Read Online Loving the Band by Emily Baker - Free Book Online Page A

minute. Where’s Shaq?’
    ‘He went off for a walk after the interview, saying he’dbe back tonight,’ Tyler explained. ‘He seemed to want some alone time.’
    Riley looked at me curiously. ‘So will you stay, Jess? Spend some time with me – and the boys?’
    Damn Shaq. He had obviously made his choice so I was going to have to make mine. Riley must have seen my expression change as he held out his hand – and I took it.
    The boys were very gentlemanly and offered to let me pick the film, but I let them decide. It was absolutely the wrong choice. Callum ended up picking a gruesome horror movie that I had flat-out refused to see at the cinema. I was not good with scary films.
    I pulled my knees up to my body and wrapped my arms round my legs, burying my head so that I didn’t have to see what was happening onscreen.
    Riley nudged me gently. ‘Come here, Jess, you daft thing.’ And he pulled me in close to him with his arm round my waist.
    ‘Come on, woman,’ Logan teased from the opposite couch. ‘It’s just a film!’
    I glared at him and he laughed.
    ‘Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,’ Riley whispered. I smiled back gratefully and hid my face in his chest as the next grisly scene appeared onscreen. His green jumper was soft against my face and his aftershave was fresh and clean-smelling. I nuzzled even further into his protective grasp.
    When the film had finally finished, I still sat there inRiley’s arms, too petrified to move.
    ‘Are you OK, Jess?’ Callum asked.
    ‘Yup. Think so. I … um … should get my stuff and go back home now.’
    ‘It’s the middle of the night – I don’t think you should drive when you’re this tired?’ Callum interjected.
    ‘Callum’s right,’ Riley agreed. ‘Stay here tonight.’
    I flushed, wondering what he was suggesting.
    ‘Jess, I’ll bunk in with Callum. And you take my room. OK?’ Riley gave me a squeeze and I smiled back gratefully, tilting my face up to look at him.
    ‘OK.’
    And just then the door was pushed open and Shaq walked in.
    He took one look at Riley with his arm round me and stalked past. ‘I’m going to bed.’ His door slammed shut.
    Callum whistled. ‘Oh well, I’m going to go too. Night, guys.’
    Then it was just me and Riley. He pulled me up off the sofa with both hands. ‘Thanks for staying, Jess. I had fun this evening.’
    I looked into his deep blue eyes, trying to forget what had just happened with Shaq. ‘So did I, Riley.’ And funnily enough I meant it. Riley made me feel good about myself and I needed that right now.

15
Fans
    The sun shone through the curtains, streaks of light bouncing off the mirror and dancing along the walls.
    I hadn’t slept much and couldn’t believe how different things were waking up this morning compared to yesterday. I had a sinking feeling in my tummy. I guess that meant my feelings for Shaq were still there, but it was clear he had made his choice.
    I looked around Riley’s messy bedroom and smiled at the thought of him. He’d really looked after me, letting me stay here so I didn’t have to drive home in the middle of the night.
    Glancing at my phone, I saw there was a message.
Tegan!
I’d totally forgotten about her! As I finished sending her an apologetic text that I was a rubbish friend, there was a knock on the door and a tousled and curly-haired head poked round the door.
    ‘Hi, Riley,’ I grinned, genuinely pleased to see him.
    ‘Hungry?’ he asked.
    I nodded my head eagerly.
    Riley made me a bowl of cereal and I sat next to him on the sofa, both of our legs touching. We were the only ones up, but that soon changed. Callum was the next to surface, his hair sticking up in every direction and a black vest clinging to his chest. He didn’t seem the least bit surprised that I was sitting there next to Riley. Tyler wandered past, wearing not a speck of clothing other than grey sweats and I almost choked on my cereal at the sight of his toned abs. He reminded me of the