Todd's full lips pulled into the most gorgeous smile; his eyes never left mine as he finished the last five lyrics. He wanted me to stay, and I had no doubt that I would. I didn't really even think I had a choice anymore. Jace came up behind me, disturbing the moment I'd just shared with Todd. I felt the heat of his breath against my ear as I watched Todd's smile die and turn into a hard line. The chills that ran down my spine put me on edge.
"It's amazing isn't it?" Jace laughed, but it sounded fake. "How charming he seems. Tonight, he'll be balls deep in some hot groupie. He always is on Tuesdays, never sticks around. I think he took home two girls just the other night…" Jace's lips where nearly imperceptible against my ear. I despised his touch and his words. I was disgusted. "Don't get too caught up in the moment. Guys like him never change." He placed his arm around my waist, settling his hand on my hip; the sensation of falling filled my gut. The raised temperature of the room, the look on Todd's face, his dark brown eyes pinned at the spot where Jace was touching me, it all made me feel sick.
I maneuvered out of his embrace. "Please don't—"
"What? Tell you the truth? He's a user, Lil." Jace's tone was thick with jealousy. The heavy beat of Seth's drums startled me as the next song was starting.
"And you're what, the good guy?" My smirk was vicious. Jace must think I'm stupid not to pick up on this game. He wanted me, and he knew that Todd did too. I wasn't a trophy to be had… for either of them. Jace considered me with an angry glare. I couldn't give a crap. "Listen Jace, I should get back to work." I was in the process of heading back to the bar when I felt a large hand wrap around my upper arm.
"I can be the good guy or the bad guy… it's up to you." Squeezing my arm tighter he chuckled. I swallowed down the lump that was building in my throat and brusquely pulled away from his hold.
"Screw you, Jace." I moved fast through the crowd half-expecting him to grab me again. My heart was running full throttle: the music, the voices, the sounds surrounded me making me feel claustrophobic. I felt as if I couldn't trust anyone. Jace unsettled me and made me feel weak, and that was one thing I never wanted to be.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Todd
I WAS GRATEFUL THE SET WAS almost finished; my heart wasn't in it anymore, not after watching Jace's hands on Lily. I almost jumped off the stage and pummeled him. Seth knew what he was doing starting that song so fast. He was always protecting me from myself. It seemed like an eternity, but we finished and set up for open mic. I was eager to find out what the hell dick stick had said to her. She looked at me with such repulsion that I wasn't sure if we were on the same page anymore. What was that saying about planting seeds of doubt and how they grow? Shit if I knew, I just needed to talk to my girl. The thought brought me up short. She wasn't my girl… yet.
"Hey, good show tonight, guys." Tiffany's smile was big, her full, red lips spread across her face. The piercings and tattoos didn't hide her beauty, they just added to it. She tried to seem indifferent about her appearance, but I'd known Tiff for a while and, as much as she could be a hard ass, she was a good chick. I scanned the bar for Lily. She wasn't around, but Jace was behind the bar finishing up with a customer.
"Thanks, Tiff… Where's Lily?" Jace's eyes met mine at the mention of her name. A small smirk formed on his lips, and I about lost my shit again.
"She's in back. Whoa, Todd, what's up?" The humor in her voice was gone.
This little game of who's got the bigger dick between Jace and me was about to end. I exhaled sharply, rolled my shoulders back, and cracked my knuckles. I was over his mind games.
"Hey man, let me handle him, all right? You don't want to get fired. Frank's sitting over in the corner booth, bro." Seth palmed my shoulder. "All right?" He gave me a weary smile.
"Yeah." I nodded. "I'll go tell Lily it's time for her to play." I reluctantly walked away from the opportunity to throat punch Jace, but in the end I knew Seth had my back.
The break room door was open, so I didn't hesitate to walk in. Lily was standing staring at the photos on the wall. I expected her to turn around, but she didn't.
"What do you want, Todd?" she asked with frustration. The annoyance in her voice hit me below the belt.
"You still singing tonight? Frank's still out there, but he won't stay long." I hated how much I wanted her to look at me. My need for her started to feel like how I used to need Eliz — I didn't even want to think it. I warily walked toward her, and the closer I got, the tighter my chest pulled. This immense weight bearing down on me with each step. I was terrified of her, of the possibility of yet another rejection, of another failure. This dismissal could be the thing to finally wreck me for good. I thought of the other night, sitting with her in her driveway, and that gave me the courage to do what I wanted.
I scooped the hair away from her neck; her head tilted just enough to grant me permission. I ran the tip of my nose down the slope that followed from below her ear to her shoulder inhaling her sweet smell. My lips feathered against her soft, freckle covered skin, savoring each sacred inch of her. Lily breathed out a sigh, and my control wavered. My hands wrapped around her arms, and I pulled her tight against my chest.
My lips found her ear. "What did that fucker say to you?" I stated in a whispered growl.
Lily gazed down at the ground. "Nothing, don't worry about it." She tried to pull away, so I turned her to face me. I lifted her chin with my finger.
