The Stronger, Safer Kind (The Boys of DownCrash #1) (new adult contemporary rockstar romance)

by Casey, London

  “Half an hour wouldn’t even be a start for us, Scarlett,” he whispered.

  My mouth fell open and Andy hurried out of the classroom. It wasn’t until Maggie touched my arm did I snap out of it.

  “You okay?”

  “No,” I said. “Not at all. I’m in big trouble.”

  “If it’s with Andy, I highly doubt it could be trouble.”

  We ended up at a little lunch eatery called Earl’s. It was crammed with old furniture but had the best sandwiches I’ve ever tasted. It was sort of a hidden gem just outside campus. Not many people knew about it. The owner, Earl, lived up stairs. He was pushing one hundred and his son, Earl Jr. ran the place.

  As we ate, Maggie tried to talk about everything but Andy. I was hopeless, unable to play into it. It was all I could think about. I finally gave her my cell phone and showed her what Andy had texted me. I didn’t tell her what he said to me though. That’d I keep for myself.

  “Wow, he really does like you,” she said. “That’s really cool.”

  “Cool?”

  “Sure. He’s going to be a lawyer. His family has money, right?”

  I felt my lip wanting to curl. Yeah, Andy’s family had money. But money wasn’t everything. Money didn’t make life perfect. Money… could be terrible.

  “They have money,” I said.

  “He’s going to have a great career. He’s stable. He’s hot.”

  “Whatever,” I said. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I told him a week, right?”

  “A week. Sure. I swear, Scarlett, I wish I could help you here. But it’s all up to you.”

  “So I could have this stable boyfriend who’s obsessed with me or I could ruin a friendship.”

  “You think it’d ruin it?” Maggie asked.

  “For me, yes. It’s already ruined. If I tell him no, how am I going to feel each time we talk? Or hug? I’ll analyze everything he says and does. And after what he did to Tripp…”

  “If it’s ruined, tell him that,” Maggie said. “Seriously. Be honest and tell him.”

  “I have a week. I’m sticking with that.”

  It was probably a dumb idea but I didn’t care. I was tired, frustrated, and if I had to admit it, I was turned on. Between Andy and Tripp, my body was going nuts.

  “I’m going out tonight,” I said.

  “Really? Where?”

  “I don’t know yet. Somewhere different. And I’m not telling anyone.”

  “Not even me?”

  “Well, you’re going to tell me where to go.”

  Maggie laughed. “Okay. Cool. How far off campus do you want to go?”

  “As far as I can get,” I said, of course exaggerating.

  “Well, I can get you a bus ticket and send you across the country.”

  “Don’t tempt me,” I joked.

  “I have a place for you,” Maggie said. Her eyes dazed for a second. “It’s low key. It’s almost like a cafe setting but it’s a quiet bar. It’s called Corner.”

  “Corner?”

  “Yup. It’s at the back corner of an alley.”

  “Sounds safe.”

  “I never had a problem there,” Maggie said. “And I won’t tonight, when I take you.”

  “Swear you won’t tell anyone?” I asked.

  Maggie rolled her eyes. “Hold on. Let me go call Andy. We talk all the time.”

  I knew she was kidding, but it got to me a little. It made me understand how Andy felt last night when I was with Tripp on stage. But I didn’t punch Maggie in the face. There have been some times I wished I punched her in the face, but that’s a whole other bag of drama.

  “Don’t be a bitch,” I said. “I seriously just want a night out without worry. Okay? Just to be somewhere, around people, and think.”

  “You’re really digging deep into this, aren’t you?”

  “I have to. Andy belongs in my life, somehow…”

  I thought about sharing more with Maggie. Opening the gates to my secret. Something I never talked about, never shared. Maybe if I told Maggie the truth about my nightmare, she’d understand me more. Then again, I didn’t want the pity. I didn’t want the sympathy. I just wanted to be me. To be Scarlett. And live.

  “We should take a cab,” Maggie said. “So we both can drink and have fun.”

