by Thomas, C. M
“What the hell happen to her that she is so afraid? Did she tell you?” I asked.
“No, although I asked her multiple times. She just kept saying that she was stressed and needed rest. But I called the doctor, and after he looked at her, he told me he thinks she had a panic attack.” His eyes darkened. “Look, I’ve done the security job long before I got on your team. And I don’t think I have seen a woman that afraid of me ever. Something has spooked her. I think that’s why she left Colorado Springs. Not that I have evidence to prove it, though.”
“What do we do? Do we just act like everything is normal? I know that Kylie is worried sick, and no offense, but we need her to do her job.” I tried not to sound like an ass, but we did need Kylie to focus on her job.
“I will try and see if Marco can get through to Anna. Maybe the fact that he is dating her sister will help. I’ve already talked to him about it, and he will see if he can get Anna to talk tomorrow. Tonight, the girls are apparently having a movie night in Anna’s room. Marco just texted me that he would wait to talk to her until tomorrow.” Dax smiled.
“I just hope that whatever spoked her didn’t hurt her. But hearing this makes me think of an old classmate who was abused by her father. She also had panic attacks.” I felt pain in my stomach. This was really bothering me more than I thought it would.
“Look, Zane, try not to worry. Talk to the guys and let them know what I told you. I will tell you if Marco finds out what happened to her. And we will take it from there. But for now, I will just let Anna know that she can’t walk out from the hotel without security.”
“I don’t think she will go with that, you know.” I grinned at him.
“I know. I will tell her that it’s because she is with you guys on tour, and as soon as the paparazzi find that out, they will follow her.” He grinned. “I hope that will make it easier. But no matter what, she’s not leaving here without protection. Not until I know what happened to her.” He leaned back in the chair.
“I don’t know why this bothers me so much, but I needed this talk.” I got up and walked over to the door and out of the room before he had a chance to address that last part. When I got into my room, I went straight into the shower.
While in the shower, my mind drifted back to the beautiful blonde and her body. The moment I thought of her, my dick hardened. Great, now I had a painful hard-on, and there was no way that I would jerk it off in the shower. I wanted the real thing, not my right hand. Maybe I just needed to find some random pussy that might help me get Anna out of my mind. I turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist.
About thirty minutes later, I was about to walk out of my room and down to the bar when Cole knocked on my door. I opened the door and let him in. I just knew he wanted to talk about Anna. He knew me too well. We’d been friends since he moved to town when he was five.
“What is it with you and Anna?” he asked the moment he sat down on the couch. I sat down on one of the chairs before answering him.
“Nothing! I just want to make sure Kylie is at the top of her game. And when she’s worried about her sister, she isn’t.” I didn’t even believe myself, how the hell did I expect him to believe me?
“Bullshit, Zane. I know you. You don’t bother with shit like this, that’s Liam, not you.” He was right about that.
“Shut up. I’m not that heartless. I just don’t see the point of worrying about everyone like Liam does.”
“Yeah, right. That’s why you looked like you wanted to kill me this morning when I looked at Anna’s ass. And why you followed Kylie and Marco to Anna’s room when we came back to the hotel.” Shit, I didn’t know he knew that. I had better not tell him that I went back to her room after the meeting with Tristan, or that I talked to Dax about her too. I was turning into Liam when it came to this woman.
“Just because I like the way she looks doesn’t mean that I will do anything about it. You know I only have one-night stands. I haven’t even been with a girl more than once since high school.” I was seriously fucked up.
“So you’re a man-whore. That’s no secret to me. But I still call bullshit about Anna. I can see it in your eyes; you want her. And for more than just one night!” I didn’t like what he was saying. I can’t want her like that, can I? I didn’t do relationships; they were complicated, and after seeing Liam heartbroken when Evie left him a little over three years ago, I didn’t need or want that.
“Shut up, Cole. I don’t want her more than I want some random hot girl I meet down at the bar.” I really sounded like an ass, but I just wanted him to back off. This whole conversation made me uncomfortable.
“Fine, I’ll let it go for now. But just know that if Kylie sees you looking at Anna like you did this morning, she’s going to kill you.” He grinned at that last part. But he was right: she would kill me. Hell, she would kill me just for the thought I had in the shower an hour ago.
“You want to come down to the bar with me?” I asked him, changing the subject.
“Nah, I think I will call it a night. We have rehearsals all day tomorrow. I need my sleep tonight.” He walked over to the door and out of my room. He was right about that. I, also, needed sleep. I didn’t get much last night; I was busy with some random pussy. I got up and walked over to the door, grabbing my wallet and phone on the way.
Just as I opened the door, my mind drifted back to Anna. To her eyes, the deepness in them. My brain was flooding with pictures of her. Her beautiful face with those small dimples when she smiled. I missed the sound of her voice. How crazy is that? How could I miss the sound of a person’s voice—a person I’d just met today, I might add? Something inside me was aching to be near her, in the same room as her.
