Hard Freak (Rock Stars on Tour Book 3) Read online

  Or I could hitchhike.

  I shook my head. Hitchhiking would be too dangerous, especially at this time of night. I should just go back to sleep. I’d see Crow on Tuesday. But on Tuesday, Polly would probably redouble her efforts to keep us apart.

  Hitching a ride was the only way. Hitchhiking in Europe was a lot more accepted than it was at home. I’d totally be able to do it. If I left now, I’d be at the festival grounds bright and early.

  I threw some things into a bag. I didn’t need much for one night. Some makeup and a change of underwear.

  I had to get out of the hotel without Polly seeing me, but we’d been back from rehearsal for a few hours, and she wouldn’t be watching me so closely with the Freaks out of town. If she did spot me, I could say I was going out to get something to eat. That would totally work.

  I quietly closed the hotel room door behind me and crept to the elevator. That part had been easy, but what next? I couldn’t just stick my thumb out to get a ride in the middle of the city.

  I got out my phone and checked out a map of the city. I could get an Uber to the highway and go from there.

  Polly would kill me; I knew that. And I could understand things from her point of view. But from her point of view, I was still twelve years old, with pigtails and freckles. She’d never see me as older than that. I had to prove myself, and this was the way to do it. If I stayed in Brussels, she’d have won.

  I got to the highway without a problem.

  “Sure this is the right place?” the Uber driver asked as he pulled over.

  “Yep. I’m going to hitch a ride to Paris.”

  The driver shook his head. “Be careful.”

  I didn’t really grasp the “middle of nowhere” concept until the Uber took off, leaving me there alone. I sure as hell hadn’t considered that this would be a spooky-as-hell industrial area. Some sickly-looking trees grew along the side of the road, and on the other side of them was a bunch of graffiti-covered warehouses.

  Maybe, if I was quick, that Uber would still be in the area. Because otherwise it’d take forever for a driver to get out here, and I might be dead by then.

  There wasn’t much traffic on the highway. I stood by the side of the road, debating whether I should turn back while I still could. The thought of being safe and warm in my hotel bed appealed to me a lot, but Crow appealed more.

  A car came toward me. What kind of people would be driving at this time of night? Weirdos, that’s who.

  I put out my thumb, just a little. Part of me panicked. They might be ax murderers or something worse. Did I really want to get in a car with strangers? But I’d committed myself now. I was here, on this highway. The sun would be up in an hour.

  This was the stupidest idea I’d ever had. It had seemed to make sense back at the hotel, but now that I was out here on the side of the highway, in the dark and the cold, I wanted to run back to bed.

  No, that wasn’t an option. If I wanted Crow, I needed the chance to convince him. I couldn’t wait until Tuesday. I had to see him now.

  Still, going back to the hotel...

  Before I could keep arguing with myself, a car pulled over on the verge of the road. My heart pounded. Did I want to get in or not? I walked slowly toward it, a big part of me wanting to run.

  I could run. It was an option. If I went slow enough, maybe the car would take off, and the decision would be made for me.

  Then the driver’s door opened. A girl around my age jumped out.

  “Do you want a lift or not?”

  I guessed I did. She looked safe, and that was a definite sign that this was the right thing to do.

  Chapter 9

  CARRIE, THE DRIVER, dropped me off at the hotel. I sat in the foyer, looking all scruffy and dirty. The staff kept side-eying me, but no one said anything. I got out my phone and messaged Crow.

  I’m here. I’m in the lobby.

  There was nothing to do but wait. I’d thought of not letting him know. I’d be able to get an access pass for the concert from Elijah, and I could just appear backstage, but that idea had so much potential for disaster. I also thought about messaging Polly, but I wanted to talk to Crow first. Also, I didn’t want everyone in the lobby to hear her scream at me over the phone.

  I found a sofa to sit on while I waited. I wished I’d gotten something to eat first. My stomach rumbled. I needed some kind of nourishment.

  “What are you doing here?”

