Page 26 of Rebooting Conor Flynn

“Eugene?” Ham laughed. “Pretty much, but he knows how to handle a Harley—the only one I trusted to follow me from that bunch in the studio. Half of them were high, the other half wasted.”

Ham pulled behind the bike and got out of my car, leaving the door open. “I’ll let you reset the seat. I kinda had to push it way back.”

“Don’t worry about it. I appreciate your efforts.” I hung the bag of food out the window. “These are for you and...Eugene.”

“Thanks.” He grabbed the bag with one big hand. “It was my fault for leaving the gate open.”

He scratched his beard. “Are you gonna give me a good report if my boss calls trying to ream my ass?”

Conor held up his hands. “We will put a stop to all ass reaming.”

“I like you, man.” Ham jabbed a finger at Conor before turning to his bike. “Thanks, Eugene. I’ll take it from here. You can ride on the bitch seat—not that you’re a bitch.”

Eugene climbed off the Harley without removing the helmet with the tinted face shield, so I had no idea if he appreciated Ham’s joke or not. But if he didn’t, I had my doubts that he’d complain.

Ham and Eugene roared off before I finished adjusting my seat. “Well, that was an adventure. At least we got an early dinner out of it, or a late lunch.”

“Worked out, didn’t it.” Conor tapped the back of his head. “How’s your head? We probably should’ve gotten some ice for it at In-N-Out.”

“It’s fine. Didn’t even hurt after that Advil.” I pulled away from the curb. “Next stop. Beverly Hills. Are you going to see Charlie while you’re in town?”

“He’s coming in the same day as the concert, so can’t make it to the show, but he’s having a gaff at his place in Malibu after.”

“He’s going to throw a party at his house after the concert?” How come I didn’t know about this? Charlie throwing a party for Conor after the gig would be pure PR gold.

“Okay, stop salivating over there. You know how much Charlie hates the paps. He’s not gonna make this public...” Conor tapped my hand clenched on the steering wheel “...and neither are you.”

“Okay, my lips are sealed.”

“But you are invited. I told Charlie you were working this tour, and he’s chuffed to see you again—but you have to leave the clipboard behind.”

“I think I can manage to slip out of work mode for a few hours.” Not that it wouldn’t be great to leak that party to the press. Nobody had to invite the paparazzi. It could just slip out that Charlie Beck had a party after Conor’s concert. “Any of the other boys in town?”

“I see your mind working.” Conor circled his finger in the air. “No. Ian just wound up his world tour and is decompressing on an island somewhere with his fiancée and daughter. Sam is in England working on his new album, and Jay is out there feeding his chickens.”

“I just meant it would’ve been nice to see them all. It’s been a minute.”

“Been a minute for the two of us, too.”

I felt his gaze probing my profile, but I kept my eyes on the road. No point in rehashing our relationship. Was the chemistry still there?

The way my insides turned to mush every time he looked at me...like this. The way my heart did somersaults in my chest when his hand brushed mine. The way I wet my panties when our bodies met on the bus. I’d have to deduce the chemistry was stronger than ever...at least for me.

But this was one tour. What happened when it ended? He’d ghost me just like he did when he went to Australia. I couldn’t handle that a second time. Had barely handled it the first time.

“Yeah, it’s been a while. It’ll be great to see Charlie, too. Is he still a prankster? Remember when he...”

And just like that, I snapped that unresolved tension between us as we went back and forth recounting Charlie’s jokes.

I eked out a sigh when I rolled in front of the Beverly Hills Hotel, its green awning flapping in the early evening breeze.

As a valet attendant sprinted toward my car, I waved him off. “Don’t forget. The press is going to be at the rehearsal tomorrow. I shot you, Ashley, and Ji-yoon a list of possible questions just to get you prepped.”

“I got those this morning.” Conor cracked open the car door. “Do you wanna come in for a drink at the bar? Check out my room?”

“Oh.” I clamped down on my bottom lip. Why was he doing this to me? “I really need to get back and feed Jane.”

“Jane?”