Like Loving A Lion (SEQUEL to I'm Not That Perfect)

"Damn it. You guys have gotten better since last time. God fucking damn it." I paced the bus nervously, carefully watching Alan, Aaron, and Tino play Call of Duty.
"Stop staring, you're making me nervous." Alan whined.
"Avery, you're on my team next round." Tino said.
"Fuck you, Tino. Last time I was on your team you shot me." I rolled my eyes. "I want Aaron."
"Good." Aaron replied. "You're way better than Tino."
"I know." I grinned, sitting down between Tino and Aaron. "Miss me?"
"Most definitely. I like it whenever Austin's asleep; you hand out with us more." Alan said.
"I feel very special. I flew all the way out here to see him and he's slept the whole time. I don't even think he knows that I'm here." I said. "You guys pay more attention to me than my own husband."
"Stop gossiping about me." Austin's voice said from behind me. "You act like you didn't miss me, Ave."
"Aw, did somebody decide to wake up?" I teased. "Of course I missed you."
He leaned his head over the couch to kiss me. "And I'll have you know-"
"You're in my range of vision. Alan just knifed me because of you."
"-That last night I woke up because I wasn't used to having someone sleeping next to me and I was very happy to see you, but I didn't want to wake you." Austin argued. "And now you're playing video games with my band instead of kissing me."
"I'd do a lot more than kiss you if I won this game." I smirked without taking my eyes from the screen.
Everyone was quiet for a second, then they all started screaming at once.
"Avery! Gross!" Alan yelled, squeezing his eyes shut. I took advantage and shot him while he wasn't paying attention.
"Aaron, dude. I need you to win." Austin urged him.
"We're winning right now." I rolled my eyes. "Now shut up."
"Fine."
I stood up when Aaron and I won, leaving the guys and going back to the front of the bus to find Austin. Wrapping my arms around him, I squeezed tight. "I really missed you."
"We don't play until tonight. Let's go to lunch." Austin suggested, smiling down at me.
"Only if we go to La Madeleine." I said.
"You and your French food." He laughed, shaking his head. "Of course. The princess gets what she wants."
**
"So, how has it been so far?" I asked, sitting beside my husband in my favourite French restaurant. "I mean, besides from pining over your lonely wife back home."
"It's been great except for having to do it without you." Austin said, squeezing my hand. "What's up with your band? Matt called me the other day-"
"They're all idiots, that's what's up with them." I rolled my eyes. "I said, 'hey guys, don't you think we should plan a tour or start working on a new album or something?' and they're all totally disinterested. I don't fucking know. It's stressing me out."
"Do you think they'd ever want to break up?" He asked.
"Who knows? I've actually been thinking about starting to model again since all my band does is smoke pot and eat pizza every day." I shrugged.
"Oh, your modeling days. Those were the good times." Austin laughed. "I remember before we started dating when the guys came to your shoots I would too but only 'cause you usually weren't wearing a lot of clothes."
"That was when we hated each other. Remember?" I laughed too. "It all seems so silly now, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. Yeah, it does." He said. "Completely different, but something's bothering me."
"I'm listening."
"Gielle's getting married again." He sighed. "And I shouldn't care but I do."
"Austin, she was your first love. You wanted to spend the rest of your life with her-"
"I'm glad I didn't." He smiled suddenly, cutting me off. "Then I wouldn't have you."
"We have some things in common." I said, then shut my mouth quickly. I hadn't meant to say that out loud.
His eyes narrowed. "What could you possibly have in common with her? You're a queen and she's a fucking peasant."
"Nothing." I said, trying to think of a subject change.
"What? You both lost your babies so you have some kind of bond?" He asked, looking surprised at himself. "I'm sorry. That was insensitive."
"It's what I was thinking." I shrugged. And you cheated on both of us. "Stop thinking about her. There's no reason for it. At least she's happy now, right?"
"Right." He agreed.
"What time is the show tonight?" I asked, suddenly irritated with him.
"Eight." He replied.
"Right. I think I'll get a cab and do a little bit of shopping and see you there tonight?" I asked.
He knew to give me some space. "Sure. I'll see you then. I love you."
"Love you too. See you tonight." I said, going outside.
A short cab ride later, I was at Urban Outfitter's. Good. I'd barely been with Austin for a day and he was already getting on my nerves.
"Look who it is." A rather unpleasant voice said next to me. "They new Mrs Carlile?"
I looked up at the brunette woman. "Do I know you?"
She laughed. "I used to be married to your man."
"Mm. Lovely." I nodded, going back to looking through the racks.
"Congratulations, by the way." She said casually. "You seem very happy together."
"We are, not that it's any of your business." I replied. "Are you through pestering me?"
Gielle studied me. "I can see why he's so infatuated with you."
"Aw, look. It has a ninth-grade vocabulary!" I cried.
"You must think you're very clever." She rolled her eyes.
I beamed. "I do. I do think I'm very clever. Now as fun as our little chat has been, I'm going to leave now. My husband is playing a show tonight."
***
My anger with Austin dissolved as quickly as it arose. I was excited to see him play, standing on the side of the stage with Oli Sykes.
"He missed you crazy. You're all he talks about." Oli told me.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked after a second. "And I need you not to tell Austin about this."
"Sure." He said.
"Has he said anything about a baby?" I asked slowly.
Oli looked pained. "Well. . . There were a few times."
I nodded. "That's all. Thanks."
"Don't worry about it. He really loves you." Oli said.
The show was over. Austin ran over and kissed me. "Hi, lady."
I laughed. "I love you."
"How was shopping?" He asked.
"I ran into Gielle." I said casually.
"You did what?" His face darkened.
"She was rather rude actually." I said. "She congratulated us but it was very sarcastic, so. . ."
"I don't care about her. I only care about you and I'm so happy you're here." He said, smiling. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I just don't feel very well." I assured him.

Notes