Myrna shook her head at Brian. "We've been through this a hundred times. I'm not staying in L.A. with you."
"You can get your work done while we're rehearsing and in the recording studio," he said. "And we have a music video shoot in a couple of days. You can use that entire day to work."
Lounging on his back in one of the curtained bunks, Brian trailed his fingers lightly over her bare shoulder, tracing the spaghetti strap of her satin nightgown. She lay on his belly, her folded arms on his chest and her chin resting on her interlaced fingers. She stared up at his face, which was mostly concealed in shadows, contemplating her options. He'd been wearing her down for almost a week, and as much as she wanted to have fun with him, she knew she had to use this opportunity to get caught up on her work.
"You know if I stay, I'll want to watch everything you do. You're too much of a distraction. Besides, it's only a week. It won't kill us to be apart for seven days."
"We've been together almost every moment of every day for three weeks. Seven days apart will feel like an eternity."
"You know what they say. Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
"If my heart grows any fonder, it's going to hop out of my chest and into yours."
She melted. She scooted up his body to kiss him. "That's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me."
"It sounds sort of fatal," he murmured.
"Then I don't want your heart to grow any fonder." She kissed him again and rolled toward the wall.
"Don't think just because you're being stubborn you'll get out of meeting my parents," he said. "They'll be at the show tomorrow night."
She sat up, her head inches from crashing into the ceiling. "What?"
"They always come to our show in L.A. Trey's parents. Sed's parents. They'll probably all be there. It's like an elementary school Christmas program all over again."
"Do they know about me?" she asked, her voice uncharacteristically squeaky.
"Yeah, they know. Mom's a great ear when I'm bummed out. And believe me, that entire month I didn't see you after Des Moines qualified."
"What did you tell her?" When he opened his mouth to speak, she covered it with her hand. "Wait. I don't want to know."
She squirmed over his body and dropped out of the bunk. He caught her arm. "Where are you going?"
"I need a drink." She turned and found Eric, Sed, and Jace staring at her from the spotlessly clean living area where they sat watching TV. She instinctively tugged her baby doll nightgown down her thighs to make sure everything was covered and went directly to the refrigerator. Unfortunately, what she wanted was on the other bus.
"Why isn't there any alcohol on this bus?" she yelled and slammed the refrigerator door.
The guys on the sofa laughed at her dilemma.
"I don't know, Myr," Sed called. "Why is that?"
Eric climbed to his feet, swaying slightly as the bus decelerated and then sped back up. He stopped next to her, reached into his leather vest and withdrew a silver flask. "Tequila?" He opened the flask and extended it toward her. The fumes made her eyes cross.
"You mean To-Kill-Ya?" She snatched the flask out of his hand and took a long drink. She sputtered and coughed, her eyes watering, stomach protesting. She handed the flask back to him, shaking her head with her eyes closed. "That is some nasty stuff."
"The drunker you get, the better it tastes." He took a swig and recapped it.
Brian appeared at her elbow. "You're drinking?"
"So?"
"I really don't get why meeting my parents is such a big deal."
"Brian's mom is a total MILF," Eric said. "And his dad is a living legend. Brian's parents are way cool."
"I'm sure they are, but meeting his parents would suggest Brian and I are pretty serious."
"Yeah, so?" Eric said.
"So that gives the wrong message. Brian and I are—"
"Just having a good time," Brian finished her sentence.
"Exactly," she said. "Thank you."
"If you don't like parents, you can 'just have a good time' with me," Eric said. "I don't have any parents."
"You don't?"
He shook his head. "I'm a product of the fine state of California's foster care program."
She gave Eric a warm hug. He tugged her closer, his jaw resting against her hair. "I love sympathy hugs," he murmured, and then his hands slid over her satin nightgown from her lower back to her ass.
She elbowed her way out of his grip. "Is it possible for you not to cop a feel when I'm within reach?"
"I take opportunities when they present themselves."
She glanced at Brian, who was scowling at her.
"Don't get mad at me," she said, "that was him."
"Why do you get to call all the shots in this relationship?" he asked.
"Huh?"
"Because you're pussy-whipped." Eric retreated to the living area before Brian took out his frustration on him.
"I'm always the one compromising what I want," Brian said, his voice raised in anger.
"I compromise."
"That's bullshit, Myrna. Name one thing you've done that you didn't want to do. One compromise you made because I asked you."
"I'm always putting off work I need to do for you."
"I don't ask you to."
"Yes, you do. All the time. As soon as I start working, you show up wanting sex."
"You can say no. I don't force you to do anything you don't want to do."
"And how would you react if I said no?"
"I'm not sure. I've never had to deal with that situation."
Myrna was stunned speechless. Was he insinuating what she thought he was?
"That's because Myrna is dick-whipped." Eric hid behind a sofa pillow.
"Well, what compromises have you made?" Myrna countered, unable to argue his logic. She didn't ever say no to him. She didn't want to.
"This entire relationship is a compromise for me."
Sed increased the volume of the TV.
Brian talked louder. "I want to tell you how I feel. I want this to be serious. I want to introduce you to my parents. I want this to be permanent and about more than sex. I know this is hard for you, but it's hard for me, too. Don't you get that? I'm not sure how much more of this I can take."
"Then don't take it," she said. "Walk away." She flicked her hands at him as if showing him the door.
She never expected him to turn his back and close himself in the bedroom. Her first instinct was to chase after him. That's what she wanted to do, but she knew she couldn't do that. She had to stick to her guns or things would get serious between them and she didn't want that. Right? No, that would be horrible. Then he'd start with the stupid marriage proposals again.
"You really blew it this time, Myr," Eric called over the blaring TV.
"Shut up, Eric." She stood there indecisively for a moment, wondering why she felt like crying. If this "thing" didn't work out between her and Brian, it was for the best. Right? Yeah, for the best.
She dashed a tear from the corner of her eye and settled into the booth around the dining table. She sat on the opposite side she usually did, with her back to the living area and facing the bedroom. She didn't want the distraction of the guys watching TV while she entered her stupid data into her stupid spreadsheet. At least, that's what she told herself as she booted up her stupid computer with one eye on the bedroom door.