by Julia Goda
“I thought you said they aren’t allowed in the parking lot?”
“They’re not. That doesn’t mean they won’t come close anyways.” Jason was tense with worry and irritation when he looked in the rear view mirror before he got out of the car.
I turned around in my seat to look out the back window. Jason was right. They were already on the premises and were closing in fast. Nathan got out with Jason while I waited, a little nervous. I had seen this happen as a bystander a lot of times during my three-month stint in L.A., but it was a completely different story when you were all of the sudden the focus of ten or so photographers. Even though they hadn’t even reached us yet, they shouted out questions at Jason and Nathan as soon as they and Chris emerged from the car, and the frenzy got even worse when Jason opened my door and I got out.
Holy Shit!
Camera flashes erupted all around, blinding me. Now I got why Jason told me to keep my sunglasses on. Without them, I would undoubtedly go blind.
Jason threw his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his body protectively, while Nathan and Chris flanked us as we walked the short distance from the car to the back door. Neither of them answered any of the questions or gave the paparazzi even the slightest glance other than to glare at them when they got too close or were in the way. I tried to follow their lead but had more trouble ignoring them than I thought I would. Leaning into Jason, I put a smile on my face and pretended that being photographed and harassed like this was nothing unusual, but I wasn’t sure I succeeded. Though it seemed like much longer, we were through the back door within seconds.
“You okay?” Jason stopped me and asked.
“I’m okay,” I said through an amused snicker. Jason’s eyes lost some of its worry and warmed on me.
“You think this is funny?”
“I think this is crazy,” I corrected him. Jason grinned down at me.
“She’s right. This is definitely crazy. Or insane. Though I’m sure Nick won’t mind the free publicity. We’ll have a full house tonight.”
“Nick?” Jason asked.
“Breaking Habit’s front man,” Chris explained.
“Ah. Always happy to help.”
I laughed silently.
“We should put someone on the door tonight. Just to make sure that things go smoothly.”
“Agreed. We’re fully staffed tonight so that shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll be behind the bar and—”
“Oh, no,” Chris interrupted me. “You’re not gonna be anywhere but drinking and having fun with your friends tonight. And rocking out on stage of course.”
“The bar is going to be packed tonight, Chris. You said so yourself. You need me,” I argued. I appreciated his gesture but this was my bar and I was needed.
“No, I don’t. I’ve got it covered. I hired two more waitresses this week while you were wallowing. We’re good.”
I glared at him and he smirked at me. Jason chuckled. “Told you so,” he mumbled. I ignored him.
“Come on, Lore. You really gonna be mad at me because I want you to enjoy your birthday?” I guess I couldn’t, but I wasn’t ready to let him know that just yet, so I kept glaring at him. Chris knew I didn’t mean it and blew me a kiss before he turned around and disappeared into the bar.
“Listen, baby,” I looked back at Jason at hearing his serious voice. “Frank is coming tomorrow. Until then, I don’t want you to go anywhere without either me or Nathan or Chris. Those fuckers can get mean and I don’t want you to have to deal with that on your own.”
“Is that really necessary?” I grimaced, not happy at the prospect that I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere by myself.
“Humor me. At least for a few days until the worst of it dies down. You’ve never dealt with anything like this and it can be overwhelming.”
“All right. As long as it isn’t permanent,” I grumbled.
“Thank you.” He kissed the top of my head and we followed Chris into the bar.
When we hit the main room, we saw that Nathan had already introduced himself to the members of Breaking Habit and was chatting with them animatedly while he helped them finish with their set-up. We had about an hour until opening.
“Hey guys,” I greeted them as we came closer to the stage. Everyone turned and smiled at me.
“Lore! Happy Birthday!” Joss shouted from behind her drum set.
“Yo! Happy Birthday,” came from Noah, and another “Happy Birthday, Lore,” from Jonas. Nick jumped off the stage and gave me a tight hug. It was a little awkward since Jason didn’t relinquish my hand. “Happy Birthday, gorgeous,” he murmured into my ear.
