Read Online Random on Tour: Los Angeles (Random Series #7) by Julia Kent - Free Book Online Page B

alien.
    “Do we have ‘just coffee’, Maggie?” She looked at the espresso machine Dad bought on a business trip in Seattle a few years ago.
    “Run a double shot of espresso and let it go until the cup’s full,” I ventured.
    Tyler looked at us like we were the aliens.
    “If it’s too much trouble, we can just hit a donut shop on the way out of town,” he said. 
    Lena visibly shuddered. “Dear God, no. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. Not even on my douchey ex.” She pulled out the small ceramic container where Mom and Dad stored ground coffee and began making Tyler’s cup. 
    Tyler looked at me.
    “How long before we can go?” he asked. 
    Lena flipped the switch and the pump began, thick, black coffee pouring into the white mug. “You’re serious,” she said to me as the coffee poured out. “You need to borrow my car for a road trip?”
    “Um,” I said, swallowing. My mouth had gone dry. Tyler just stood there, eyes on the coffee machine.
    Lena switched the pump off and handed him the cup.
    He surveyed the thick milky foam with narrowed eyes. “Oh, uh—I usually drink it black.”
    She smirked. “It is black. That’s just crema. Drink up.”  
    He took a tiny sip and raised one eyebrow. “Huh.”
    “Can I talk to you privately, Maggie?” she asked, teeth together, eyes aglow. There was fear, intrigue, curiosity, surprise, and a determination I knew damn well. 
    Lena thought I was nuts.
    And, really, was she wrong?
    She grabbed my biceps and pulled me in the hallway where our parents’ bedroom and office were. Tyler was left alone in the kitchen, now gulping the coffee.
    “Tell me what you’ve done with my real sister, because the Maggie I know would never in a million years have a bad boy tattoo’d hottie taking a shower in our house while asking to borrow my car so she could go on a road trip to L.A. with him and have some fun.”
    “I’m offended you think I’m not capable of having fun!”
    “Don’t red herring me, Margaret,” Lena said in a severe voice, her finger in my face, pointing up. “I’m a lawyer. I was in debate club. I know when I’m being distracted. And I’m distracted enough by that chest. Holy Jesus, did someone carve it out of marbled butter?”
    “Hey! Quit ogling my...” Oh, damn. Tyler wasn’t “my” anything. She had every right to turn him into eye candy.
    She swallowed, her face softening, eyes going narrow with worry. “What are you doing? Who is this guy, really?”
    I leaned against the wall for support. “He’s my friend Charlotte’s boyfriend’s substitute bass player for their band.”
    “Oh, well, then. That explains everything. He’s practically family.”
    Lena’s sarcasm made me defensive. “He’s fine. I’ve known him for a while.”
    A small lie. Seeing him a handful of times at concerts over the past year, throwing myself at him on a rooftop, and kissing him in the hospital a few days ago didn’t exactly add up to a long-term friendship, but...
    “Look. He got mugged. Someone stole his instrument and his phone and wallet. The guy has nothing but a few hundred bucks. That’s it. He needs to get to L.A. and without ID, the only safe way is to have someone drive him there. I can’t even lend him a car—”
    Lena cut me off. “Listen to yourself, Maggie! Lend him a car? Are you nuts?”
    “I said I can’t—and won’t—because he has no ID. And suddenly, the band manager called and they entire band has a huge big break. But we have to get him to L.A. in two days. The concert’s Tuesday.”
    “You plan to drive alone with this guy for two days?” Those big, brown eyes were calm on the outside but underneath I knew she was evaluating me. Assessing me. Making sure this wasn’t a Maggie who was devolving. She’d seen it before, seven years ago, and the worry lines etched into her face as she studied me made me think of Mom.
    Who, thank God, wasn’t here right now. If either Mom or Dad were here they’d talk