  “I was kind of hoping you’d take me there and leave,” I said, half being honest.

  “Nope. I like Corner, now that I’m thinking about it. They have a small stage in the corner and usually have some acoustic music going. It’s soothing.”

  “Soothing,” I said.

  I liked soothing.

  I smiled.

  “Yeah. That’s where we’re going.”

  Andy wouldn’t know. And Tripp played loud rock n’ roll music, so Corner wouldn’t be his preference.

  Finally, a night to myself.

  10

  Maggie was serious about the cab and while it felt a little weird climbing into the back of the cab, I felt comfortable and safe. At least I knew that no matter what she or I did, nobody would try to drive home. All it took was a stupid decision to change everything in life.

  I have enough in my life trying to change.

  Maggie wasn’t kidding when she said that Corner was at the end of an alley. The cab stopped and I hesitated for a second before Maggie tugged at my arm. I felt far away from campus, which was what I wanted, but I started to think I was too far. Funny how college had become such a part of me. That little world we lived in. Even though I didn’t dorm on campus, I spent most of my time there.

  I felt like I was in a different part of the world as Maggie led me inside.

  The place was dimly lit with booths along the walls. In the center of the bar sat four four-seater tables, looking like diamonds from their angle at the front door. The bar was the biggest part of Corner, stretching wall to wall with plenty of open seats for us. Everything felt relaxed. The chatter was low and muffled. The faint sound of a jukebox tried to echo but mostly died before reaching us. I couldn’t even tell what song was playing.

  We sat and ordered drinks.

  “How’s this?” Maggie asked.

  “This is what I needed,” I said.

  The bartender brought us some kind of vodka drink that Maggie ordered. I took my drink, tipped the glass to Maggie, and then drank it one shot.

  “Whoa,” she called out. “That’s a seven dollar drink.”

  “Hope you brought enough cash,” I said and pointed to the glass.

  The bartender saw it and her eyes went wide. She was a normal looking girl, nothing like that big chest bimbo at Dave’s.

  “Another?” she called to me.

  I nodded.

  Maggie sipped her drink and looked around the bar.

  “So… see anything you like?” she asked.

  “What do mean? You want me to pick up a guy?”

  “Seeing that you’re going to be getting married next week…”

  “Don’t even joke about that,” I said.

  I felt rage in my body. Actual rage. My face must have told the same story because Maggie backed right down.

  “Sorry about that,” she whispered. She looked across the bar and waved to someone. That was her way out, whether she was actually waving to someone or not. “I’ll be back in a few.”

  She stood and walked away, patting my back as she went.

  I felt terrible for snapping at her like I did, but she didn’t know the entire story.

  I closed my eyes and cursed myself.

  Why couldn’t I just open up to Maggie? Just spill everything to her. Tell her about my past, about slipping, and the truth about why I couldn’t be with Andy.

  Before I could even attempt to string the words together, I sensed someone next to me.

  “Two beers,” the voice said.

  The bartender didn’t ask what kind, but that wasn’t the startling part.

  I slowly opened my eyes, knowing damn well I knew the voice.

 
I turned my head and felt my jaw drop.

  “Tripp?”

  “Hey there,” he said. “Scarlett.”

  “What the hell?” I asked.

  “Sorry? Was this seat taken?”

  I looked across the bar and saw Maggie talking to a guy.

  Of course she was.

  That’s how it worked. Get a drink, get a guy. There’s her night.

  “Hey, Scarlett,” Tripp said, “I’m sorry you missed the show.”

  I looked at the small cut at the corner of Tripp’s mouth.

  “I’m sorry about Andy.”

  “Yeah, that sucked a little.” The bartender put two beers down. Tripp slid one to me and thanked the bartender.

  “I don’t want…”

  “They’re on the house,” Tripp said. “Just drink it.”

  “Okay.”

  Tripp took a drink and then said, “Boyfriends can be so possessive.”