I shut the door and shook my head. I needed sleep. All these thoughts and feelings must be because I was tired, right?
Chapter 7:
Anna
Today was concert day. Kylie had been busy with the band all day. I was left to myself until tonight, where I got to see Deep C perform live. To get some of the anxiety out of my body, I headed to the gym at the hotel. Walking on my own into the gym, I stopped when I heard talking inside. Standing just a few feet inside the room, I looked up and saw four very handsome and shirtless men. The band. I thought they were at the venue doing a sound check or something for tonight.
The gym was bigger than I thought, and had all the equipment you could think of for a good workout. The air was a bit heavy and smelled like a mix of cologne and sweat. I took a moment to appreciate the view. Cole and Liam were both on the treadmills with their backs to me. Caleb and Zane were in the corner. Caleb was doing some leg presses.
Zane was standing, lifting weights in both hands. Shit, that’s hot. My eyes were focused on this beautiful male. I thought he was hot before, but seeing him without his shirt, lifting weights, that was a sight I’d never forget. His muscles flexed, and his tattooed body looked fantastic covered in sweat. Okay, Anna, time to get your eyes away from him. The only feeling in my body right now was lust. Lust for this man, this gorgeous man, who of course was totally out of my league. He was a rock star. Me? I was just Anna. Before I could look away, our eyes connected in the mirror he was standing in front of. I could feel the shyness come over me, but for some reason, I couldn’t move my eyes from his. He winked at me before turning around.
“Seeing something you like?” he asked me. With that, four sets of eyes were on me. Before I had a chance to answer, Kylie came running into the room.
“You guys need to get in the shower. We’re leaving in thirty minutes.” She turned and looked at me. “Oh, Anna, didn’t see you. Do you want to come with us?”
“No, thanks. I need to get some training done. But I will see you later.” With that, I walked over to one of the treadmills, trying not to make eye contact with Zane again.
“Come on, get your asses moving,” Kylie yelled at the guys before she sta
rted walking to the door again. I stepped onto the treadmill and plugged music in my ears. Slowly increasing the speed, I started running. This felt good; I missed running. Before the attack, I ran almost every morning. Now I didn’t. I was afraid “D” would follow me, so I just stopped. Even though it had been a long time since I last did any running, my legs just went with the flow. Moments later, someone pressed the pause button. I looked up right into Zane’s big brown eyes.
“You didn’t answer my question before.” He grinned at me.
“No, I didn’t. And I’m not going to now either.” I tried to keep my breathing steady, but between running and looking at Zane, my heart just pumped even harder in my chest.
“Hmm, I think you liked it.” Was he flirting with me? No, that must be my imagination.
“Think what you must, but I’m still not answering that question. If you don’t mind, I would like to go back to my running.” I might have come out a bit harsh, but I didn’t want him to know that more than anything, I just wanted him to take me right here in the gym. He was standing there, glistening with sweat, looking like a fantasy.
“I’ll let you go for now. But only because I don’t want Kylie to cut my balls off.” He winked at me before turning around and walking out. I took a moment to appreciate his back and tight ass. Unfortunately, he looked over his shoulder and caught me checking him out.
“See? I told you. You do like what you see.” He grinned before he walked out of the gym. I took a deep breath. Keep your shit together, Anna. You don’t want this; he doesn’t do relationships. You do.
I started running again, and before I knew it, I’d been running for an hour. After getting back to my room, I took a shower before I sat down and turned on the television. My thoughts went back to the conversation I had with Marco yesterday.
A small knock on my door. When I opened it, Marco stood on the other side.
“Can I come in?” He looked like he would rather be anywhere but with me at that moment. I gestured for him to walk in, and when we both sat on the two chairs, he started talking again.
“I know this is none of my business, but Kylie is scared for you, and so are the rest of us. Can you please tell me what has gotten you so scared?” I took a deep breath before answering him. I knew I had to tell him, or at least someone, what was really happening to me, but I couldn’t seem to get the words out. So instead I went with the story I had told so far.
“I’m just stressed. Like I told Kylie last night, I have had a lot on my mind lately. Finishing my degree, work, and life.”
“Anna, I don’t know you enough to call bullshit. But something other than stress is causing this. We both know it. I think everyone knows it.”
“I don’t know what else to tell you right now. I can’t give you any other reason at the moment. Sorry.” The tears were now trickling down my cheeks. Marco moved over and sat down in front of me.
“I didn’t mean to upset you. I, we, just want to make you feel safe from whatever is scaring you, okay?” The way he looked at me, it was like he was the brother I never had. I bent down and hugged him.
“I know. And I will tell one of you the real reason, but I just can’t right now. I just…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. I’d already told him too much. Now he knew that there was another reason.
“I will tell you this, though. Don’t go out alone, and if you’re not comfortable with telling Kylie or me, tell Dax. He’s as loyal as they get. He will help you, and he won’t tell a soul if you tell him not to, okay?”
I gave him a small nod.
