you are embarrassing me, and starting shit with Jacks’ girlfriend—”
“She isn’t his girlfriend,” Laura gritted out in an annoyed voice.
“It doesn’t matter what she is, girl. She is clearly someone important to Jacks, and the other members of the band for that matter. That much is clear. I don’t know why she is here, what her relationship with anyone in the band is, but you back the hell off.
The band was nice enough to allow you to come on tour with me because you had nowhere else to go. You don’t work for your keep here, and if it wasn’t for me you’d be out on your ass.”
Tanner looked around the corner just enough that she could see the back of Laura and her father. Her dad had a red face and pointed his finger at her.
“I don’t even know what you’re going on about.”
The guy made an exasperated noise. “You know exactly what I am going on about. You slept with Jacks, that much I’ve heard through the rumor mill, but you think no one can see that you’re continuously trying to put the moves on him, and that he keeps pushing you back?” He didn’t wait for her to answer. “You’re embarrassing yourself and me for that matter. Knock that shit off, got it?”
Before Laura could answer, her father had turned his back on her and was out the door. Tanner could still hear Zoe breathing heavily, and she wondered if she’d heard the exchange. The guy had certainly been speaking loud enough. Tanner stayed silent, because she sure as hell didn’t want Laura to know she had eavesdropped on her conversation.
She sat back forward and winced when the chair squeaked. For a second she held her breath. It wasn’t because she was afraid of Laura, but because there was a part of her that knew listening to their conversation wasn’t cool.
“Who’s back there?” Laura’s shrill voice started to come closer.
Tanner closed her eyes and sighed. Well, she hadn’t wanted this to happen, but it looked like she was going there. She stood and turned around at the same time she saw Laura round the corner. The other girl’s eyes widened slightly, and then they promptly narrowed.
“You heard everything my dad said.” It wasn’t phrased as a question, but then again why would it be when it wasn’t like she hadn’t been in the same room? Tanner didn’t have time to respond because Laura was speaking again. “Just stay out of my way. Ever since you joined the tour Jacks has had these blinders on. Before you came along he was all up on me, couldn’t get enough in fact.” Laura sneered the last part and looked up and down Tanner’s body. “Didn’t think he was a chubby chaser,” she shrugged, “but then again I guess twat is twat.” Laura took a step closer, but Tanner was not about to be intimidated by her. She could say what she wanted, could even act like she and Jacks had something going on, but Tanner knew better.
“How about you keep out of my way?” Tanner cocked a brow and glared at Laura just as hard as she had done to her. No way in hell was Tanner allowing this twig of a woman to act like she was marking her territory with Jacks. She wouldn’t go on and on about how Jacks had already told her about the little one-time sex fling they had, because it really didn’t matter.
That was in the past, and exactly where it was going to stay. Besides, she wouldn’t give Laura the satisfaction of firing back with more lies, which was what Laura would do.
Laura stared at her and then chuckled humorlessly. “Girl, I have eaten cunts like you my whole life.”
That had Tanner laughing. “You’re like twenty.”
“Regardless, I guarantee that I have lived a harder life than what you have.”
“That’s not an excuse to be a bitch.” Where was this strength coming from? Well, Tanner was thankful because right now she wasn’t about to be trampled on by some wannabe groupie.
“Just stay out of my fucking way, and leave Jacks alone.” Laura turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door on her way out.
Leave Jacks alone? That girl was insane, possessive, and scary-crazy. All Tanner could do was shake her head.
“Hello?”
She heard the high-pitched yell of Zoe still on the other end of the line. She brought the phone to her ear. “Did you hear that insanity?”
Zoe whistled low. “Those are the