’s both of us. We’re a team.”

“Let’s get this party started,” Cole says, climbing onto the bus, the rest of the band trailing on behind him. He slides in next to me, Kacen next to Logan, Gavin sits next to Kacen, and Tristan next to Cole. Logan and I are surrounded by musical hotness.

“Now what?” Logan asks.

“Now, we wait. Our first stop is Atlanta, which is about a four-hour drive,” Kacen explains.

“That’s a short jag compared to some of them. There will be nights that, as soon as the show is over, we pile on the bus and drive all night and some of the next day to get to the next show,” Tristan adds.

“So, what do you do?” Logan asks.

“Play cards, but most of the time we sleep. It’s exhausting at best. We write music, play Xbox. I’m not going to lie; it gets old fast, but with you here, I can see it being a hell of a lot more fun.” Kacen wags his eyebrows.

“Who’s up for a little gaming?” Gavin asks.

“You ready for me to kick your ass again so soon? I just demolished you yesterday,” Tristan goads him.

“Bring it, f*cker,” Gavin fires back. They both move to the small couch that has a large flat-screen hanging on the wall across from it.

“Have you seen our room?” Kacen asks Logan.

She shakes her head, and that’s all the answer he needs as he stands and pulls her with him. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

I watch as they walk to the back of the bus and disappear.

“Have you seen where you’ll be sleeping?” Cole asks.

“No, we didn’t make it past this point.”

“Follow me.” He stands and holds his hand out for me. I don’t accept it as I stand on my own and follow him in the direction our friends just disappeared.

“This is it.” He opens a door to a room that has four bunks. “The couch and the table also turn into beds, so if you ever want a change of scenery, that’s an option as well,” he explains.

“Which one is mine?” The space is not as small as I was expecting. Each one has a small TV that flips down from the top and what I assume are Bluetooth speakers in the corners. Thick curtains block out the rest of the room, giving a semblance of privacy.

“You can choose whichever one you want.”

I survey the bunks. “Which one is yours?”

He shrugs. “We haven’t picked yet.”

I think about it and know immediately that I need to be on the bottom bunk. They all have a lot of height on me, so it will be easier for one of them to climb into the top. “I guess I’ll take this one.” I point to the bottom right.

He nods then goes to the door and opens it. “Stacy and I have claimed the right side, so you all can duke it out for the left,” he yells to Gavin and Tristan.