  He started to stand as his comment sunk in. He made it a single step back before I grabbed for him. In my eyes, I was going to grab the stool. Pull it. Say something about him sitting. My mind told me to just grab his shirt. Make sure he couldn’t get away. Somehow, those two mixed together.

  I grabbed between Tripp’s legs. I didn’t touch him, I didn’t grope him, I grabbed him. I had a handful of… him… for a couple seconds before I realized what I had done.

  “Oh, wow, I’m sorry,” I said, taking my hand away.

  “Whoa. I usually save that for the end of the night,” Tripp said.

  “I just wanted you to come and sit back down.”

  “To come, huh? Well, you had the right idea…”

  I felt two inches tall right then, unsure what to do or say.

  Tripp took another drink of his beer and then slithered back to the barstool.

  He looked at me, shaking his head.

  “What?” I asked.

  “I never met someone so fake,” he said.

  He drank some more, acting cool. I was completely offended but did nothing about it because in a sense he was right.

  “I’m fake?” I asked. “You don’t even know me.”

  “Know you? You strut into Dave’s, looking gorgeous, by the way. You seem so free. I help you out. We talk. I’m looking forward to enjoying the look on your face when you see me on stage, and what happens? I see a guy with hands all over you.”

  “Jealous?”

  “Not even close,” Tripp said with full confidence.

  It sort of broke my heart.

  “So what’s the big deal?” I asked.

  Tripp turned and touched my chin. He kept his stare on mine. “Your eyes. That’s the big deal. I saw it in your eyes. You were unsure of him touching you. Like he was some creep. Someone you’re too afraid to stand up to. That’s when I knew you were hiding. Plus, it didn’t take much to rattle the string bean.”

  “The string bean?” I asked, laughing. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t he hit you in the mouth?”

  “Yeah, but that’s okay. I had plenty of girls to lick my wounds… and other places…”

  Tripp winked and I growled under my breath.

  Why the hell was I even talking to him?

  And of all places to be in… why here? Why right now?

  I looked for Maggie and saw her. She smiled and then her eyes widened at the sight of Tripp.

  “Ut-oh, I’ve been spotted,” Tripp said. He raised his beer to Maggie and then finished it off. He tapped the bar, calling for a fresh one.

  “Does your mouth hurt?” I asked.

  “Does it matter?” he asked.

  “Just trying to care. I’m actually sorry about that.”

  “Want to lick it?” Tripped asked.

  I felt myself ready to scream YES! but I scoffed and turned, waiting for Maggie to come rescue me.

  She didn’t.

  But Tripp finally said he had to go.

  “I’ll be back in a few,” he said. “Don’t move.”

  “Not sure how long I’m staying,” I said.

  “You’re lying. Is string bean coming?”

  “Maybe he is.”

  “Maybe he isn’t,” Tripp said.

  “I guess we’ll have to wait and see,” I said.

  “Guess so. Tell you what. If string bean comes, I’ll shake his hand and apologize for bringing his woman up on stage.”

  “I’m not…”

  “If he doesn’t come, you owe me a kiss.”

  Tripp put his hand out and I took it before thinking. His thumb ran across my knuckles slowly and with the intense hint of seduction.

  Suddenly, Andy felt miles away. A lifetime away.

  Tripp smiled. He let my hand go and hurried away.

  This wasn’t going to make anything easier or better… but at least at the end of the night I’d get to kiss Tripp.

  11

  Maggie came back with her mouth open and head nodding.

  “What the fuck?” she whispered as she took the seat where Tripp had been.

  “What the fuck… you tell me,” I said. “I asked for a calm place.”

  “This is a calm place. What the hell is Tripp Sage doing here?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “But I’m going to need another drink, or two.”

  Maggie ordered the same vodka drink for herself and a beer for me. Before the bartender left, I asked for a shot and wanted to know why Tripp was there.

  “Tripp? He plays once in a while.” The bartender smiled, looking lost and lust filled.

  The power of Tripp.

  “Plays?” I asked.

  I looked towards the stage just in time to see Tripp walk to it.