  I stared up at Crow. He wasn’t smiling.

  “I needed to see you. I needed to see you without Polly interfering.”

  “All hell is going to break loose. You know that. She’ll freak out, thinking you could be dead in a ditch somewhere. You need to tell her, and then head back on the next train.”

  I pouted. He could be more pleased to see me.

  “Can I at least have a shower? I’m all stinky. And you know, since I’m already here, it wouldn’t hurt to go to the festival. It’s not like I’d get back in time to rehearse, anyway.”

  He scratched his head. “I’m not sure. Ring Polly and see what she says. I don’t want any trouble.”

  I grinned. There wasn’t much Polly could do while I was this far away, and I’d get to be naked in Crow’s room. That would put plenty of temptation in his way.

  We went up to his room. When I had some privacy, I called Polly.

  She sighed when she answered the phone. At least she wasn’t yelling. “I guess I know where you are,” she said.

  “You’d guess right.” I didn’t want to sound too happy in case it got her mad.

  “Fay, you are the biggest idiot. I have no idea how you got there, but if you do anything like that again, I’ll throttle you. You could’ve died.”

  “Well, I didn’t. I’m fine.”

  “Let me talk to Crow,” she said.

  I didn’t want to, but I had no choice. I handed him the phone. He turned his back to me so I couldn’t see his face. All I heard was a few mumbles from him.

  When he turned back, I peeled my t-shirt off.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “Having a shower, like we agreed.”

  He grabbed his bag out of the wardrobe and slung it over his shoulder.

  “Wait... What? Where are you going?” I asked him. He wasn’t just going out for food, because he had all his stuff.

  “Damo’s room. You can stay for the festival, but you’ll be staying here alone.”

  Before I could protest, he walked out of the room. This was not part of my plan. What had happened to those passionate kisses? The way he stared at me until my body burned? I didn’t like this new iciness.

  Still, I could stay the night. He might be all business now, but later tonight, he’d feel differently. I just had to bide my time. I jumped in the shower, then dressed and redid my makeup. I was more than ready for this festival.

  I waited near the elevator for the others so we could get the bus to the festival.

  “Whoa, Firecracker,” Elijah said when he saw me. “You’re turning into a bundle of trouble.”

  He ruffled my hair, which really annoyed me.

  I wasn’t trying to be trouble. I just knew what I wanted, and I went for it. Was that a bad thing? If Crow really didn’t want me, I’d have backed off, but I had no reason to think that.

  “It worked for you,” I said to him, and nodded at Rose.

  “You’re right about that. Want to be flower girl at our wedding?”

  He really did think I was a little kid.

  “Flower girl? I’m not a little kid. Tell me you’re joking, or I’ll kill you before you get to the altar. Hey, wedding?”

  “Yep, no more screwing around for me. The ball and chain is firmly on.”

  I laughed at him. He could say that, but anyone could see from the way he glowed that he loved it, and he loved Rose.

  “You’re going to have hell to pay when you see Polly again,” he said. “I would not want to be in your shoes. She’s one scary lady when she’s
angry.”

  “Well, so am I,” I told him.

  My heart wasn’t in that, though. Crow’s reaction had taken the wind out of my sails. Maybe I’d made a huge mistake coming here. When I left Brussels, I’d wanted to prove a point to Polly, but with some time to think about it, I realized I had been stupid. She really did have reason to be angry with me.

  “Ease off a bit,” Elijah said quietly. “Guys like to be the hunter.”

  I scoffed. “In what century?”

  “In all centuries. You don’t have to be all meek and mild, just back off a bit. Don’t scare the guy.”

  I folded my arms and leaned against the wall. Screw Elijah and his advice. I didn’t scare Crow. He was a whole different person from Elijah. The whole time we’d been in Amsterdam, I’d been laid back and friendly, and that hadn’t worked at all. We’d hung out and had fun, but if we’d stayed like that, we’d have been at the friend’s level for the rest of our lives. I didn’t want to be friends with Crow. I wanted the full experience.

