Page 134 of Rock Giant

“I’m fine.”Even if he wasn’t, there were too many people relying on him to consider pulling out of a gig at this short notice.“Can I get out, please?”

He waited for his band mate to shuffle aside, then bolted down the bus steps into the sunlight.The arctic wind took the heat out of his skin.It didn’t do shit for his mushy innards.

Okay, so maybe he wasn’t entirely okay, but he would be.Everything was going to be all right.He just needed to practise acceptance.Sure, he’d had his heart bruised, and that meant he was feeling everything a bit more sharply than usual, but it’d pass.Bruises healed.He’d get through this.He’d endure.Of course he would.The wheel of fate would eventually rotate.

It always did.

And then, maybe, he wouldn’t feel so alone.

He’d seen a happy future written for them in the stars and had listened to the wind between those standing stones whisper their names.All he had to do was persevere and in time...In time all would be well.

That was how the wheel worked.

A wan face looked down at him from the back window of the Ghost Boys bus.Paul’s attention snapped to it—Castle.

She looked as if she hadn’t slept for days or even brushed her hair.His own was easily an inch longer than when the tour started.If he was going to keep it shorn he’d have to get the clippers out.

He almost caught Jodi’s gaze, but she staged a hurried retreat.Was dick spanner giving her hell?He hoped the cats and the rest of the Ghost Boys were providing some comfort.Wished he could be there to do so, too.

His arms ached with the need to embrace her and make everything right.

But she’d chosen dickweed, not him.

CHAPTER 38

Paul “Rock Giant” Reed

Trondheim Spektrum

For the last few hours Paul had been fixated on one particular thought.In all honesty, he was surprised it hadn’t beaten him around the head sooner.It ought to have done, because he and Jodi hadn’t just had sex—yes, he’d been reliving the details—they’d had unprotected sex.Very, very messy, very spontaneous swimmers at the ready sex.Obviously, he’d known that.It just hadn’t sunk in until he was going through his bag, sorting out what needed a wash, and found the condoms in the pocket of the lounge pants he’d been wearing that evening.

Then it sunk in.

That they’d both been fools in a multitude of ways.Consequently, as much as he was doing his best to adhere to her wishes and keep his distance, this was a valid reason to talk to her.

He wasn’t worried about diseases so much, they were all regularly tested.Pregnancy, on the other hand...

His tongue hit his upper front teeth.The probability wasn’t high, but the universe did like to play the odd cosmic joke.

She had to be on some sort of birth control, right?Right?

Nash had definitely fucked her bare, because he’d got an unfortunate taste of the bugger on her.In the moment, he hadn’t cared about anything other than taking care of her.Then again, did that mean anything?Dipshit was exactly the sort not to give a shit about knocking her up.It’d be another thing he could manipulate her with.Also, thinking back to the morning after their handfasting, she’d been manic until he’d assured her, they hadn’t in fact done the dirty deed.It could just have been because of cockwomble, but equally...she was essentially homeless, and probably wasn’t registered with a GP.

Shit!He wasn’t sure he was ready for a little Rock Giant appearing in the world.

It probably wasn’t going to happen, and he was worrying about nowt, but on the other hand, maybe he needed to think about branching out from just hats.Kid would need more than its head keeping warm.

**

Rock Giant decided the most sensible time to corner Jodi for a quiet word was while the Ghost Boys were on stage doing their set.That would give him a window of an hour and a half, and Nash wouldn’t be aware of their interaction because he’d be busy warming up the crowd.Next, he needed a location.Backstage during a show was a hive of activity.If a member of his band didn’t interrupt, then one of their partners or a member of the crew almost certainly would.Maybe they could step outside.There was a bouldering wall at the rear of the building.Except, why would she go there?

Other than to do some bouldering, obviously, but his Jodi wasn’t exactly a sporty type.

Ginny flopped into a chair beside him in the green room.“Fancy giving me a hand with something?”he asked.

She patted his thigh and laughed.“Paul Reed asking me for help?What is the world coming to?”Her hand having met with muscular resistance, she gave his thigh another good prod, that she followed with a squeeze.Then she simmered down her playfulness and looking him right in the eyes, asked, “Okay, who are we killing?And do we need a getaway driver, because your driving sucks, and I barely know where the ignition key goes.”

He fell ever so slightly in love with her at that moment.In a platonic way, obviously.Everything else was reserved for Jodi.