Bonham (Pushing Daisies Book 3) by Heather Young-Nichols (the little red hen read aloud txt) 📗

Van and I were the most vocal when it came to meet and greets. That was how we were on stage as well. All of us protected Daisy because of the issues earlier in the tour. Only women and girls got to stand next to her.

We headed out to the area that Lawson always had set up for our meet and greets.

Sure, he was Courting Chaos’ manager, but he was also Daisy’s boyfriend. He did this for us because it was for her. The rule forbidding backstage meet and greets for us had gone into effect as soon as that asshole had gotten on our bus last month. He’d gotten too close to her. Close enough to do some damage, which luckily he hadn’t done, but also close enough for the rest of us to realize we’d let our guards down when it came to our baby sister.

That shit wasn’t happening again.

We entered the area. Sometimes it was a full tent, depending on weather, and others it was this. This late June night was fucking beautiful, so they’d erected a canopy and a back so that pictures wouldn’t have the parking lot as a background. They had lights running into it and it was roomy enough for all of us. Then they’d bring the people with passes—radio winners or people who knew people—to us.

Almost a hundred percent of the time, Lawson was there with a scowl on his face, his arms over his chest and muscles bulging. For a manager, that guy could look scary when it came to my sister. He and Van had butted heads basically since the beginning, so I could only imagine what it was like living on the bus with the two of them.

I greeted every group that came up, we all did, then got situated, someone snapped a picture, and they moved on. It wasn’t tough to hear how amazing you were over and over. No wonder people in this business got huge egos.

Some of the women brought it in too close, their tits pushing against my side. These fucking pictures. I’d opt out if I could, but this wasn’t the time to get picky. I just hoped that Jurnie understood that if she ever saw any of them.

Though I hoped she never knew about the “really good time” more than one of them promised us. It wasn’t just me, either. Van declined over and over, as did Daltrey. Daltry tended to operate a little more under the radar. There’s no telling if he would hook up with one of those fans, he just wouldn’t do it right here in front of us. No one made the same offer to Daisy.

My brothers were all shaking their heads when we were done, but I didn’t know at what.

Van stretched and let out a loud yawn. “I better get back to the bus. I’ve got big plans before the two of you get back there.” He pointed at Daisy and Lawson.

Lawson stretched his jaw and shook his head. “Just remember that whatever you’re doing now, I’m doing later with your sister.”

All four of us Thompson brothers groaned. Not a single one of us needed to know that.

Daisy placed her fingers against her lips as she tried not to laugh. My sweet, innocent baby sister shouldn’t have found that so funny.

I supposed she wasn’t so sweet and innocent anymore.

Van went off to his girl while Daisy went back into the venue with Lawson. They didn’t spend every minute of the day together, but if it was possible, one would be where the other was. Even if they were both doing different things, for them, being in the same room was worth it.

Courting Chaos’ girlfriends were in the hall when Daltrey, Mack, and I got back into the arena. Indie, Bellamy, and Barrett were good people. Booker’s girl, Paige, was a nurse and had a regular job, so she wasn’t always here. Which meant he was the person who could relate to what I was going through the most. Though Indie and Bellamy weren’t always there, either. Only Barrett was because she was Lawson’s PA.

Nice setup if you could manage it.

Once things were settled inside, Lawson and Daisy said goodnight and went on their way. I’d tried Jurnie, but of course she hadn’t answered. I couldn’t wait until tomorrow afternoon. I was picking my girl up from work and spending a glorious night in the hotel.

“I made your reservation,” Mack told me. We were walking back out of the arena by then.

“Thanks, man.”

“Why wouldn’t you just stay at your apartment? That you pay for.”

I stopped and ran my hand through my hair. “Haven’t you had a girl whom you’d give your left nut to be alone with?”

His eyes got a faraway look in them. “Yeah. Yeah, I have.” Then he shook his head and was back in the present.

“Then that’s why.”

“The Courting Chaos guys invited us to grab some food. They’ve rented out a side room at the steakhouse down the street. I think they’re staying open late for them.”

“Must be nice. Yeah, I’m in.” I doubted Van and Lexi or Daisy and Lawson would join us.

Which was why I was pleasantly surprised when they did.

The room was full.

Cross, Dixon, Ransom, Booker, Barrett, Bellamy, Indie, Lawson, my brothers, Lexi, and Daisy were crowded around the rectangle table, placing our orders.

This was nice. It wasn’t too often that we were all in a room together, but most of the time we ate on the go and this was going to be good.

“Booker, is Paige coming to Detroit or are you going to her?” Ransom asked him after our meals arrived. Ransom’s dark hair was still damp from his after-show shower. Booker was wearing another Star Wars T-shirt. His collection cracked me up.

Booker ran a hand through his short brown hair. “She’s coming to Detroit. Has the weekend off.”

I’d overheard the guys saying that while they all lived in Ann Arbor