too trashed that we didn’t know what we were doing.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t tell anyone. I was afraid I had ruined my friendship with Jacks, and that because of what we had done it would be like this domino effect with the rest of the guys. Can you imagine how awkward it would have been if it had gone down that way?” She didn’t wait for Zoe to respond. She just kept talking, because even though it had been years, it felt really good to get it out. “So I hauled ass out of there, avoided Jacks like the damn plague because I didn’t know how to deal with it all, and gave this shitty goodbye to everyone. It just felt so strange being around him after that, even though I kept my distance.”
“But obviously things worked out.”
Tanner shrugged. “I won’t lie and say it wasn’t weird when I first saw him after all that time. I mean I love all of the guys, but Jacks…” She brought her legs up and sat crossed-legged on the couch. “I’m in love with him. The time apart didn’t change that.” There was a long moment of silence that stretched between them, and she wondered what Zoe was thinking.
She didn’t seem upset that Tanner had never told her what happened, but she supposed enough time had passed that it wouldn’t have made a difference anyway. “What makes this even worse is that for those five years I never reached out to him.”
“Well, the band grew massively in that time. It probably would have been hard for you to get in contact with him anyway.”
She nodded, because that was a nice thought, but she would never know because she had never reached out.
“He loves you?”
Tanner nodded, and she couldn’t help the goofy grin that covered her face. Zoe groaned, but she smiled as well. She didn’t know what would happen if she actually decided to go on tour with him, but it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and a chance to use her degree in the most fantastical of ways. But with that success also comes a shitload of other things that could go wrong. “He wants me to go on tour with him not only as an employee, but also as us … in a relationship.”
“I won’t lie and say going with them wouldn’t be the most incredible experience you will probably ever have, because it would be. I mean the things you would see, and hell, you’d be up close and personal with Twisted Feather.”
“Zoe, I don’t see them as this rock band. I just see them as the guys that we hung out with.”
“Yeah, I know, but I can’t help but feel a little excited that we know them on a level none of those screaming fans ever will. You know?”
Tanner nodded. Yeah, she knew exactly what Zoe was talking about. “So, see, don’t feel so weird about putting the moves on Beats, because I freaking slept with Jacks and ran like a little kid.”
Zoe smiled and nodded. “I won’t lie and say your story didn’t make me feel a little better, but it still sucks.”
“Yeah, I know.” They were silent for a few more minutes, and she wondered if Zoe had fallen asleep. But then, with her eyes still closed, Zoe started talking. “I think you should go. You’ll probably see a lot of shit you don’t want to. I mean look at that party last night. There were naked chicks all over the guys, and drugs everywhere.”
“You don’t think the guys do drugs, do you?”
Zoe was shaking her head before Tanner even finished. “No, I asked Beats, before I made an ass out of myself that is. He said they don’t touch that stuff, but there was this strange look on his face, and his voice sounded weird. Maybe they had tried them and he felt strange talking about it with me?” She shrugged. “Oh well, it doesn’t matter now because I can’t face him after last night.”
“Things will work out, Zoe, I mean look how things ended up with Jacks and me.”
“Yeah, but how will you be able to handle the groupies that throw themselves at them?”
“I’m no prude, and can handle all of the groupie girls degrading themselves, at least I hope I can, but I love Jacks, Zoe—”
“And you don’t want to see them doing that to Jacks, even if he isn’t interested in them?” Zoe finished her sentence, and Tanner nodded.