  Soon, the bus arrived. Fartstard came to gather us up. He did a double take when he saw me.

  “Yeah, I’m here, despite your betrayal,” I said.

  “Sorry, but if I’m going to be in anyone’s bad books, your books are much preferable to Damo and Polly’s. It’s just expedient, that’s all.”

  He could say that, but he needn’t expect me to be friendly to him ever again.

  Crow turned up just as we were ready to leave. I smiled at him, but he ignored me. That cut right down to the bone. We got on the bus, and Damo sat down beside me.

  “Are you going to give me a proxy lecture from Polly?” I asked.

  “Nope, but, Fay, you’re really interfering with my love life. She’s become totally focused on you. She has nothing left for me.”

  I’d thought it might be like that, but I hadn’t asked to be Polly’s first priority.

  “Maybe you should talk to her about that, not me. Her obsession with my sex life is becoming a bit creepy.”

  “She feels responsible for you. The whole family thing. It’s not that she wants to make you miserable. She just doesn’t want to see you hurt.”

  “Why does everyone think I’m going to get hurt? I can have a happily ever after,” I said.

  “You can. I’m not denying that. What I am denying is that your happily ever after will be with Crow. He’s a great guy, a fantastic drummer, but he’s no knight in shining armor, by any means.”

  I looked out the window, not answering him. Why would I want a knight in shining armor? Would a white knight push me against the wall and kiss me until my lips bruised and my insides screamed for his touch? Because, now I’d had that, I wouldn’t be happy with anything less.

  Chapter 10

  THAT SHITHEAD FARTSTARD had to give me an all-access pass in the end, because I couldn’t get in without it. The festival grounds thronged with people. The sun shone. The smell of greasy food filled the air, and the music was so loud, the ground trembled. Despite Crow’s reaction, excitement rushed through me. I loved a rock festival.

  We jumped out of the van, and I looked around the backstage area. This place was lush. Tarpaulins separated all the different band areas, and slap-bang in the middle was a row of food trucks. I’d get to hang out with real rock stars, not this bunch of bozos. Sure, they might be the headliners of the festival, but I’d seen them at their worst. They held no mystique for me anymore. Well, except for Crow. He had plenty of mystique, but not rock mystique.

  I had no idea why everyone was so against him. Not one single person could give me one solid example of why Crow was wrong for me. They just talked nonsense.

  He got out of the van, but before I could say anything to him, he walked off. I stared after him, not sure whether to follow or not.

  “Come with us and stop gawking,” Elijah said. “We have to find our space, and you won’t know where it is if you wander off.”

  I took off after him. I really wanted to go watch some of the bands, but if I didn’t know where the Freaks were set up, I’d never find my way back.

  When we got to their space, I gazed around. They had it all going on. A fridge full of drinks running off a generator. Sofas and a few beanbags set around the place. Lockers to put their stuff in. One day, all this would be mine. We’d be the ones headlining festivals. As much as Polly’s nagging bugged me, I could see why she wanted to hit the big time. Not that we were slumming it on the tour, by any means. We had those fancy hotels, but having luxury was so much more awesome when other people could see you had it.

  I snapped a few photos. I needed to update my Instagram with this. The world needed to see me here.

  “Do you get foot massages too?” I asked.

  “Probably,” Elijah said. “If you ask for them.”

  He slumped down on the sofa with a beer in his hand. Rose sat with him.

  I tossed up between going to see some of the bands playing or waiting around for Crow. He might not come back for hours, though. He really didn’t want to be seen talking to me.

  “I’m heading out,” I said. “I’m far too young and pretty to hang out here with you oldies all day.”

  “Chuck your bag in the locker,” Elijah said. “You don’t want to worry about being rolled in the crowd.”

  I nodded, then took out my phone and a few bucks and put them in my pocket.

  “If you want food, it’s all free,” Damo told me. “Just flash your pass at the vans.”

  “Holy cow! You’re kidding me. That’s about as good as life gets.”

