to be spending so much time together. Just a warning. So do us both a favor and keep it to a minimum.”
She looks a little surprised. Her eyes linger on my crotch, before she quickly turns away and looks out the window. “Noted. Thanks for the warning.”
The first two hours of the drive goes by fast with little to no conversation at all. To be honest, I’m trying to figure out how this will all work without us having sex and keeping kissing to a PG rating.
There’s no way Alana is going to believe we’re a real couple unless we’re kissing and touching each other a majority of the trip. Back when Alana and I dated, I couldn’t keep my hands to myself, and she sure as hell couldn’t either.
But this is my brother’s girlfriend, not mine. I need to make this work while still being respectful of their relationship.
“I should’ve eaten when I was at the diner. I’m so hungry right now.”
“Check the glove compartment.”
I can’t help but to laugh when she opens it and a stash of jerky falls out. “Please tell me these haven’t been here the whole time your truck has been chilling at your brother’s while on tour.”
She begins picking them up, gathering them into a pile on her lap. “Not all of them. Be sure to check the date before shoving one into your mouth.”
“That’s a joke, right?”
“Sadly, no.” I smile while turning down the road we need to travel for the next hour or so.
My chest is aching just knowing we’ll be there soon, and I suddenly realize that we haven’t even discussed the details of ‘how we met and started dating’.
“Okay… so we met eight months ago when RISK played at a venue in California. We’ve casually kept in touch ever since, settling for FaceTime sessions every night before bed, because with my busy schedule and you managing a hotel we’ve only been able to spend every other weekend together. Oh, and no one knows about us because we’ve kept our relationship away from the prying eyes of the media.”
When I look over, she’s carefully checking the dates on the jerky, before deciding which one to eat. “Do you really think they’re going to believe we FaceTime every night? That seems a bit much for someone with your lifestyle.”
I grip the steering wheel and think back to mine and Alana’s relationship. I wasn’t exactly famous back then, but I was still on the road playing at different bars and other smalltime gigs that would schedule us to play. “Yes. They’ll believe it. I did it with Alana.”
She gives me a surprised look, as if she wasn’t expecting that response. I wasn’t joking either. When I’m in a relationship, I’m committed one hundred percent on making it work.
“Every night?” she questions.
“Except for the nights Alana didn’t answer, yes.”
She looks down at her phone as if she’s been waiting for a message or call.
“You’re about to lose reception in about fifteen minutes. If there’s a call or a text you need to send, then you should do it now. It might be a while before you get it again.”
She shakes her head and powers down her phone. “Was waiting on your brother to text me back, but I guess he’s too busy with work still. Nothing new.”
The disappointment in her voice has me wanting to get her mind on something else, so I turn up the radio and begin singing along to Arizona by Highly Suspect.
She may not realize that I can see her watching me, but I do. She seems to be focused on my lips every time I glance her way.
“You listen to Highly Suspect?” I raise a brow and wait for her reply.
“I love them. They’re one of my favorite bands, actually.”
“That’s awesome. Ever been to a concert?”
She laughs. “Is this the whole ‘getting to know each other’ as a fake couple thing?”
I shake my head, because it’s not. “I’m just curious about your likes and dislikes. This has nothing to do with putting on a show for anyone else. It’s okay for us to be friends in real life, you know.”
“I’ve been to a few.” She smiles. “Johnny is pretty cute. Not gonna lie.”
Now I’m the one laughing. “You do realize that Johnny’s looks are the complete opposite of Logan’s, right? Sounds like you’re dating the wrong Parker Brother.”
It’s silent for a moment, until RISK playing on the radio has me singing at the top of my lungs.
“You’ve buried me