Page 95 of Tracing Holland

“Seriously.Again with the eye?What the hell…”

“Same spot?Let me see that.”

I lower the cloth so she can examine my face.“Well, the good news is the bruising from the first one is hiding the second one.”

I grunt and pull away, returning the cloth to try to soothe the pulsating heat.

“I messaged Darlene to see if she can track down some ice for us.There should still be some in the green room.”

“I have a better idea.How about you release me to go beat the shit out of Wes.”

She rolls her eyes.“You know that’s not happening.”She takes my other hand and kisses it.“Not a chance we’re risking these fingers.”

I smirk.“Whatever.Do you know how hard it was not to hit him back?”

“Do you know how hard it was to watch you get hit in the face and not let you?”

I give her a look.“I’m just saying, you owe me now.”

Her eyes widen.“Oh really, is that so?”

“Yep.You should make it up to me.”

“Uh-huh, and what do you have in mind?”

I shrug.“I’m flexible as long as it involves you not wearing clothing.”

She laughs and shoves me before leaning back and taking my hand again.“Seriously, though.I’m sorry, Luke.You don’t deserve this.If it happens again we should press charges.”

My gaze shoots to hers in surprise.“Really?You’d support that?”

“Of course.He’s way over the line.I’m not going to watch him hurt you again, but I don’t think he will.I’m pretty sure he gets it now.Honestly, his face when Laurel was yelling at him?I bet he sent that message before you talked to him on the phone.He probably forgot about it and had an ‘oh, shit’ moment.”

“Yeah, I’m not giving any awards since his change of heart still involved punching me in the face.”

She smiles and traces my fingers.“No, I don’t blame you.Just pointing out that once the dust settles he’ll put all the pieces together and realize what a jackass he’s been.”

“So you’re really not going to let me kick him in the face or off the tour?”

She laughs.“Honestly, right now, I want to let you do both, but I can’t do that to Spence and the others.Without Wes, I don’t know how we could finish the tour.”She sighs.“I’ll talk to him after he calms down, though.I really think he’ll stop this insanity, but if he pulls anything else, don’t even hesitate next time.”

“You promise?”

She grins.“I’ll be standing by as your second.”

I’mjerked awake by my phone in the pitch black of my bunk.Parker’s name flashes on my screen for no reason that can possibly be good.

“Parker, what’s up?”I mumble, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

“Luke?Hey, sorry, man.I didn’t know who else to call.I didn’t want to raise alarms or anything, and I know you and Jesse are close.”The urgency in his voice sobers me, and I prop myself up in my bunk.“What is it?What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know, it’s just that we’re supposed to roll out in an hour and Jesse’s still not back.We don’t know where he is.”

“What?”

I pull back my phone to glance at the time.

“He left with some girls and that was the last we heard from him.”