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EIGHT

SYDNEE

This whole trip has me hair brained for no fucking reason. I’m single, free to do as I please, and this festival is not only supposed to be fun, but also kick off the tour with a huge bang.

Instead, I’ve got a girl on my mind who my other two bandmates also won’t stop drooling over. This isn’t going to end well, and I can feel it. The same way I felt dissatisfaction in my chest when Hale saw me with the rando at the venue. Fuck me for trying to catch a rebound fling.

I haven’t known Hale for barely any time at all, but she isn’t the type of girl that you have to know for long. She shows you who she is up front, and I like it. She’s just real. She’s her bratty self, naturally and unapologetically. I’ve always been drawn to brats.

When I made eye contact with her while holding someone else, it struck something in me. After only knowing Hale for a fucking day, I know enough to know that Jackson is head over heels for her, Colby wants her so bad that he can’t see straight, and I’m…I don’t know what I am. Infatuated, I guess.

I’m fully aware that Colby is her stepbrother. I’m not gonna lie; I’m kinda into it. The whole forbidden aspect is hot as fuck. If I had a stepsister and she was as gorgeous as Hale, I’d probably wanna bang her too.

I wonder if they’d let me watch?

Let’s not go there, Syd. You’re making it fucking weird.

I reach the hotel door at the same time as Colby and Jackson, and the three of us enter just as it seems that Hale is getting dressed.

“What’s up, beautiful ladies? What are we doing tonight?” Jackson jokes like the cheeseball he tends to be.

“Not your lady, idiot,” I jab back and sigh.

“You could be my lady, just say the word,” he teases with ease.

Our friendship is a comfortable one. Much more so than…

whatever you might call Colby and I. Jackson knows that while I can appreciate a sexy man, I simply don’t swing that way during solo adventures.

I’ll play with a dick here and there during group activities, but overall, I don’t experience consistent attraction to men.

“In another lifetime, my love.” I push off of him and lean against the wall, my eyes roaming over Hale and willing hers to meet mine. I’m quickly becoming greedy for the deep hue of her brown eyes on me. Her attention feels like a gift I want to keep unwrapping.

“Anyways, I’m going to get food, anyone hungry? We need to hit the hay soon. Long day tomorrow.” Colby suggests.

“Fuck yes, I saw a little diner on our way through town. Burgers?” I look between the three sets of eyes, or try to, but Colby’s gaze is locked on the still undressed Hale.

“Sounds good to me.” Colby begins stuffing his wallet into his pocket and grabs his phone off the tiny hotel desk.

“Sure, but uh, could I maybe finish getting dressed here?” Hale quips, finally tearing her eyes from mine, her bottom lip neatly tucking between her teeth. I wonder if she’s thinking about the girl who was pressed against me earlier.

“We’ll wait for you in the car,” I say as I shoo the boys out of the room with me. But not before sending a smile her way that has her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink.