Free Time Out by Leah Spiegel, Megan Summers

quipped.
    “Well—as long as our priorities are in the right place,” I sighed sarcastically.
    “Do you want the world to believe you’re a viable contender when it comes to Gwyneth or not?”
    Honestly, the mention of this did put a little strut in my stride. Though I couldn’t have been gladder to leave behind the memory of the flashing lights and screaming voices as I made my way backstage. When I found Riley sitting in the seat next to mine in the front row, I couldn’t help but laugh as I dropped into the seat and buried my face into the side of his chest at the absurdity of it all.
    “It went that well, huh?” He chuckled.
    “I don’t know what I was thinking when I decided to do this,” I laughed.
    “Oh, I don’t know,” he pretended to think about it. “Could it be that his ex-fiancé seems to be making an indefinite stop on the tour?”
    “God—you don’t think she’ll stay for the rest of the entire tour, do you?” I practically pleaded for him to say no.
    “How is she so different than the rest of the young groupies vying for Hawkins’ attention?” he turned to ask me. “Because honestly, Joie, he doesn’t seem that interested in her.” 
    “I don’t know why I’m so jealous. I mean, you’re right, the groupies never seem to faze me. Maybe because they seem so desperate and she seems so sure.” I shrugged. “Though you wouldn’t believe the type of shit she’s been trying to pull on me. It’s like she wants me to be jealous and freak out on Hawkins.”
    “What’s she been doing?” he asked.
    “While you and Harlow were having a secret rendezvous - which by the way, I want to hear all about - Gwyneth’s been busy trying to get Hawkins to leave me behind literally . She’s the reason I got left behind in Alpine, or at least one of the reasons,” I shot Riley a look.
    “About that—I’m so sorry.” He grimaced.
    “Well, I’m glad someone is,” I half laughed. “Because apparently Gwyneth’s never seen my face before in her life, or at least that’s what she told Keisel last night at the Alpine venue.”
    “She told a security guard that?” Riley, who knew my naming system all too well, didn’t even blink twice at the code name.
    “Yeah, and Keisel just so happened to be working the backstage door at the time.” I stressed, knowing Riley would understand the importance of this.
    “That’s crazy.”
    “Oh it gets better,” I informed him. “She then went and told Hawkins, who was of course looking for me, that last time she saw me I was with you and Harlow. When he didn’t hear from me because I lost my cell, he just assumed I was,” I grinned over at him and waggled my eyebrows. “ Watching ,” I added causing Riley’s tan face to slightly flush.
    Clearing his throat, Riley nodded in agreement. “That is crazy.”
    “Yeah, I don’t know which one is more disturbing, the fact that my boyfriend thought I was date crashing because I’m secretly in love with you or the fact that Hawkins ex-fiancé will do just about anything to get rid of me.”
    “Did you tell Hawkins yet?”
    “No, because that’s exactly what she would want me to do. She’d deny it anyway,” I added. “Besides, he said that his hands were tied when it came to Warren.”
    “Hawkins would believe you, Joie,” he stated it like come on now. “He also wouldn’t put up with someone treating you badly either. And I know you think she has everyone fooled, but I don’t think Rob’s a fan.”
    “What did you hear?” I suddenly perked up in my seat; hoping that it was something juicy and good.
    “Harlow’s been around just as long as the band, and I guess he was there for the years they were together. I just get the impression from him, that she’s kind of a bitch.”
    I suddenly beamed, because at least someone else wasn’t fooled by her act.
    “Did I ever tell you what good taste you have when it comes to boyfriends?” I boasted, knowing that I hadn’t seen Riley look