Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Xena smiled, pulling my arm so I stood in front of her with my back to the stage. “You were marvelous, as usual. And though I hate to admit it, Zero doesn’t suck.”
“Cool. I need to use the restroom. Nice to see you,” I lied, pushing open the bathroom door.
Xena followed me. She glanced at the buff, bald guy standing at the urinals and waved. “As you were.”
“What the fuck are you doing?”
“I can’t hear myself think out there,” she groused, lowering her voice before adding, “And I want to talk to you. You’ve been ducking my calls. I can’t believe you joined the enemy.”
I shot a fierce look at her. “I’m tired of having enemies. Do your own thing and stop trying to drag me into your BS.”
“Hmph. So stern. That’s not like you, Dec. You’re usually so easygoing,” she purred, running a long red nail down my chest. She stepped aside when someone entered and took the opportunity to move closer. “It almost makes me wonder which of them you’re fucking. That kiss was cute, but it wasn’t real. What’s the game?”
“Grow the fuck up,” I hissed.
She held her hand up and chuckled. “Take it easy. I don’t really care who you’re screwing, Dec, but…” She paused for maximum effect, “Something isn’t quite right. I was talking to Petra about it. She’s very curious about the situation. And us.”
“Us?” I pointed at my chest incredulously. “There is no us.”
“Of course there is.”
“Don’t start—”
Xena stood on her tiptoes and kissed me. Hard. “Don’t tell me what to do. It’s a dog-eat-dog world, babe. Stay on your toes. Later.”
I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists. Talk about a buzzkill.
My adrenaline level was still on high, but Xena had managed to suck some joy out of the room. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of stealing this night from me…or Tegan and Justin. She could think what she wanted. I was where I wanted to be.
I had a feeling I was where she wanted to be too.
Sometime after midnight, we ended up at Gray and Justin’s house in the hills for an impromptu celebration. Most of the party huddled around the giant island in the great room, but a few of us took advantage of the heat lamps Gray had turned on outside by the pool. The cool January evening felt nice after being in a sweaty club all night. I sipped my gin and tonic and surveyed the grounds.
The property was a modern architectural wonder of glass and steel with sweeping vistas of Los Angeles from high atop the Hollywood Hills. The open plan, high ceilings, and modern furnishings of the formal living area and the great room were visible from the pool. And beyond the stretch of lawn, LA city lights sparkled like diamonds in the indigo sky. This was the fucking life, I mused as Bobby J regaled Johnny, Charlie, Ky, Tegan, and a couple of our crew members with some wacky story about a fan throwing her underwear at him in the middle of a show with his previous band.
“Swear to God. She waited till she was sure I was watching; then she wiggled in her skirt and came up waving a pink piece of lace as if it were a flag. Next thing I knew, it was in my face.” Bobby J contorted his features until we laughed. “Hangin’ right here on the end of my nose. It was part nasty, part hot.”
“No, that’s just nasty,” Johnny commented without heat. “Tegan’s kiss stunt tonight was hot, but seriously weird. What the fuck was that, man?”
Tegan gave a sheepish shrug. “I got nervous.”
“Nervous? Nervous is not being able to find your waiter five minutes before happy hour ends. Nervous is trying on your favorite skinny jeans after the holidays. Nervous is not kissing a man with the spotlight on you at the fucking Troubadour,” Charlie scolded. “But I will admit, it was hot.”
Bobby J hooted. “Was it good for you too, Dec?”
I rolled my eyes, then shook the ice in my cup and took a long drink. Poor T. They’d been teasing him all night. He played along with the assumption that Charlie’s impromptu suggestion threw him off his game. I wondered what was really going through his head. I wanted to assure him it was hot as fuck and I had no problem doing that every night onstage, but I didn’t trust my voice. I was still riding a post-show high where everything felt super awesome or super craptastic. The kiss was in the first column, Xena was in the second, so it was best to keep my mouth shut for now.
“In Tegan’s defense, he’s always been a nervous clutch-time kisser. Remember that party in high school?” Ky asked.
“Really?” Tegan huffed.
“It was a Truth or Dare showdown. Someone dared T to kiss a cheerleader…Shelly or Kelly something. He didn’t want to do it, but once they smacked lips…let’s just say it was very enthusiastic.” Ky chuckled, throwing his arm around Tegan’s shoulders.