  There were a few lights shining on the corner. Two stools, a very small drum kit, and a few acoustic guitars. Tripp put his beer down and pointed to it.

  “Can’t forget the good stuff,” he said.

  Most of the people laughed and clapped, cheering him on.

  “DownCrash!” someone yelled.

  Tripp pointed and said, “Cool it with that talk. Just me tonight. Don’t tell the guys, they’ll get pissed.”

  A few people whistled.

  Tripp had command even in such a small place, all by himself.

  He grabbed an acoustic guitar and took a seat on the barstool behind the mic. He strummed a few chords, tuned the guitar, and then said, “Sounds good to me.”

  He strummed the opening chords to the slow song from the other night and my heart began to race.

  People cheered again, clapping and whistling.

  Tripp stopped and shook his head.

  “Just practicing,” he teased. He reached down and took his beer for another drink.

  Then he started to play, just him and a guitar.

  The beginning felt a little strange. I waited for the rest of the band to come in, but there was no rest of the band. When he started singing his eyes were closed. The emotion poured from his body like I’d never experienced before. By the time he reached the first chorus of the first song, I was standing.

  “What are you doing?” Maggie asked. “We’re not leaving. Not because of him.”

  “No,” I said. “I want to get closer. To him.”

  I took a step and Maggie jumped after me.

  She wrapped her arms around me and whispered, “What about Andy?”

  I looked at her, feeling the effects of the drinking now.

  I was drunk.

  In control, but drunk.

  “I don’t give a shit about Andy,” I said. “Okay?”

  “You’re going to regret that.”

  “No. I’m not. I’m following my heart right now, okay?”

  “With Tripp Sage? From DownCrash?”

  “I want to listen to him. That’s all.”

  “That’s all,” Maggie said and shook her head. “It’s never that’s all, Scarlett. I saw the way you two were looking at each other.”

  “Is that bad? If I look at him the way he looks at me?”

  Maggie frowned.
She let me go and sighed. “I’m not even involved in this and I’m confused.”

  “Welcome to my life,” I said and turned to walk closer to the stage.

  I found a seat and Tripp looked right at me. He smiled as he sang, not missing a note or a word. He played the guitar perfectly, his aura, and sexuality pouring from him. The more he played, the quieter the entire bar became. Tripp had the power, had the music, and had the ability to actually do this. He wasn’t just some college kid playing guitar for fun. This was his way of talking, of sharing his feelings, and in a way, it was his way of healing.

  That’s what did it for me with Tripp.

  Sure, he was sexy. He was the bad boy I lusted for. But behind all of that, Tripp was hidden. There was pain in his life. I wanted to know so I could feel better about myself.

  Maggie took a seat next to me and elbowed me.

  I looked at her and smiled.

  She mouthed HOT! and I nodded.

  Tripp finished the song and everyone applauded. Except me. I folded my arms. I wanted to tease him. Rattle him. I just stared, hoping my face looked unimpressed. To add to it, I leaned towards Maggie and whispered, “I want him…” and then started giggling. I made it seem like I made a comment about him.

  But it did nothing to Tripp. He simply drank more beer and strummed more chords, making sure his guitar was in perfect tune.

  “You know, I promised myself this wouldn’t turn into a one man DownCrash show,” he said. “But there’s a song that’s on my mind right now. Something just gets into me and I can’t help it. See, I started playing this song the other night and it didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to.”

  Tripp looked right at me. His eyes were beautiful. Dark and honest. Eating away at me. Breaking down my walls. Piercing my heart. Flooding my body.

  “So I’m going to play something,” Tripp said, “and I ask everyone to sing with me. Let’s have some fun. This is my last song because I promised a beautiful girl I’d give her a goodnight kiss… and those who know my goodnight kisses know they sometimes last all night long.”

  People cheered and whistled, calling out Tripp’s name.

  I blushed and shifted in my chair.

  Maggie grabbed my wrist and squeezed. She whispered, “We can leave if you want.”

  “No,” I said. “Not a chance.”