Rocking His Fake World (Love You Forever #3) - Alexis Winter Page 0,78

hours teaching it to the rest of the members.

Today we get the treat of venturing off the bus since we’re ahead of schedule. Van and I hit up a bar and grill to get some real food and have a few drinks. We try not to drink much on the bus just because it feels like the walls are closing in on us, not to mention it’s hell letting multiple people take turns in the one bathroom as they puke from drinking too much. And being hung over and on a bouncing bus sucks and will make you empty your stomach every time.

“So, have you heard anything from him?” Van asks as he sits across from me.

He gives me a look and I know exactly who he’s talking about.

“Nope,” I reply, shaking my head.

“Are you scared he might not show up?”

“Yep,” I say, taking a sip of my Jack and Coke.

“What are you going to do if he doesn’t show up?”

I shrug. “Probably give up. I mean, to me, if he doesn’t come, that’s just his way of saying we’re officially done. And if that’s the case, there’s nothing left to fight for, right?”

He finally looks back over at me and I can see the sympathy in his eyes. “I guess,” he agrees, only making me hope harder and harder that Daniel does show up.

I finish off my drink and order another when my food is placed in front of me. I look down at my huge burger and fries and breathe in the mouthwatering scent. I almost feel giddy. “Can you believe it? Hot food!” I waste no time as I dig in.

He laughs and shakes his head. “Well, at least if he doesn’t come, I now know how to cheer you up,” Van jokes.

“Ha ha,” I mock laughter as I shove another fry into my mouth.

Later that night, I’m alone in my dark moving bedroom and grab my phone to text Riley.

How are things going with the new baby?

Good, but I’m super-tired. Preston and I are taking shifts, but he’s going to have to go back to work soon. I guess I’m lucky I have Piper right next door. How’s the tour going?

It’s fine, I guess. I hate to make you be the middleman—or more accurately, middlewoman—but did Daniel happen to mention anything about receiving a concert ticket?

I wait as I watch the bubbles dance on the screen.

Not at all. Hey, where are my tickets?

I laugh. I promise I’ll send you some down the road. I didn’t think you’d be up for a concert after just having a baby.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. LOL. So did he call or anything to tell you he’d be there?

Nothing. Not. A. Word. And it’s driving me crazy. We haven’t talked since I left. I told him to live his life and not let me hold him back—that he needed to move on from me. But now I’m scared he’s moving on without me! I know, I’m stupid.

LOL. Not at all. I completely understand. And if it makes you feel any better, I don’t think he’s moving on without you. He’s had a few dates, but nothing serious and never a second one with any of them.

Reading that he’s been on a few dates makes my heart sink. I know that I did this. He would’ve been completely fine waiting for me just like he did last time, but I thought he needed to be set free. I thought being selfless was the way to go. But who was I kidding? I’m not selfless. I don’t want to be without him. What if he’s mad at me? What if he doesn’t show up because he doesn’t feel like it’s that much of a gesture?

I decide to ask Riley. Is he mad at me?

No, I think he’s more sad than anything. Sad that he’s here without you—that you’re not his anymore. He’s probably afraid you’re moving on without him.

He probably is. He probably thinks I never told him I loved him because I don’t love him. He probably figures I was using him for sex or company. What if he’s heartbroken because he loves me but thinks I don’t love him? When I see him, I’m going to tell him I love him. It’s time to let those words out. It’s time to let him know how I feel.

Riley continues. If you sent him tickets, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s going. He can’t stand the thought of living without