Free Hate Me Today (Save Me #3) by Katheryn Kiden Page B

dick.”
    I want to rush out, find Vanessa and apologize but I can’t seem to make myself move. I just sit at this crappy table and replay what just happened while I wait for the waitress I just screwed in the storage room to come get my credit card so I can pay. Even though I feel like I should apologize, I know that it was probably a good idea for her to realize that I’m still an asshole. Letting anyone get close to me only ends in disaster.
    “I need a drink,” I say to no one while I make my way out of the restaurant and back to the bus.
    Since sound check is already done for the day I expect to find everyone on the bus waiting to get ready to go on, but it’s empty when I get there. I rummage through my bunk until I find what I’m looking for. I crack the top, press the glass bottle against my lips and suck down half the bottle in one drink. The Wild Turkey burns as I gulp it down. I make a mental note to grab more before we hit the road because this is my last bottle.
    Someone bangs against the side of the bus making me jump and almost drop the bottle in my hand.
    “Hey, jackass!” Devon yells, “you’re gonna be late.”
    I look down at my watch and can’t believe how late it’s gotten. I recap the bottle and toss it on my bunk, knowing that I’ll be crawling back in there as soon as we get done here. I can’t wait to be home so I can sleep in my own damn bed instead of this cramped box with everyone else.
    By the time I make it to the dressing room everyone is ready to go and just waiting for me to get ready so we can go on stage. I peel my shirt over my head replacing it with a clean one. Vanessa won’t look at me but she laughs at something Mandi says to her.
    Over the past few weeks I can’t help but wonder if I was wrong about her. Maybe I hate her for all the wrong reasons. Maybe it’s just because I’m an asshole or because I’m always drinking but Vanessa is nothing like I thought she was. She’s always going out of her way to help someone and is nice to everyone, including me. I can’t stop thinking about it the entire walk to the stage but have to push it from my mind when we’re introduced.
    Vanessa’s on fire the entire time we’re on stage, letting everyone see and feel the emotions she has going on throughout each song. The crowd loves it, I hate it. I hate it even more when we get to that damn "Hate Me Today" song she wrote. Mainly because I know it’s about me and everything I’ve said and done to her.
    When Vanessa pulled me into singing covers with her at the concert a few weeks ago I never thought it would have gone over as well as it has. We’re selling out every show and pulling people that aren’t usually into country music to our shows.
    “So by now you guys know about the little switch we do at our shows now." The crowd starts screaming before Vanessa even gets through talking. They know what’s coming.
    I step up to the mic but before I can say anything I’m cut off by the opening c hords to "Just Like You" by Three Days Grace and Vanessa pushing me out of the way. She steps up to my mic instead of hers and sings the entire song there.
    I can’t lie, the cocky attitude is kinda hot and she rocks it the entire show.

 
     
     
    Jason
    My phone vibrates against my arm, waking me up from the first deep sleep I’ve had since this tour started. It always takes me a few weeks to get back in the groove I need to sleep while moving. Grabbing my phone I check the caller ID but don’t recognize the number so I ignore it. Anyone worth talking to is in my phone already or will leave me a message.
    Dropping it back down to my chest I close my eyes and try to fall back asleep but as soon as I am almost there the fucker rings again. 3:27 am. Seriously , I’ve only been asleep for an hour and a half and stupid people are calling my ass and waking me up.
    “What!” I growl out as low as I can. No need to wake everyone else up because of some dumbass calling me.
    “Is this