Page 68 of The Love Bus

THAT SINKING FEELING

Except for Ed, of course, who had already explained his blackjack strategy in great detail. And was reiterating it all over again.

Sitting beside Noah was definitely bittersweet. It was the last day we’d sit together like this. Only… Something had changed between us this morning. And, against my sister’s advice—and common wisdom—I was that much closer to putting my chips on the table.

I was going to let myself hope for more.

So, when the bus pulled up to that glitzy gold-and-glass hotel, I wasn’t feeling devastated. Just…a little nervous. Because it was an ending, but it could also be a beginning.

Before the engine cut, Tay stood, clipboard in hand, beaming with what I now recognized as determination more than enthusiasm.

“All right, my desert darlings! We’re a smidge early, so everyone please wait in the lobby while I sort out the room assignments.

Before getting off the bus, make sure you’ve collected all your belongings.

Also, since this is our final stop, we won’t be seeing our fearless driver again after today.

” She flashed a grin toward Joe, who was busy flipping switches on the dashboard.

A small wave of awws rippled through the bus.

“I know, I know. Tragic. But let’s all give a big round of applause to Joe, for getting us from Denver to Vegas with only one transmission incident and zero fender benders.”

Applause broke out—genuine and warm.

“If you’d like to offer Joey a little something extra for getting us here in one piece, feel free to do so before you disembark today. Or, if you’re like me and never carry cash, I’m happy to pass gratuities along later on. You can track me down in the lounge tonight or tomorrow at breakfast.”

She tapped her clipboard.

“With that out of the way, grab your bags and your second wind. We’ve got rooms to check into, so please don’t get lost in the casino just yet. I’m talking to you, Ed.”

Ed’s brows shot up, and we laughed while slowly collecting our things.

Honestly, I might have been slower than most.

I guess when you’re hiking, loving, and road-tripping, everything kinda hurts—but in a good way.

The kind that means you’re living a little more, holding back a little less.

And somewhere underneath it all, my heart felt strangely full.

Noah handed me my bag, his fingers brushing mine, and we filed off the bus one last time.

The Vegas heat slapped us, but only for a second, because the second we stepped through the automatic doors, we were wrapped in an almost arctic blast of air-conditioning, flavored with the scent of cigarette smoke, espresso, and maybe…coconut sunscreen?

Slot machines winked just beyond the main lounge, and music played softly from invisible speakers, familiar while also being unrecognizable.

Tay turned toward the group, very much in her manager mode. “If everyone could wait in the seating area by the fountains, I’ll get our room keys sorted. It might be a minute. They weren’t expecting us quite this early.”

The group broke off in little clusters, some ogling the ceiling, the others flopping into oversized chairs. I followed Noah over to a quiet bench along the edge of a water feature—a curved wall of glass with streams of water cascading down in slow, hypnotic waves.

“This feels like another planet.” I tried to sound breezy, unaffected.

“Mm. Like it shouldn’t exist in the middle of the desert, right?” And then, “What should we do first?”

“Hmmm…” This was hard to answer.

Noah’s thigh was warm next to mine, and I was just about to lean even closer, to fill my senses with his cologne instead of everything around us. “Maybe we could just?—"

“Noah?”

We both looked up.

His mother stood a few steps away, her expression pleasant, almost too neutral.

“Would you mind coming with me for a moment?”

Noah blinked, sitting up straighter, and glanced at me, like he was checking in, but in a reassuring way.

I gave him a small, but maybe uneasy smile.

Cause there was something in her voice—a deliberate tone that reminded me of her “surprise” a few days ago. When she thought she was sending him away for the rest of the trip.

It put me instantly on edge.

But I wasn’t going to keep him away from her. She was his mom.

Also, if Noah and I did decide to date after we got home, which was beginning to feel more and more like a possibility, it would be so much easier if she just liked me!

I turned back to him with a smile that felt lighter than I did. “I need to check my email anyway.” My voice came out steady. Unbothered.

But before he stood, Noah hesitated.

His eyes lingered on mine, and for a second—just a second—everything around us faded: the tinkling fountain, the distant slot machine noises, the voices at reception.

He leaned in, the way he sometimes did before he kissed me. His hand grazed the outside of my thigh, warm and familiar. His face was so close I could feel his breath. And his gaze was fixed on my mouth like he was deciding something.

And then?—

“Ahem.”

His mother.

Noah pulled back, leaving me ridiculously disappointed.

His smile was sheepish. Apologetic. Maybe a little regretful.

Definitely a little regretful.

I told myself not to read anything into this. His mom just wanted a word. She was probably feeling a little neglected.

And that was fair.

But when he turned to wink at me, I found myself memorizing the lines of his jaw, the curve of his mouth, the shape of his hands hanging at his sides.

It didn’t make any sense. And I didn’t want to give in to stupid insecurities.

I was also due to get my period next week. PMS. That was probably all this was.

I relaxed back against the bench, letting the cool air of the lobby settle against my overheated skin. For a second, I just breathed.

Then I pulled out my phone.

And…

The world shifted.

A wall of notifications hit me like a sudden downpour—Instagram pings, Facebook alerts, texts from numbers I didn’t recognize.

One hundred thirty-seven unread emails.

My stomach dropped.

I tapped open the email app, sorted it by oldest first, already bracing myself—but nothing prepared me for the subject line near the top: Legal Notice – Immediate Attention Required.