Nick was the lead guitarist and singer of Breaking Habit, an up and coming band from Boulder. They had played at Cooper’s too many times to count over the last few years. Chris and I had become friends with all the band members: Nick, his brother Noah who played the bass, Jonas who played second guitar, and Joss who was the drummer and also Nick and Noah’s little sister. They were all great, though Jonas was somewhat of a player. Joss was hilarious and a spitfire, something that was essential if you were the only female playing in a rock band with two of your band members being your overprotective big brothers. But she didn’t take any shit from anyone and I liked and admired that about her. Nick had been the one who had coaxed me back into writing and playing music. He would stop by at my place or at the bar with his guitar and we would sit down and talk while we jammed just for fun. After Chris and Rick, he was one of my closest friends.
The hug lasted a little too long for Jason’s taste. He squeezed my hand and pulled on it slightly. I let go of Nick and he stepped back, giving me a huge and warm smile.
“Jason, this is Nick. Nick, this is Jason.”
“The fiancée,” Jason added as he held out his hand. Nick’s eyebrow shot up and he looked at me, surprised. Or shocked was probably a better word.
“Fiancée? Last time I checked he left you hanging. That was less than thirty-six hours ago.” He sounded almost accusatory.
“That was then, this is now,” Jason stated, his voice serious and a little threatening. I felt like I was caught in the middle of a pissing contest.
“We talked it out and decided not to waste any more time,” I explained. Nick stared at me in disbelief and something else. Was that hurt I saw in his eyes? “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Nick, but everything happened so fast and—”
“Yeah, you can say that again.” He studied me for a few moments then asked, “You still gonna play with us tonight though, right?”
“Of course.”
Nick nodded at her. “Good,” he said then gave Jason another look I couldn’t interpret and went back to the stage.
“What the hell was that all about?” I asked as if talking to myself.
“That, love, was what you’d call a pissing contest.” Jason confirmed my earlier thought.
“That’s ridiculous. Nick and I are just friends; have been for almost two years now.” Jason turned to me and gave me a crooked smile.
“It might be that way for you, but he definitely wants more from you than just a friendship.” I shook my head in denial and confusion and looked over at the stage again to where Nick was standing with Noah.
“I don’t know if I should be happy or worried that you still haven’t figured out how unbelievably gorgeous you are,” Jason muttered against my skin as he brushed his lips against my temple. I didn’t know what to say to that so I said nothing.
Less than an hour later, the bar was starting to fill up with customers. The paparazzi were still camped outside, but so far, nobody seemed angry or upset about it. On the contrary: people seemed to be either excited or amused by it. Cal and the rest of the gang arrived about an hour after we opened. Betty and Pete were babysitting all the children tonight. My dad was here, too.
“Nothing gonna keep me from celebrating my baby girl’s birthday with her,” he had said when I spotted him and embraced him in a hug. “This is still your birthday party
, isn’t it? Or is it your engagement party now?” He was teasing me.
I rolled my eyes at him and said, “No, dad. It’s still my birthday party. At least it is if you ask Chris. He won’t let me work tonight.”
“He better not. We pay him good money to manage the bar without your help.”
We were all sitting at the bar having a drink and chatting when it was time for Breaking Habit to go on.
“Lore!” Chris called my name over the noise in the bar. “You mind announcing them? I’ve got my hands full here.” He wasn’t kidding. The bar was full to capacity and he hadn’t been able to take a break at all.
“Sure! No problem!” I shouted back at him. I gave Jason a quick peck on the lips before I hopped off my barstool. The band was assembled at the side of the stage, waiting and ready. They all grinned at me huge, excited and hyped up to go on. I climbed the steps and walked to the front of the stage to stand in front of the microphone. Loud cheers and clapping greeted me.
