know exactly what was happening, and it wouldn't leave her imagination to run wild.
She suddenly wanted to cry. She fought the urge, not wanting Brandon to ask too many questions. She tossed and turned, trying to sleep, but there were nightmares every time she managed to close her eyes.
In the morning, Kaylee realized that she had barely slept. She crept out of Brandon's room before he woke up and went back to her own. There was no sound from Ashton's room as she whisked past it.
She showered quickly and packed her suitcase to take down to the bus, hoping to avoid any random women coming out of the room next to hers. She decided that she was better off not knowing, even though it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Kaylee and Ashton weren't together, and they never would be. He was free to do whatever, with whomever, whenever, simple as that.
Kaylee got on the bus an hour later, sad to be leaving the comfort of the hotel room, but glad to be back on the road. It was one stop closer to the end of the tour, when she could go back to her own house, and back to her own bed. She loved to travel and tour with the band, but it was all getting to her, and she would be glad when it ended this time.
She sat on the couch of the bus, reading one of her favorite steamy novels, when Brandon came up the stairs.
"There you are. You left without saying goodbye this morning." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I got worried when you weren't there when I woke up."
'What are you, a fucking girl? ' Kaylee wanted to ask. The snippy side of her had come out with a vengeance. Instead, she settled for something more civil.
"Sorry, I had stuff to do." Yes, the lack of sleep was definitely making her cranky.
"That's okay, at least we can be together now." He sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. "What're you doing?"
'What the fuck does it look like? '
"I'm reading," Kaylee told him with a roll of her eyes.
"Good book?" he asked.
'No, I love wasting my time reading trash, dip shit! '
"Yup, one of my favorites," she answered, frustration evident in her voice.
"What's it about?"
"Brandon!"
'For the love of all things holy, leave me alone! '
"What?" he asked, not getting any hints at all.
"Please, you can stay here, but I need some peace and quiet. I just want to read for a little while. There are magazines over there if you want something to keep you busy."
She knew she was being mean, but she just couldn't help it. She knew that Brandon had good intentions, but at the moment, good intentions really didn't matter much. She felt like a she had used him, like Ashton would use one of his women for a one-night stand, and then walk away. The thought made her feel even more down, and that made her dislike Brandon even more.
"Sorry." He got up and found a magazine to read, then returned to his spot next to her and put his arm back around her. He flipped the pages of the magazine with one hand, not really paying attention to what was on the pages he was reading.
A few chapters later, the rest of the guys came on the bus. "Okay, everyone's here. Let's head out," Jayden told the driver.
Ashton looked at Kaylee and Brandon, then gave a short laugh, shaking his head. He and Jayden went to the back of the bus to play a video game, while Noah and Colton joined Kaylee and Brandon up front.
No one really talked much; it seemed like everyone was in the mood for a relaxing ride. Brandon kept his position for hours, sitting next to Kaylee with his arm around her shoulders or his hand on her knee, except for the times that he got up to get a drink or something to eat.
As darkness fell, Kaylee put her book away. It was getting too hard to see, even with the overhead lights turned on. The four of them were talking and joking around, slowly bringing Kaylee out of her bad mood. The only thing still annoying Kaylee was the way that Brandon wouldn't leave her side. Even worse, as he sat there, he kept stroking her hair, as if he were petting a puppy.
She'd finally had enough of all the petting, and got up to make some dinner. She knew