"What did he say, baby? Because it sure as hell wasn't nothing. The way you looked at me, like I was a piece of dirt, tells me what he said meant something to you." I stared into her eyes, a mixture of blue, green, and yellow — it was a mesmerizing palate. It was so easy to get lost inside their depths.
"Todd, I'm not a trophy to be won. I don't want to be part of some pissing contest." She started to pull away again. This time I took her face in between my palms and brought my lips to hers. She wasn't a trophy or a prize. She was everything, and I wanted her to be mine. She just needed to be reminded. Our lips moved perfectly together, and the soft moan that left her lips was all I needed to hear. I licked her bottom lip, and she pressed against me as both my hands enfolded under her hair at the nape pulling her deeper into the kiss. Lily made me feel good, and I haven't had that in so long. The weight bearing down on me from earlier lifted as I drew away from her supple, pink lips. I rested my forehead against hers and smiled. I could stay like this with her, all night.
She giggled against my mouth. "What?" I lifted my head from hers to give her my full attention.
"I could, too." Lily's lips pulled into a megawatt smile that was so big it actually hurt my heart. I was confused though.
"You could too what?" My left eyebrow rose in question.
"Stay like this all night." She held my incredulous stare.
Shit. "I feel like an idiot. I-I didn't mean to say that out loud." I grinned at her reaction to my little slip.
"I'm glad you said it. I needed to hear it." Her smile fell. "Jace made me feel cheap tonight, Todd. You have a… reputation. It's — it's just not fun to hear." She moved her eyes away from mine. I was going to kill that asshole.
"Lily, I can't change my past. The more you get to know me, the more you may start to rethink this whole… whatever this is we have going on between us. But just know that I like you. Can we just start from there?" I prayed her answer would be yes. I needed her answer to be yes. Because being inside her was something I never wanted to forget. I had experienced the incredible feeling of being so deep between her legs; there was no turning back. Lily, in that fleeting moment, had turned her body and trust over to me completely, and that was something I'd never had. She had possessed me that night, and I couldn't see a way forward without her.
She finally met my nervous stare. "All right." Lily's smile was small. She lifted up onto the tip of her toes and kissed me on the cheek. I couldn't help the stupid ass grin on my face. She was destroying me, but it never felt better. "I better get out there before Frank leaves."
"Yeah, you're right. You ready?"
"One hundred percent." She turned away and walked through the door. "I have to be." She said so softly that I didn't think I was supposed to hear it.
I WAS SITTING IN the booth with Frank and Seth. Graden and Jack had left early, and I couldn't say I really cared. Lily stepped on stage, the bright lights made her hair look as if it were on fire. She was a sight on that stage. Frank would be stupid not to sign her. The family tie they had only secured her spot as a new artist at Blue Bar Records. I wasn't really sure what she was worried about. Lily bypassed the guitar and sat at the piano. I tried to hide the surprise on my face, but Seth gave me a look like he couldn't believe it either. She was more talented than anyone could have guessed.
She adjusted the microphone and glanced over at our table. "Hey Seth, can I borrow you for a moment?" She spoke with a smile right into the microphone. Seth looked at me like he was waiting for me to give him the okay. I shrugged.
Seth stood and moved rapidly to the stage. I watched as Lily whispered in his ear. Seth's face broke into a wide ass smile, and I hated him for about two seconds before I realized he was headed for his drum set. I felt dumb for being jealous. Seth would never do that to me. Lily played a quick scale on the piano before she spoke again.
"I'm going to play "Medicine" by Broods. Thank you to Seth for knowing this song, you really are a rock star." She beamed at him, and that twinge of jealousy returned. I needed to get it together.
Lily brought the microphone right to her lips. She started humming the first haunting notes of the song before her fingers pressed the keys, beginning the melody. At first, it was just her deep soulful voice and the piano, and then Seth picked up on the beat creating this incredibly sensual arrangement of notes.
"Damn," I whispered as Lily's body moved to the beat, her lips brushing against the microphone, the words from the song hanging in the air creating this dark, evocative moment. Heat radiated through my entire body while watching Lily's hips rock. She was so deep into the music. I didn't think listening to someone sing could get me so damn hard. I shifted in my seat. I was suddenly envious of her microphone.
"Wow, she's amazing." Tiffany took a seat at our booth, breaking me out of my lust-induced state.
"She sure is." Frank had a smile on his face that could only be described as something a proud father would have. "Get her in the studio this week, Todd. You hearing me?"
"Sure, sure. You're leaving?" I asked as Frank stood. "You don't want to congratulate her?" I furrowed my brow.
"I'll let you do that." He smirked, and Tiffany laughed.
"Um, okay?" I wasn't sure what was going on, but I was annoyed. She had been worried about tonight, the least he could do was tell her himself. "I mean, Frank, I think she'd like to hear it from you."
