by Laura Ward
“Let’s show him what he’s missing.” Julie grabbed my hips, and I shimmied closer to her. I ran my hands up through my hair, and she rolled her shoulders, jutting her chest toward me. We held hands and laughed at the show we were putting on for her clueless obsession.
As we continued to dance, her gaze was drawn over and over again to the stage. “What an asshole. He’s not even looking.” Julie’s attention was fixed on the bass player, but he only had eyes for the instrument in his hands and the way his fingers mastered their way across the strings. She frowned in confusion as he continued to ignore her, despite the fact that she was pulling out all her best dance moves.
“Drinks!” she shouted in irritation, pulling me off the dance floor.
The bar blurred in front of my eyes, and the people standing around it were foggy. Having another drink was probably a bad idea, but I was feeling so much better than I had before. I didn’t want to let the happy haze disappear. My insecurities would come crashing back in on me too easily. I could feel them lingering, waiting for the moment I sobered up. I shook my head, clearing away the fuzzy lines of the bar and smiled up at the handsome bartender.
“Two tequila shots, please.” Julie leaned over the counter and shouted her order. “And two beers.”
The glasses slid across the worn wood of the bar top. I reached for one, and the liquid sloshed wildly against the edges with my clumsiness.
“To forgetting.” I clinked my shot glass against Julie’s before slamming back the nasty liquor. I coughed and then laughed when Julie handed me my beer.
“Chaser,” we said in unison. We clinked bottles, and I drank quickly.
“I’m so going to regret this in the morning, but at the moment, I don’t care.” I yelled in Julie’s ear, and she swallowed her beer in large gulps.
“And that’s why we party, chica. The booze makes it all better.” She gave me a wet kiss on the cheek, and I threw my head back in laughter.
“Taren.” A large hand gripped my shoulder, and I turned to see who called my name. The room tilted and spun. I closed my eyes to gain my bearings but stumbled off balance. Oh. Bad move. I opened them to find Alec glaring at me. He had changed out of his Acroletes costume and was wearing his Shell Shocked bouncer uniform.
“What’s up?” My voice was clipped and defensive as I turned to face him. I waved to Julie as she took off with a group of our sisters onto the dance floor. They began, what looked like, a good old-fashioned twerk-off.
His large arms were crossed over his chest, and he scowled down at me. “Did you leave early? I looked for you after halftime ended. Your seats were empty.”
“Yeah, I got bored.” Hello bitchy Taren, where did you come from? No one in that entire arena thought any part of the Acroletes show was boring.
The flash of hurt in Alec’s eyes was brief, but clear. “You got bored?” His jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed.
“Well, not bored with the show exactly. I got bored watching you basically dry hump that girl in front of eighteen thousand people.“ I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes right back at him. The room spun around, and I did everything in my power to hold my stance. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a girlfriend? I know what it’s like to be cheated on. I don’t want to be that chick. I don’t want to hook up with another girl’s guy.”
The anger wiped clean off his face, and his gaze softened as he laughed. “You’re mad about Amanda? Holy shit. She’s not my girlfriend. We’re just balancing partners.”
I huffed, and my eyebrows pinched together. “Right. I’m not that naïve, Alec. At least have enough respect for me to tell me the truth. It’s obvious you’re hooking up with her.” I could hear myself slurring the words. I should stop drinking before I ended up passed out in a corner somewhere choking on my tongue.
“No.” Alec stopped smiling and bent his knees, making sure to look right into my eyes. His hands gripped my shoulders, and he squeezed gently. “I’m with you.”
My heart raced, and I had to look away. “Have you ever been with Amanda?”
Alec shifted, looking to the side as he dropped his hands. “We messed around freshman year a few times. Nothing serious.”
My laugh was bitter. “Right. You haven’t hooked up since last year. Sure, Alec.”
“Taren—” Alec’s scolding was cut off when Doug picked me up and twirled me toward him.
“You’re slowing down, Denton. Shots! Let’s go.” He handed me a glass filled with liquor.
