stopped ringing, and his heart sank. No matter. It was somewhere in this room. Sofa cushions and pillows went flying in all directions. He shoved his hand into the crack between the sectional’s back and seat, finding a few coins, a cheese curl older than Keith Richards, and a few things he didn’t want to identify, but no phone. He dropped onto his belly and peered under the sectional, hoping it hadn’t slipped too far under there. He’d never get it out.
Face pressed to the carpet, he yelled, “Someone call my phone.”
“Should we put him out of his misery?” Steve asked from the doorway.
“I don’t know,” Max said. “It’s pretty funny, if you ask me.”
“What’s funny?” Logan sat up and pushed his wayward curls out of his face to glare at his comedian bandmates who had congregated in the doorway. All except Reagan. After what he’d said to her, Reagan would likely never speak to him again, but he had more pressing matters to deal with.
“What’s funny? How about the way you’re tearing apart the couch and flopping around on the floor in a panic when your phone is sitting peacefully in the charger.” Dare pointed at the charger on the end table.
“Who the hell put it in there?” But he knew. Toni had been looking out for him. Anticipating his needs and doing those little things that showed she cared without prompting or asking for anything in return. He grabbed the edge of the bare sectional in one hand and the coffee table in the other and hauled himself to his feet.
“I do think he’s actually in love with her,” Steve said, scratching his jaw.
“Why else would he make such an ass out of himself?” Max said.
Dare tugged the two men out of the doorway and started to slide the door shut. Just before it closed, he poked his head into the room and said, “Don’t fuck this up. Sometimes you don’t get a second chance at happiness.”
Logan waved him away as he returned Toni’s missed call. The door banged shut just as he lifted the phone to his ear.
“Logan?”
She answered on the first ring. Her voice wavered on his name, and she sucked in a deep shaky breath. He could tell she was crying, and the thought of her turmoil jabbed him in the gut.
“Please, you have to believe me,” she sobbed. “I didn’t—”
“Shh, sweetheart, I know you wouldn’t sell our secrets to the tabloids.”
“You know?”
“Yeah, so don’t cry. We’ll get this all straightened out.”
“If you knew, then why wouldn’t you even look at me after the show? I thought you hated me.”
“I could never hate you.” It was true. Even if she had been a conniving bitch and sold their stories to the tabloids, he would have eventually forgiven her. But thank God he didn’t have to. “At that particular moment, I was convinced you’d betrayed us, but after a few minutes of thought, I realized you wouldn’t do that to the band.”
“Fuck the band. I would never do that to you.”
Logan’s brow furrowed. “So you did sell them out?” What was she saying?
“Of course not. But if they hated me, I would eventually move on. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I ever hurt you.”
“I’m not sure Reagan will forgive you, but if the guys aren’t already over it, they will be in a few days. This isn’t the first time our shit has been smeared all over the tabloid toilet. We’re used to it.”
Toni snorted on a laugh, and Logan’s throat tightened. Who would have ever thought that such a tiny sound would bring him overwhelming joy. Toni was no longer crying, no longer heartbroken. His world could start turning again.
“Do you want us to turn the bus around and come get you?” he asked.
“He better not be making up with her!” Reagan yelled from the corridor.
“Will you calm down?” Max’s muffled voice advised.
“No, I will not calm down! Get your fucking hands off of me.”
There was a repetitive slapping sound. “Ow!” Max complained. “Some help here, guys?”
“Reagan is still pretty upset,” Logan said to Toni. Understatement of the century. “But maybe she’d be willing to ride with Sinners.”
“No, go on without me,” Toni said. “I have enough to get started on the book, and you know Reagan struggles to be a part of the band. You should support her. I’ll keep my distance until she calms down.”
Why would Reagan be struggling with being a part of the band? They’d accepted her