JACKS

Spending the day with Skye and my family yesterday was the best experience I've had in a long time. She fits in so effortlessly with them. I can picture family Christmases, beach vacations, and a whole life ahead with her.

It only confirms what I've known from the first moment I saw her—she's the one.

I didn't really want to leave my family behind in Nashville, but we had to hit the road again to make it to Atlanta before tomorrow night's show. We've arrived just after 7 in the evening and everyone is now checking into their rooms at the hotel.

We've parked atop the hotel's parking structure and there's a nice view of the city around us. I step out of the bus and my eyes scan the lot for Skye, who I see rolling her thick black plastic case of camera gear toward the hotel. She's wearing a cute little black sundress with a small floral print and black slip-on sneakers.

She seems like she's struggling, so I look over to my bodyguard Bruce, who seems to understand my request because he walks over to help her.

Kay appears beside me and gives me a pat on the back.

"Sky's beautiful tonight," she says.

"She always is," I say with a smile.

I turn toward her and she gives me a questioning look.

"That's sickeningly adorable but I was talking about the sunset. I think it's going to rain soon."

I look around and notice that the sky—the one above our heads—is full of orange and pink clouds.

"Oh... yeah, it's nice."

"You've got it bad, boy," she says, shaking her head. "You wanna tell me what's going on between you two?"

"Why don't you ask her?"

She narrows her eyes and smirks.

"I have."

"What did she say?"

"Basically nothing. Your girl is very good at dodging questions."

I tuck my hands into my pockets and smirk.

My girl. I like that.

"Don't think I didn't notice that self-satisfied smile that just appeared on your face. Or that she spent the night in your bus the other night."

"Nothing happened."

"So you're not fooling around with an engaged girl?" she asks with a raised brow. "Because I'm gonna need to alert security if they need to be on the lookout for an angry fiancé."

"No. I promise you, it's not an issue."

"Well, I think I managed to keep the rumors at bay with the rest of the crew. I told them Skye might have a concussion and you volunteered to keep an eye on her."

"Thanks, Kay."

"You want to tell me why she really stayed with you?"

"She had a rough night. I figured she needed some space."

"But that space had you in it?"

I shrug and she just shakes her head.

"Okay, then. Keep your secrets, Jacks." She brings two fingers to her eyes, then points in my direction. "Watching you, Mister Ford."

She turns and walks toward the hotel with her bag in hand. I head back into the bus to grab a few of my things. Once inside the bedroom, I pull out my black duffel and grab a few outfits to throw inside. On the counter, I notice a folded pair of jeans I don't recognize. It takes a moment for me to identify them as Skye's. I smile, pulling out my phone and sending her a quick text to let her know I have them.

I hear a tapping outside and I turn to see the lead singer from one of our opening bands walking in. His split pink and blue hair is messy and he's wearing a loose beige sweater and black, ripped skinny jeans.

"Hey, thought I might find you here," he says.

"Hey, uh..." I pause for a moment, struggling to remember his name. "Wes, right?"

"Yeah, that's me."

"What can I do for you?"

"Do you have a moment to talk?" he asks, sitting down in the lounge chair.

Okay, sure, make yourself at home.

"Sure." I sit down on the couch across from him. "What's up?"

"So, I've been singing for Au Revoir to Arms for a while and I really think we're close to reaching that next level. I'm really aiming for our next big opportunity, and I was hoping you might consider helping us get there."

"Oh uh... what did you have in mind?"

"Nothing in particular, I just was hoping we could be friends. You know, I scratch your back, you scratch mine."

I narrow my eyes, trying to understand what he's getting at.

"We'll see how it goes, okay?" I'm unsure what he really wants from me, but I'd love to get this conversation over with.

"I know you and Skye have an arrangement, and I totally get it. You want to get something out of the deal, and I'm happy to oblige."

"What?"

Now I really have no idea what's going on.

"Don't worry, I would never say anything to anyone. I'm just trying to let you know that the offer is on the table, you know?"

"I don't actually," I say, tilting my head. "What offer?"

"Here." He stands up and kneels on the floor in front of me. "Let me show you."

He rubs his hands on my thighs and I jolt backward.

Oh shit. That's what he means.

"Whoahhuh..." I pull away but hit the back of the couch, then grab his wrists in my hands and push them off me. "You've got the wrong idea, man. I'm not-"

"Relax, I may not be into guys but I'm not squeamish either," he says. I jump up and in a flash he grabs the hem of my sweatpants and pulls them down, leaving me in my boxers with my sweats around my ankles.

"Wh-" I start to say, but am interrupted by a small feminine gasp from the front of the bus.

I turn to see Skye standing in the entryway, her mouth parted and her eyes wide.

"I uh... sorry," she mumbles, turning on her heels in a hurry. I pull my pants up, panicked.

"Skye, this isn't what-"

I hear her feet on the pavement before I can finish my sentence and I turn around to Wes.

"You need to go. Now." His shoulders sag and he nods. "Whatever you think is going on, you're wrong, and I'm not interested."

I spin around and go after Skye, who I can see has already made it most of the way across the parking lot. I break into a sprint, calling her name, but she keeps running.

I push harder until I've caught up to her and can reach out just enough to tug at her sleeve.

"Skye, please!"

"What?!" she shouts, swiveling around. Tears stain her cheeks and her face is bright red. Her eyes hold a mix of pain and fury.

"Can we talk? Please?"

"Talk about what, Jackson?"

I flinch at her words as they pierce through me.

Jackson.

I told her that the only people who call me that are people who don't know me. In this moment, her message is loud and clear—she doesn't think she knows me after all.

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