Alec grabbed my hand. His nostrils flared, and lips curled as he pulled me close. Some of the liquid in the shot spilled over the rim and down my arm. “I thought you broke up with him.” Alec snarled, nodding toward Doug.
“Oh.” I shook my head and plastered a large, fake smile on my face. “He’s not my boyfriend. He’s my drinking partner,” I shot back. “Look, you’ve got a beautiful balancing partner, and I’ve got an eager drinking partner. I’m here to party.”
My voice fell at the end. I looked away before lifting the glass Doug had given me. I threw it back, not caring what it was. Whatever had been in the glass burned like a mother going down. I swayed and Doug grabbed my elbow to steady me. A wobbly smile formed on my face, and I gave Alec a smartass wave as Doug led me away.
“You don’t really like that meathead bouncer do you? I saw him at the halftime show. He’s a freak.” Doug glared at Alec over my shoulder, and I stared at Doug’s chest, trying to find my balance. The soft round bulge of his belly was outlined in his old, faded Greek Week T-shirt. If I closed my eyes halfway and let them blur the image before me, I could picture the contours and ridges of Alec’s chest that I remembered all too vividly. My head was spinning, but I wasn’t sure if it was from the memory or my intoxication.
I looked over at Alec. His furious eyes were focused on me, and my heart hammered in my chest. “I don’t know. I like him, or I used to. We’re tied by a string of fate.” My words jumbled together as I leaned back against a nearby table. The more I drank the easier it became to lie.
“You’re tied with a string of tape? That’s weird—even for you.” Doug reached up and tucked my hair behind my ear. “Let me take you home and tuck you in. You need to sleep this off.” He pulled me against his body, and I could feel the clumsy press of his lips against my neck. “Come on, Denton. Let me take care of you. You know I know how.”
Sleep. Getting tucked in. Sounded good.
Wait. No. I pushed back against Doug’s chest. “I’m not going home with you, Pickles. You cheated on me!”
Before I could continue my rant, Alec’s hand wrapped around my elbow, and he pulled me away from Doug. “I need to talk to you, Taren.”
“She’s staying right here, bouncer boy.” Doug stood taller, and he protruded his beer gut out in a way that I think was supposed to be menacing. I giggled. Was he trying to intimidate Alec with his cushy softness? The more I thought about it, the more I laughed. I couldn’t stop.
Doug grabbed my arm and tried to pull me toward him. Alec pulled back, and I felt like frayed rope in a game of tug of war. My arms were stretched between the two, and my hair hung in my face. As they pulled, my stomach churned, and I prayed I wouldn’t get sick in the middle of the bar.
“Both of you let go.” I twisted my body to yank my arms free. They ignored me.
“She broke up with you. She’s way too drunk to go anywhere with you.” The muscles in Alec’s neck stood out as he stepped toward Doug. “If you touch her again, I’ll toss you out myself, and I’ll make sure you’re banned from here for good.” Alec reached for my arm again, and I shrugged him off.
Doug clenched and unclenched his fist, bringing it up to point at Alec. “You can’t ban me.”
“You sure about that?” Alec’s voice was raw.
“Why do they even let you work here?” Doug snarled. “I bet your boss doesn’t know you’re in that drug-free club. You’re bad for business.”
Doug snatched my hand again and yanked hard to pull me toward
him. I started to fall, but Alec reached out to steady me. He leaned forward, his large body looming over Doug.
I was tired of this stupid pissing contest. Neither of them cared about me. All they cared about was treating me like a possession. I wanted to get away before the argument turned into a full blown fist fight.
“You guys are idiots.” I tried to pull my arm free but neither would let go.
“Walk away now while you still can.” Alec pushed his face even closer to Doug and pointed toward the exit with his other hand, long muscled arm outstretched. Even in my inebriated, jilted state, I wanted to lick that arm.
Doug glared at both of us, but then he pushed my elbow away, and I stumbled into Alec.
“You’re going to be sorry about this.” Doug growled before walking away. I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or Alec. Honestly, I didn’t care.