The conversation still brought out tears in my eyes. I really wanted to tell him. But for some reason, the words couldn’t come out.
For the rest of the day, I read and watched television. At around five in the afternoon, I started getting ready for the concert tonight. I got a text from Kylie.
Kylie: Shorts, Anna. It’s hot backstage.
Me: Okay, when do we leave?
Kylie: Fifteen minutes, if you want to go with the band and me. You can also wait an hour, then Marco can get you?
Me: No, it’s okay. I’m ready to go, just need to change my jeans to shorts.
Kylie: Okay, meet you downstairs soon.
An hour later, we were at the venue. This was huge. I’d never been backstage at a concert before. The stage was huge, but so was the space behind it. There were several small rooms, of course, most of them for the band members. There was a small bar where we could get something to eat and drink. There was a big couch area where the crew could hang out if they had a small break. Not that I thought they had many breaks. From the look of the people working back here, they had more than enough to take care of. There were people everywhere, running, talking, and getting everything ready for the concert.
The band was in their dressing room, getting ready. Kylie was here somewhere. I hadn’t seen her since we got here. I just tried to not get in the way. Before I knew it, it was time for the concert. I could hear the screams from the crowd. Thank God it wasn’t me who had to get on that stage. Just thinking of it made me want to run and hide.
The band came out of their rooms. They all looked serious and in their little world. Caleb stood with his guitar hanging on his shoulder, Liam right next to him with his bass. Cole was standing behind them with his guitar, and beside him was Zane. He didn’t seem to notice all the fuss around him. He just stood with his drumsticks in one hand looking out on the stage.
“Two minutes, guys.” Kylie walked up behind them. They didn’t seem to notice her. I walked over to Kylie. At that moment, Zane turned and sent me a small smile.
Good luck, I mouthed to him, smiling. He winked at me before mouthing back, Thanks.
“Now, on stage now, guys.” Caleb walked on stage first, and the rest of them followed. I thought the screams from the crowd were loud before. I was wrong. The moment the band got on stage, the screams sounded even higher.
“Hello, Seattle, are you ready for some music?” Caleb asked, and the crowd went nuts. A moment later, Zane hit his sticks together, and the music started. I was in the zone. My sole focus was Zane; I couldn’t get my eyes away from him. The way his body moved, even though he was “trapped” behind the drums, was mesmerizing.
“They are good, right?” Kylie walked up and stood beside me in the right corridor of the stage.
“They really are. It’s a whole other experience seeing them like this, than hearing their music on the radio,” I said, not looking anywhere but at Zane.
“You’re right. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this. Even though I have seen them perform live more times than I can even remember.” She smiled. We just stood in the corridor listening to them play. Before I knew it, the band came off the stage for a ten-minute break. Kylie rushed to get water for all of them. I was still standing in the same place I’d been since they got on stage. It was like I was in a whole other world tonight. Sure, I’d been to concerts before. But never backstage.
“What do you think?” I still stood in my own little world, so I didn’t even notice Zane was standing right next to me.
“You guys are great. I’ve never experienced anything like this.” I turned and smiled at him.
“Glad you approve.” He grinned before joining the others back on stage.
The rest of the concert was just as mesmerizing as the beginning. And before I knew it, it was all over, which had me feeling a little sad. I was already looking forward to the next concert.
After the concert, it got wild again backstage. Some fans had private signings with the band, while the press here wanted interviews with the band members. Again I just stood and watched. This world was so different from my world. I didn’t think I’d ever been so impressed with my sister. She handled this like it was a walk in the park. But I knew it wasn’t. There were so many things going on all over the place, and she was trying her best to keep
up with all of it.
“You want to go back to the hotel, or do you want to wait until Kylie is done?” Marco stood in front of me.
“I would like to go back. But only if it’s not too much trouble. I can wait for her if it’s easier.”
“I wouldn’t have asked if it was too much trouble.” He smiled at me. We walked out to one of the many cars and drove back to the hotel. When I got to my room, I was so tired. I’d had one of the best experiences in my entire life tonight.
I got into bed, and just before I fell asleep, I got a text.
Unknown: Miss me, sweet Anna? I haven’t forgotten you – D
I dropped the phone on the bed. How did he get my number? I could feel my breathing changing and my chest hurt. No, he didn’t get to ruin this day. I tried to think of anything but that text, and slowly got my breathing under control again. I deleted the message and hoped to God that he soon would lose interest in me.
Chapter 8:
Zane
“No girls landed in your bed last night?” Cole asked when he came down for breakfast.
“No, I just needed sleep last night. Don’t think any of it, got it?” I just knew he would think that it was because of Anna. And of course it was, but no way in hell was I telling him that.
“Sure thing, bro. Just don’t think that I don’t know what you are up to.”
“The only thing he can be up to is getting some pussy,” Liam said when he sat down.
“Shut the fuck up. Just because you’re still hung up on Evie doesn’t mean you get to give me a lesson,” I snapped.
