Assured (Soul Serenade #2)(32)

Tristan spits the drink of milk he just took. “Uh . . . we were just kidding around. Your girl?” he questions.

I pretend to be reading. I’m not. I tap the screen and bring up a book I’ve already read; that way, I can tap the pages and not lose my spot. I don’t want them to know that I’m hanging on every word.

“Not yet,” Cole tells him. “I’m working on it, though.”

There is not one hint of teasing in his tone. I’m too big of a chicken to look at him, to see if the expression on his face tells a different story.

“All right then. I’m supposed to meet Gavin at the sports bar down the street for some pool. You all want to come with?”

“No,” Cole says.

“Stacy?” Tristan calls my name.

I look up, acting as though I wasn’t listening. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Gav and I are going to play some pool at a place just down the road. You want to come with us?”

I don’t look at Cole, but I can feel his eyes bore into me. “No, but thanks, though. I think I’m just going to enjoy the quiet while I can.”

“All right, well, if you change your mind, just call me and we’ll send one of the guys back to get you.”

“I’m good, but thanks. Have fun and be safe.” Logan’s mothering tendencies have rubbed off on me when it comes to this lovable group of rockers.

“Have you eaten?” Cole asks once Tristan’s gone.

“Not since breakfast.”

“Let me take a shower, and then we can go grab something to eat.” He leans in, kisses me on the forehead, then stands and heads toward the bathroom.

He’s been like this for the last week. He hasn’t given me his usual “we would be good together. One night is all we need” speech in a few weeks, and I’ve been feeling this gradual shift between us. I’ve come to see a different side of him, but does a tiger really change his stripes? This could be his way to get what he wants, which is apparently me underneath him.

He’s showered and ready to go in record time.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“I don’t know. I thought we could take a walk and see what catches our attention.”

I watch as he slips a hair tie on his wrist and grabs his sunglasses. I’ve watched them all make some type of effort to be incognito when they go out in public.

He holds his hand out for me and I easily slip my fingers between his. He’s been this sweet, sexy guy all week, but I’m waiting for the “when can we f*ck” or something to that effect to fall from his lips.

We walk through the city, and the silence between us is comfortable; we’re simply just two people holding hands, enjoying the slow pace of the day.

“How about there?” He points to a food truck.

“This will be a first for me,” I admit.

“Really? It’s kind of like fair food, without the rides.” He winks.

We both order a cheeseburger and a large fries to split. It smells amazing. Cole leads us over to a picnic table that sits next to the truck.

“They leave picnic tables in the street?”

He chuckles, pointing to the food truck. “They bring it. I can only assume that it helps business. The truck is convenient, but walking and eating is not always as easy.”

“Makes sense.”

“So, how are you liking being on the road so far?” he asks once we’re seated.

I place the fries on a part of my cheeseburger wrapper between us. Cole works on opening a few ketchup packets. “It’s not what I expected—at least, not yet.”

“Not yet?”

“It’s just that I expected more . . . parties and groupies and just . . . you know, all the stuff you hear and think of when you think rock tour.”

“Disappointed?” He smirks.

“No, I’m not disappointed,” I say, with a little more sass than necessary. “It’s just not what I expected.”

“Do you regret it? Your decision to come with us?”

By the tone of his voice, it’s almost as though he dreads hearing the answer. “Not at all. I mean, it’s only been a week, but it’s been fun to see it all behind the scenes. Not only that, but I get to work with my bestie.”

He nods and takes a bite of his burger. I don’t even think he chewed, because he’s already talking again—with no food in his mouth, I might add.

“You forgot to mention the best damn rock group who just so happens to have a sexy lead guitarist.” He winks and shoves the rest of his burger in his mouth.

“How could I forget about Gavin? He’s every girl’s wet dream,” I quip. I’m just messing with him; I know Gavin is bass guitar and Cole is lead, but he can’t be the one having all the fun.

“Are you f*cking kidding me right now?” he asks. He’s dead serious, and I see that my joke is not as funny to him.

I quickly snatch a fry out of the container and throw it at him. “Yes, Mr. Hampton, I’m f*cking kidding you.”

He easily catches the fry and pops it into his mouth. I watch as he chews once and swallows before he narrows his gaze on me. “Not funny, sweets.”

“Oh, come on. You have to admit I got you.”

“You can have me any way you want me, Stacy.”