Turning around, I faced Alec. “I’m leaving, too.” I lifted my chin in challenge as I glared at him. I didn’t know where things between us stood, and my insecurity over what I’d seen at the halftime show was still too fresh to spend the rest of the night near Alec. I needed some time alone to think.
“Call Alexis.” Alec grabbed my shoulder to keep me from walking away. “There’s no way I’m letting you leave here alone, and I can’t walk you. I’m working.” He held me close to speak into my ear, and I shivered from his hot breath.
“I’ll be fine.” I pulled away, stumbling a little as a wave of dizziness hit me. “And stop manhandling me.”
His face turned red. He leaned closer and spoke through gritted teeth. “Do not leave here alone, Taren. I’m not asking you. I’m telling you.”
“Fuck you, Alec,” I bit out before jabbing my finger in his chest. I turned back toward the dance floor, but moved too quickly and bumped into a table, knocking over several beer bottles. I straightened and stumbled once again as the room tilted before my eyes. Shit. I could feel the room going dark. I leaned over the table, pressing my face to the slick wood. I closed my eyes. I’d just rest for a minute until the room stopped spinning.
“That’s it,” Alec growled.
I forced my eyes back open as he scooped me into his arms and headed toward the door.
“You’re coming with me.” He tightened his hands around me, holding me close. My head rolled uselessly onto his chest. I didn’t even have the strength to hold it up on my own anymore. The last thing I saw before I passed out cold was the frigid glare coming from Doug Pickles.
Chapter Twenty
ALEC
I readjusted the pillow underneath my head again, but it did no good. My floor was so fucking uncomfortable. Being noble was highly overrated. I hadn’t slept at all, and the sun was already battling its way through the blinds.
I took a deep breath, but couldn’t relax. All I could do was listen to Taren’s breathing, getting more frustrated with her by the second. She’d been so drunk the night before that she could hardly walk. I hated how reckless she’d been with her safety and our relationship. Every time I tried to close my eyes, I was tormented with images of just how vulnerable she’d been. She’d almost left with Pickles for fuck’s sake. What if I hadn’t been there?
I turned my head. She was curled up on my bed, facing me. With her hand tucked under her cheek she looked so peaceful. I had a hard time believing that I’d spent most of the night holding her hair back while she puked her guts out.
She made a tiny moan like she was in pain, and then she curled tighter into a fetal position. I ran my hand back through my hair in irritation. No matter how pissed at her I was, the thought of her being hurt made my chest tighten with worry.
I sighed and then pushed up from the floor. Her eyebrows were pinched together in discomfort, and her body shifted under the blanket, but she didn’t wake up. I stood up and then sat on the edge of the bed. I lightly ran my fingers over her knotty hair and then down her back. Her makeup was smeared, but the sight of her in my bed clenched my heart. As angry as I was with her, I still wanted to comfort her, which only pissed me off more. She might not have earned my sympathy, but I continued to skim my fingers over her until her face and body relaxed.
Taren had become my biggest weakness.
Stepping away from the bed, I dragged my hands down my face and released a harsh breath. I had no idea what I was going to say to her when she finally woke up. Was she trying to punish me by partying with her ex? Did she want to hurt me that badly?
Pacing back and forth, I ran my hands through my hair and pulled at it until it stood on end. I didn’t have time for her insecurities. I couldn’t tolerate the possibility that whenever she wanted to hurt me, she’d do it by putting herself in danger.
I wanted to wake her up and yell at her, but I also wanted to crawl in bed and wrap my arms around her and keep her safe from her own stupidity.
The screen on my phone lit up, and I bent over to see that it was a call from my boss, Jimmy. I snagged the phone off the floor and walked into the hallway, shutting the door behind me.
“Hey, Jimmy.” I made my way into the living room so I wouldn’t wake up my roommates.
“Hart! What the hell happened to you last night?” he shouted into the phone.
“Sorry. I had to leave.” I rubbed my forehead with my palm and collapsed onto the couch.