Sent from the station the day I flew to Denver!

How had I missed this?

A crack of instant dread had my lungs going cold, my lips and fingers tingling, feeling fuzzy and thick.

I clicked it. Skimmed the opening. Then froze.

The station was suing me?

I blinked, scrolled back up, and started reading from the top. Breach of contract?

For what? Leo was the one who’d blown everything up—on and off camera.

I was just the one who’d walked away, the one who’d been humiliated.

My heart thudded in my chest.

Unauthorized public commentary. Damage to brand. Violation of image clause.

I read faster. How could they sue me? Leo was the one who’d cheated on me! I’d gracefully bowed out.

Well. Maybe not gracefully.

But I’d left him with the set. Our logo. The timeslot. I was the one who’d been pushed out.

But there it was, in black and white. Some kind of clause violation. But also… Unauthorized public commentary? Damage to brand?

I’d damaged it, but I’d also been the one who’d started it all, who’d built it up over the years.

And now they were coming after me?

A dull roar started in my ears. I wasn’t just angry, I was stunned. And…a little sick. They’d sent this ten days ago!

My hands shaking, I closed out of the email and called Ashley.

She picked up immediately, and before she began asking about my love life, I gave her a brief rundown of what was going on. “It was one episode, Ashley. Why are they doing this?”

But then…silence on the other end. And with Ashley, silence rarely meant anything good.

“So, you ignored…all of Leo’s calls?”

“Well…yeah.”

“And you haven’t gone on Facebook lately?” she asked.

“I posted a few shots on Instagram, but other than that…no.”

“Well, you might want to check the show’s Facebook page.”

Seriously? So, I actually should have listened to Leo’s stupid voicemails? I’d thought I was doing the healthy thing by stepping back and giving myself space from him and from the social media stuff too! “What’s going on?”

“I didn’t want to ruin your trip,” my sister said quickly. “And really, there’s nothing you can do until you’re home. Beckett has the number of a lawyer for you to call. Also...we picked your stuff up from the townhouse and brought it to Mom’s.”

I blinked. “My stuff?” At mom’s?

“Your clothes, your kitchen stuff, some dead plants, your...you know. Your things. When you didn’t respond to Leo’s messages, he called me.

Said he was renting the townhouse and that if someone didn’t grab your stuff this week, he was putting it out on the sidewalk.

So yesterday, Beckett and I drove down to Newport.

It was all boxed up—I think we got everything. ”

“But...why would he?—?”

“Also, he changed the locks while we were there.”

The locks.

On our townhouse.

Yes, it was in his name, but we’d split the downpayment. I’d paid half the mortgage each month. And even after the breakup, he’d made it sound like—despite everything—we’d work things out like adults.

But now? He was done. Just like that. No warning. No decency. No conversation.

Ashley kept talking, her voice distant, but I couldn’t make out the words.

Leo had just boxed up my life, like I was nothing.

“Ash...” My voice cracked. “What am I missing? Why would he do that? Why now?”

“It’s… It might be the stuff on Facebook. Maybe? Oh no! Max is doing the potty dance.” Ahsley groaned a little. “ Hang on buddy! I gotta go. Don’t worry. Your stuff is all safe. We’ll figure this out. But…call me tonight, okay?”

“Okay. Right.”

Click.

I stared down at my phone. Panicked and numb at the same time.

Faced with the choice of either listening to Leo’s messages or checking Facebook first, I chose the least of two evils.

There were literally hundreds of notifications.

I tapped over to the Luna & Leo page. The page I had built. The page I had cultivated to over 434,000 followers.

There, at the top, pinned.

A video. Of a desert setting. With a silver bus.

I knew before I pressed play what it would be.

Me.

Noah.

Hiding behind the back of Love Bus 2.0, kissing like we were two teenagers sneaking around on their parents.

The quality of Josie’s live wasn’t great—like the original had been recorded and reposted. And without my signature flowing skirt and leather sandals, you had to look closely to know it was me.

But yeah. It was me. And that kiss…it looked as hot as I remembered it.

With my name. Tagged in the caption.

Hypocrite much, Luna Faraday ? Looks like Liar Luna was already cheating when she made her dramatic exit. I thought she was the love of my life. Instead, I made a lucky escape. #LiarLuna #Cheater

“I made a lucky escape?” Really?

The comments were worse.

She cheated and then made herself the victim. Typical.

And the new guy? Probably married.

I’d drop Leo for this guy, too…

My stomach churned, and my fingers itched to delete them all. If I’d checked this earlier, if I hadn’t intentionally cut myself off from reality, I could have nipped all of this in the bud right away.

I should have deleted the entire page. And I would. In a minute.

But the damage was done.

I tapped on one of the notifications from the tour group page, which, it seemed, hadn’t been set to private after all.

Image after image. Familiar scenery and landmarks. Laughter. Familiar faces from our group. All of them sweet. Happy.

But also… so many pictures of me and Noah.

Smiling. A few of us walking hand-in-hand when we’d thought we were on our own. Another one of us sharing a drink.

One photo in particular caught me.

Taken in Durango. Of Noah pulling me onto the train, my hair wild in the wind. Despite everything, just looking at it made me feel like a heroine in a romance novel all over again.

I looked happy.

Noah looked…freaking heroic.

Babs had taken it.

And underneath, a comment.

Evelyn Faraday: Beautiful shot, Babs!