“Are you guys ready to party with one of Boulder’s most favourite bands?” The cheers and shouts and clapping grew so loud I had to raise my voice even though I was using a microphone. I grinned at the audience.
“All right, all right! I won’t keep you waiting any longer! Put your hands together for the phenomenal and exceptionally talented band Breaking Habit!” I was about to leave the stage when Nick grabbed my hand and pulled me back in front of the microphone. I wasn’t supposed to sing with them until after their first break, so I was a little confused as to why he would do that but didn’t resist.
“Before we let her go, I would like us all to sing a little song for this beautiful young lady here. Or should I say middle-aged woman since she turned thirty today?” I gave Nick a mock-glare for that comment while the audience cheered and laughed. He burst out laughing.
“Okay. You guys ready?” Nick started playing the starting notes of a rock version of Happy Birthday and everyone in the bar chimed in. Then he turned the song into Lorelei by Styxx and everyone kept singing with him. Being in the spotlight like this made me a little uncomfortable but also very happy and grateful that I had such good friends. When the song was over, Nick drew me into another hug and kissed the top of my head. I pushed him away, laughing, and told him to get on with it already then jumped off the stage and headed back over to the bar.
Jason had his eyes on me as I walked towards him and they weren’t happy at all.
Oh, dear.
Deciding to cut him off before he could start with his misplaced jealousy, I didn’t stop when I reached him but walked straight into his chest and kissed him, so that he had no choice but to put his arms around me and kiss me back. He didn’t disappoint. He pulled me into him so tightly and kissed me so deeply that people around us started breaking into catcalls. I pressed into him and couldn’t help but groan into his mouth. I was breathless by the time he ended the kiss. His eyes were less angry, but the annoyance wasn’t gone completely.
“That guy puts his mouth on you again I’m gonna kill him.” Yes, he was still angry. I sighed. “I mean it, baby. I can just about take him hugging you, but his mouth on you? No. And just so you know, the same goes for your friend Rick.” I popped my eyes out at him. Though, with Rick I definitely knew he wanted more from me than just a friendship, so I couldn’t much blame Jason for being jealous. I just hadn’t known he had picked up on that.
“How would you feel if I let women, who you know want to fuck me, kiss me and hug me?” I stilled. Shit. He was right. I almost saw red just imagining it. I relented and gave him another kiss, this one soft and apologetic.
“I’m sorry.”
“You need to talk to him, tell him that he has no chance in hell of stealing you from me. If you don’t, I will.”
“I’ll talk to him. Though I still think you’re wrong. He’s just a really good friend. He doesn’t like me that way.”
“Humor me.”
“Looks like I’m humoring you a lot today,” I grumbled a little petulantly.
“I’ll make it up to you later.” His voice had gone from annoyed and angry to low and sexy. My body reacted almost instantly and clenched deep inside. I shivered. Jason read me and gave me a lascivious grin as he lightly ran his finger across my cheek to my mouth. “Later,” he whispered his promise then touched his mouth softly to mine. He let me go and turned me around in his arms so that I was facing my friends again as I leaned my back against his front.
JASON
Jason hadn’t been this happy and content since before Loreley had walked out on him all those years ago. He loved the feeling of holding her in his arms with her body leaning against his as she was chatting and laughing and drinking with her friends. And now that she was finally wearing the ring he had bought for her years earlier, he felt whole again. He had known that no other woman could ever fill the hole that was left behind when he lost her, and feeling her body shaking against him now as she laughed, brought that truth home. He was completely in love with her, heart and soul, and there was no way he would ever let anything or anyone come between them ever again.
Especially not another man who wanted more than just her friendship.
He could understand the feeling since he had felt exactly the same way when he met her in college and she had captured him with her mix of sweet carelessness and sassy attitude. She possessed a charm and vulnerability that made men fall in love with her instantly. And the fact that she was unaware of that power made men want her even more. That was something he knew he would have to live with for the rest of his life. But he didn’t care as long as Loreley understood where he was coming from and didn’t feed into their attraction once he made her aware of it.