“You had to leave?” His laugh had zero trace of humor in it. “Shit. A fight broke out on the dance floor. Jacobs had to leave the front door to break it up because we couldn’t find you. Breaking up fights is what I hired you to do. You’re the muscle. I pay you to keep the peace.”
“I’m sorry. It was an emergency. I didn’t have time to find you, and I’ve been too preoccupied to call.”
“I don’t give a shit about your problems, Hart. I pay you to take care of mine.”
“It won’t happen again.” My shoulders slumped. He was right. I had a job and I’d abandoned it. That wasn’t like me.
“Fuck right it won’t! If it does, you’re fired.”
“It was a one-time thing, Jimmy.” My voice was firm. I couldn’t afford to lose this job. I also wasn’t going to sit back while he tore me a new one. Like he said, he hired me to be the muscle, not a fucking doormat. I hadn’t gotten out from under my father’s boot just to crawl under Jimmy’s.
He laughed. “Just so we’re straight, you’re working Wednesday night. Unpaid.”
I flinched. That would mean missing Wednesday night practice and not even making money for it. “Jesus Christ, Jimmy. I made a mistake, but I’m not going to work for free.”
“Then don’t bother coming in tonight.” When I didn’t answer he asked, “What’s it gonna be kid?”
I needed my job. Jimmy paid well, and he knew it. I leaned forward, closed my eyes, and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I’ll see you tonight.”
He chuckled. “That’s what I thought. Don’t be late, Hart. In fact—” He paused, and I braced myself for his next words. “Why don’t you come in an hour early? You can help the band set up.”
An hour early on a Saturday night. Fucking hell. Saturday nights at The Shell were longer, busier, and shittier than any other night.
“See you at seven.” I slumped back into the couch before ending the call. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. I had no idea how I was going to make it through work tonight.
After a few seconds, I sat up and reached for the textbook I’d left on the coffee table. Since sleep wasn’t an option, I might as well get some work done. I’d barely had a chance to crack open the book before I heard footsteps coming down the hallway.
“You’re up early.” Caz sat in the chair across from me.
“It’s not early.” I turned the page and forced my eyes to focus on the next paragraph.
“It’s way too fucking early to study.” He grabbed my book and pulled it to him, scanning the page. “Econ? On a Saturday morning? That’s the way to ruin a weekend.”
“Fuck off.” I snatched the book out of his hand.
“Dude, you’re moody when you don’t get sleep.” Caz leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head. His eyes were narrowed as if he could read my mind if he stared hard enough.
I ignored him, hoping he’d go away. Five minutes later he was still sitting there. Caz wouldn’t leave until his curiosity was satisfied. I was surprised he’d managed to stay quiet that long. He had to have set a personal record.
I looked up from my book, slamming it shut. “Jimmy called this morning and threatened to fire me.” I crossed my arms and pressed my mouth into a tight line.
“Fire you?” His face screwed up in confusion. “Why?”
“I left work early last night without telling anyone.” I shrugged. “He didn’t take it well.”
He chuckled. “Your boss is an ass stain. You’d be lucky if he fired you. I keep telling you that job isn’t worth it.”
I clenched my jaw and rubbed along my chin. “I need the money.” I hated the desperation in my voice.
“Not that bad, dude. Trust me.” Caz got up from his chair and stretched. “Guess I better go shower. Maureen is coming over to pick us up to go to the climbing gym.” He turned to face me. “You should just quit. Get a better job.”
I looked back down at my book and shook my head in annoyance. I couldn’t just quit. Rent had to be paid.
Just as Caz started to walk away, the screen on my phone lit up with another call, and he paused to look at it. “Why is Coach calling you on a Saturday morning?”
I looked at the screen in confusion. “I have no idea.”
“Well shit, dude. Answer it.”
“Are you hanging around to eavesdrop?” I glared at him.
Caz huffed. “Do you even have to ask?” He plopped down in the seat across from me again and kicked his feet up onto the table.
I answered the phone. “Hey, Coach.”
“Alec.” Coach’s voice was somber. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”
