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I can see him battling with my response, conflicted with his emotions. "Okay, then you're doing this.”
When he releases me from his arms, I decide right then and there that nothing will stop me from making sure this tour goes off without a hitch. I make an unbreakable vow to myself that I will remain focused, and that I will do whatever it takes.
Chapter Seventeen
Ryan
“Please be serious, boys,” Olivia says through an exasperated breath. “We’ve got to power through this, and then you can scatter back to your playpens.”
Gareth leans back into the plush sofa and props his boots onto the glass coffee table. “Playpens? Really, Liv?”
His attempt at earning a smile from her is unsuccessful.
“This tour is a big deal, and I need the four of you to be on your shit. No funny business and no bad publicity.”
“We got it,” Neil says with a nod.
“We’ll be on our best behavior,” Ant adds before crossing his hand over his heart. “Scout’s honor.”
Olivia sinks into her desk chair and exhales. “You four will be the death of me.”
She opens her laptop and begins to click quickly through emails.
“By the way, Juliet will be joining us on tour. I expect you to warmly welcome her and treat her with respect. I know she’s green, but I wouldn’t take this chance on her if I didn’t think she could do it.”
What the fuck?
There is zero chance that I just heard that correctly.
“Oh, shit! Hell yeah.” Gareth hoots, and when he high-fives Ant, my skin goes hot as fury rips through my veins.
I stare daggers at my bandmate. He would not use this as an excuse to make her his new flavor of the month. Fuck no.
If looks could kill, I’d be down a guitarist. Which currently doesn’t sound all that horrible.
“Juliet is coming on tour?” I ask, needing to clarify that my brain hasn’t descended into some sketchy drug-induced hallucination.
Olivia nods, never raising her eyes from the screen.
“Her firm has booked her into the same hotels as you so she can stay close and keep an eye on you. I want you to take her input and try incorporating some of her ideas.” She stops talking and types out a few words before continuing, “I want to be clear, crystal clear. There will be no funny business when it comes to Juliet. You keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all fucking times, or I will throw your ass off the ride faster than you can pluck out a chord. Got it?”
She focuses on Gareth as if he is the one out of the four of us that would target the publicist. He gives her a wicked grin, to which she responds by throwing a pen from her desk at his face, pinging it off his forehead.
“Get that stupid smirk off your face, Gareth. I’m serious. She’s off-limits. Untouchable. This gig is a huge deal for someone like her, and I won’t have it ruined over some ridiculous urge to eat the forbidden fruit just because it’s shiny and new. You will keep things professional at all times.”
“Shit, Liv. I get it. I won’t fuck with her, promise.” If only I believed him, but that wicked smile is still on his stupid face, and I have the sudden urge to wipe it off myself. Maybe with a fist or two.
I’ve seen the way he looks at her when she enters the room. His eyes canvassing her, raking over every single inch of her body like she’s the cherry on top of his dessert.
“Bottom line is this,” She leans back in the chair and clasps her hands over her stomach. “You’ve made it to the top. You may think the hard part is over, but your trials have only just begun. Getting there is one thing, but staying there? That’s the real challenge.”
“We understand,” Neil answers for all of us. “You don’t have anything to worry about.”
She looks at Ant, waiting on his agreement. “Yeah, we’re tracking, Liv.”
I give a brief nod, and she returns it.
“Okay, good.” She pushes away from the desk and stands. “Now that that is settled, I’ve booked you for a late show appearance to plug the tour. Talking points and prep cards are at your place, and so is your wardrobe. I’ll have a car to pick you up tomorrow morning. You’ll have a long day of filming promo, so get some sleep.”