He glanced to the stage and listened to the music. He had to give it to them, the band was really good. Nick’s voice sounded phenomenal and the accuracy the whole band played with was impressive. They played like a well-oiled machine and had so much fun doing it that the audience had no chance but to love them.
“Told you they were good.” Loreley’s face was turned towards him, her smile big and proud. Jason couldn’t help but return the smile.
“They are. They only play cover songs?”
“No, they have a whole set of originals. They always play covers first to get the crowd going, though I told them again and again they didn’t need that. They’re great on their own.” Jason nodded and looked back to the stage. Loreley had impeccable taste in music and a great ear. If she said their original songs could hold their own, then he believed her. He was looking forward to hearing them.
He didn’t have to wait long.
About fifteen minutes later, Nick introduced their next song as one of their originals and when they started back up, Jason was even more impressed. Their style was simple but brilliant, their plays and synchronicity were clean, and their lyrics were deep and soulful. Nick’s voice was rough enough to be rock ‘n roll and smooth enough to melt the ladies’ hearts. The perfect balance. This band would definitely go places.
“See?” Loreley nudged him. Oh yeah, he definitely saw.
“You weren’t kidding. They’re very good.” Another proud smile from Loreley. A thought occurred to him.
“You have a hand in that?”
She shrugged, but kept that proud little smile on her face. “A little.” Jason had to kiss that mouth. So he did.
“You’ve always had a great ear.”
“They remind me of you guys before you became one of the world’s most famous rock stars.” There was melancholy in her voice. Jason studied her. Loreley had had a hand in some of their early songs that became number one hits. Thinking about that reminded him that there was something else they had to talk about, but this wasn’t the time or the place. But the melancholy in her voice told him that she missed writing. He hoped she missed doing it with him just as much as he had missed it with her.
“You miss it, don’t you? Taking writing music more seriously like you used to?” It was such an integral part of who s
he was that he knew he was right. He could see it in her eyes. But living the life of a single mom working a full-time job must have not left her with enough time or energy to pursue that passion. Fuck. Now Jason felt even guiltier for not being there when she needed him.
She shrugged. “I do. I just got back into it these past few months actually.”
“Yo, Lore!” Nick’s voice boomed through the room before Jason could say anything else. Loreley’s head whipped around and Jason looked up. Nick was looking at them, his face was smiling, but his eyes were glinting angrily. “Stop canoodling with your boyfriend and get your sweet ass up here!”
Jason tensed. Calling him Loreley’s boyfriend instead of her fiancée had been deliberate, Jason was sure. As was calling her ass sweet. Nick was goading him.
He returned Nick’s hot stare with a warning glare and kept his eyes locked to his as he turned Loreley in his arms. He only broke eye contact when he clasped her face with both hands and leaned down to kiss her. It wasn’t a normal kiss.
It was carnal.
It was passionate.
It was possessive.
It was showing Nick that Loreley was and always would be his.
“You’re incorrigible.” Loreley knew that the kiss was another pissing contest. She shook her head at him in disbelief but couldn’t quite keep the smile off her face. Jason smirked at her. Then he lifted her left hand up to his mouth and kissed the ring that decorated her finger.
“You think you can stop pissing all over me now? I’m sure he got the message. Heck, the whole bar got the message.” She scowled at him. He grinned at her.
“My point.” Loreley rolled her eyes, but smiled. Jason gave her a quick peck on that irresistible mouth of hers before he turned her and smacked her sweet ass that only he would ever touch in a prompt to go up there.
Loreley squealed and shot him a mock-glare over her shoulder, making him laugh.
God, he had missed her.
He watched as she made her way through the crowd and went up the steps onto the stage, then kept watching as she took her acoustic guitar, hooked it up, and climbed on the stool that had appeared next to the one Nick was now sitting on.
