Carly chews her lip. “Y’all haveWildwoodtrending worldwide on Twitter.”
I curse again, squeezing Felicity’s shoulders in an attempt to soothe her. I know how much she hates the spotlight; the last thing she needs is a bigger one shining down on her.
“If it’s any consolation at all…” Linc shrugs and sips his coffee. “The video is pretty damn hot. Seriously… well done, you two. If this whole music thing doesn’t work out, you should seriously contemplate a fall-back career in soft-core porn.”
* * *
Exhaustedfrom the news of the elevator video as well as our sleepless night, Felicity and I retreat into my bunk for a quick nap before we arrive in Indiana. It’s a tight squeeze, but we manage to fit with my body curling around hers from behind in a spooning position. She tugs the light-blocking curtain closed behind us as she snuggles back against my chest.
“Cozy.”
“This reminds me of that tiny bed you had, above The Nightingale,” I murmur in her ear, stroking my nose against the sensitive lobe.
“We made some good memories in that bed.”
“That we did.”
She sighs. “I’m still angry about the video.”
“I know, baby.”
“Tell me something to distract me.”
“I thought you wanted to nap.”
“I did. I do.” She laughs lightly as she laces our hands together over her stomach. “But now that I’m lying here with you, I’m not tired.”
“You’re crazy.”
“I’mcrazy? I’m not the one who stood onstage in front of seventy-thousand people last night and sang an impromptu love song for his ex-girlfriend.”
I chuckle lowly. “I have my moments.”
“You certainly do, Mr. Woods.”
There’s a moment of silence in the darkness, both of us enjoying the rekindled familiarity of simply holding each other, after so long denied that basic pleasure. Eventually, Felicity starts to hum under her breath. It takes me a few beats to recognize the fragmented melody as one of my own.
She’s hummingMove the Stars.
“Hindsight’s twenty-twenty, but love is blind,” I sing lowly in her ear. “I’d go back honey, but I can’t change time.”
She trails off, squeezing my fingers tight. “It’s beautiful. Thank you for writing it for me.”
“I’m glad you like it, baby.”
She pauses. “I like it even more, now that I know the whole story.”
I go still. My heart starts thudding. “What?”
“Last night, while you were talking with your mom… Lincoln told me.”
“Told you what, exactly?”
“About your arrest. The Viper Room. The fact that it’s his fault you were even there, that night. That the drugs they found were in his jacket, not yours.” Her voice is empty. Unreadable. I wish I could see her face, so I’d have a better gauge of her thoughts, right now.
“He shouldn’t have told you,” I mutter.
“No —youshould have, Ryder.” There’s a heavy pause. “Why didn’t you?”