over the fabric of her shirt, I gritted my teeth so hard I wouldn’t be surprised if I chipped a tooth.
“I once slipped a disc when I was rehearsing for Phantom of the Opera,” Blake went on. “It was the worst pain of my life.”
Rose hummed a response, her posture loosening as he rubbed between her shoulder blades. I wanted to be the one touching her, wanted it so badly my hands were fisted in my lap. Soft, cool fingers met mine, and I glanced to the side. Alicia flared her eyes at me. Relax, she mouthed, clearly noticing my tension.
I took a few deep breaths and stared out the window for a minute or two. If I kept looking at Blake giving Rose a massage, I was liable to lose my shit.
My attention went to Jacob, who rose from his seat at the front of the bus, bracing himself in the aisle to face everyone.
“How about a sing-along?” he suggested, and I tried not to look at the bright orange shirt he wore because it was already giving me a headache. A few people groaned, and Iggy shouted from several rows behind me.
“Give us a chance to wake up first. My body still thinks it should be asleep and dreaming of Ben Affleck in a mankini.”
Lots of people laughed while Jacob shot him a pouty look. “Well, I apologise for ruining such enticing dreams, but I do think a little sing-song will help wake us all up. Who’s in the mood for some West Side Story? I’ll be Tony.”
“Don’t you mean Maria?” Iggy shot back. I stifled a chuckle.
“Oh, hush you! I can already tell you were the troublemaker at school, Iggy Thomas,” said Jacob, a touch of flirtation in his voice.
“Please don’t inflict us with your singing,” Maura, the choral director, cut in, her jibe good-natured.
“I’ll have you know I’ve been complimented on my voice by some of the greatest singers of stage and screen,” Jacob replied haughtily, trying to keep from smiling. He obviously knew he couldn’t sing, but he didn’t seem to care. This was proven when a second later he burst into the campest off-key rendition of “Maria” I’d ever heard. Even with the tense mood I was in, I found myself laughing, and soon enough everyone was joining in with him.
Several songs later, the mood on the bus had lightened significantly, and we were on the motorway, heading out of the city. I stared at Rose through the gap in our seats. She looked tired, and I could tell from the set of her mouth that she was still in pain, even if she claimed to be fine.
God, she was beautiful. Her dark brown hair was tied up, several curly strands hanging down over her pale, elegant neck. I wanted to run my fingers through them, kiss the patch of skin between her neck and her shoulder.
I saw Blake nudge her as he leaned in to speak, “Do you remember the time we went for drinks after studio practice ended for Guys and Dolls?”
She stiffened and continued looking out the window. “Uh-huh.”
“You wore that black French Connection dress, the one with the low neckline. I couldn’t stop looking at you that night, and you knew it.”
Rose furrowed her brow as she glanced at him a second time. “Why are you bringing that up?”
He’s bringing it up because he knows I’m fucking listening.
There was a part of me that hated the history they shared, and I also hated that once upon a time, Rose had loved this prick. We were only half an hour into our journey, but somehow I knew the next ninety minutes were going to be torture.
“I was just wondering if you think about that night like I do,” Blake said.
Now she shifted in her seat to face him properly. “I dunno, were you high that night?”
Her words surprised me, and I could tell Alicia, who was listening, too, was also surprised.
Blake cleared his throat. “Why do you ask?”
“Just wondering. You said you were high the entire time we were together. I know we hadn’t gotten together properly then, but I’m guessing you were still using at the time.”
“Rosie,” said Blake with a wince. He appeared genuinely hurt by her words. And what the hell? He’d been a junkie when they were together?
She swallowed and fidgeted with her hands, casting sad eyes in his direction. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” she whispered, looking around to see if anyone was listening.