  Damo and Elijah laughed. They were so jaded. Once you got complacent about free food, it was a downhill slide from there. I’d be eating my fill of that food.

  I rushed off, stopping to get a taco. It was true. I just flashed my pass and voila, food. Then I headed out of the VIP area to join the regular people.

  There were a few bands I wanted to see apart from the Freaks. I slammed myself into the middle of the crowd. It’d been a while since I’d seen a live band from this side. I wanted to zone out and enjoy the music, but playing with Wreckage had surely wrecked me, because all I could think about was whether I could copy some of those moves and if we’d be better off playing our songs more like that. All the business side. Would I be ruined for life? Damn, I’d never expected that to happen.

  A few hours later, I headed back to the VIP area. On my way, I planned out the food I’d eat. Definitely another one of those tacos and maybe a burger and some of that curry. My stomach rumbled at the thought. I thought there was a van selling crepes, too. I might have to go back for them later.

  I stood in the queue for the tacos. Tacos were definitely the gold ticket item. Everyone wanted a taco. Then I grabbed my burger and a drink. I was in the queue for the curry when some jerk bumped me, and my delicious burger fell from my hands. I looked down, hoping it was still safe in its container. Nope. Burger splatted all over the ground.

  “Watch it,” I said to the guy.

  “You watch it. You’re getting a bit uppity for some slutty groupie,” he said.

  I was about to give him some lip about that. Double jerk. But suddenly he was slammed up against the side of the van. Crow. Where had he come from?

  He had the guy by the shirt front, towering over him. Double Jerk trembled.

  “Sorry, dude. Didn’t know she was with you.”

  Crow had his fist raised, about to slam it into the guy’s face. “Don’t speak to any woman like that, asshole.”

  My heart flipped. Damo had said he wasn’t a knight in shining armor, but it didn’t get any more shining than that. That jerk was almost shitting his pants.

  “Don’t hit him,” I said. “He’s not worth the effort.”

  Emotions fluttered over Crow’s face, like he warred with himself. Finally, he let the guy go, and the guy ran off as fast as he could.

  “And don’t be a jerk again,” I called after him. “You owe me a burger.”

  The guy didn’t look back.

/>   “I’ll get you another burger,” Crow said, and he strode off. But he’d have to come back to give that burger to me. We’d walk back to the Freaks’ area together, and I’d have a burger and curry. That jerk might be a jerk alright, but he’d helped bring Crow and me closer together, so he wasn’t all bad.

  Chapter 11

  “YOU’VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL around some of these guys,” Crow said as we walked back. “They’re used to having women throw themselves at them. They’ve never learned any manners.”

  I bit my lip. I’d been one of those women, but then I’d only thrown myself at Crow, not just any rock star. And it wouldn’t matter what Crow did for a living. He could be a mechanic or a cook or an accountant, and I’d feel the same. Well, maybe not an accountant. But a mechanic would be hot. My car would be broken down by the side of the road, and he’d stop to help me get it going. He’d get all hot and sweaty and have to strip his shirt off. Then I’d hand him a bottle of cold water. And next thing, he’d have bent me over that car and...

  We’d arrived back at our area. The only ones there were Elijah and Rose. I had no idea where the others had gone, but the fewer people, the better.

  “Got enough food there, Firecracker,” Elijah said.

  “Well, no, I haven’t,” I replied. “I’m going back for crepes later.”

  I put my food down on the table, Crow adding my burger to the pile. Then I pulled up a chair.

  “We should get something to eat,” Rose said, standing up. “I’m famished.”

  She and Elijah left. Elijah gave me a sly wink on his way out.

  Crow got up to follow them.

  “You don’t have to run away from me,” I said.

  “I’m not running.”

  “You’re running. Sit down and eat. Surely, we can spend a few minutes together. We’re in a semi-public place.”

  He grinned and sat down on the sofa. I sat at the table. We didn’t talk because my mouth was full of food, and Crow didn’t talk much anyway.