"Look kid, I need to go. I don't want a big emotional scene, and it'll be better coming from you. That way she won't think I'm giving her special treatment." Frank glanced back at the stage as the entire bar erupted into applause.
"Special treatment? What are you talking about, Frank?" Tiff's face crunched into a confused pout. I guess she didn't know about Lily and Frank's relationship. I suddenly wondered if Jace knew.
"Don't worry about it, Tiff. I gotta go, okay? Studio this week. I mean it," he shouted as he walked to the back office.
"What's he talking about?" Tiffany persisted.
"Give it a rest, will you?" I stood quickly from the booth. Seth's arm was draped over Lily's shoulder, and they were both smiling like goofballs as they walked toward us.
"You're a fucking genius!" Seth pulled away from her and smacked her on the ass. What the fuck! I'm going to junk punch him for that later. "She's a musical genius," he continued. "Where's Frank? Awe hell, please tell me he didn't miss this shit? We need to record that, like tomorrow. I'll get my mixer—"
"He didn't miss it," I interrupted Seth's ramblings. Lily's elated mood started to fall when she noticed Frank was gone. "He had to jet, but he loved it. He wants you in the studio this week. Lily that was… un-fucking-believable." I took her hand in mine and pulled her close to me. Sweat glistened on her forehead, her cheeks were flushed, and she looked so damn beautiful. "You did it. We're going to make you an album." I couldn't contain my smile as I bent down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"For the record, I had no doubt. After hearing you the other night, I knew Frank would be shitting himself to sign you." Seth gave me a smug grin.
Tiff cleared her throat. "Wait a freaking minute, did you just kiss her? He just kissed you. Why do I feel like I never know anything? Can someone please—"
"Tiff, if you make me a drink, I'll give you answers." Seth grabbed Tiffany's wrist and dragged her to the bar. It was probably a good thing, Jace looked like he was drowning and needed help. Not that I gave a shit about him, I was worried about the customers.
"You did good, Red." I smiled at her scowl. I loved that she hated that name.
"Thanks, I should get back to work."
As she turned to head to the bar, I took her hand. "You free tomorrow?"
"You want to get into the studio tomorrow?" She asked disbelievingly. I wanted to see her. I could care less if it was in the studio, here, or at my place; as long as she was there, I was down.
"Can I take you to breakfast first?"
"Like a date?" She scrunched her nose; it was so damn cute.
"Yeah, like a fucking date." I laughed and shook my head. "That sound okay to you, Red?"
She rolled her eyes. "On one condition." She smirked.
"Oh yeah, what's that?" I stepped back and folded my arms across my chest giving her a cocky grin.
"One, stop calling me Red, and two—"
"Hey, you said one condition." I chuckled at her obvious irritation with me. I had her scowling now.
"Two…" She said with a defiant tone. "…You record a song with me. I want to sing with you." Her cat eyes casted down with… insecurity?
"I'd love that, Lily." Her eyes darted up to mine, her face breaking into a sincere smile.
"Yeah?" She sounded unsure.
"Of course, I'd be lucky to sing with you." I shook my head and took her hand in mine leading her to the bar.
"I don't know how lucky you'd be, but it would be fun."
I nodded and gave her my best grin.
She didn't realize how damn lucky I was to have any part of her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Lily
TODD: YOU READY FOR TODAY?
I was still half asleep; Todd's text message was blurry as my eyes adjusted to the light. I laughed out loud once I realized it was only eight in the morning. I quickly tapped out a reply.
Me: Eager much?
I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Last night was so busy I could still feel the ache in my feet. Once the excitement of my performance died down and the reality of work set in, the night took a turn for the worst. The crowd had been rowdy, and then Seth and Jace got into it about something and almost came to blows. If it wasn't for Tiff getting in between them, I had a feeling Jace would have ended up in the hospital. Seth was a physical presence. He was at least six-foot-two and all strength. He was broad and so traditionally tall, dark, and handsome, I had no choice but to think he was attractive. I sure as hell could tell Tiffany was all about that man. The look in her eyes when she stepped between him and Jace solidified, at least for me, that she had feelings for Seth. My phone chirped breaking me from my thoughts.
Todd: Who wouldn't be?
I chuckled. Todd wasn't what I was used to. I always went the safe, boring route when it came to men. Easy, dependable, and tame is what I thought I always wanted. Derrick proved me wrong. It didn't matter whether or not a guy had been a playboy, college graduate, rich, or came from a stable family. If he was going to screw your best friend in the back stairwell of the bar where you worked, there was nothing you could do to stop it. I shook my head trying to erase the visual I had of my best friend, Becca, taking it up a
gainst the wall by my boyfriend. My mood darkened just as my phone chirped again.
Todd: Be ready in thirty. I'm starving.
Holy crap, I needed to hustle.
Twenty-five minutes and a quick shower later, I was somewhat presentable. My crazy curly hair was pulled back into my usual thick ponytail. The weather was still chilly so I decided to wear a peach hoodie and jeans. I slipped on my gray chucks and looked at myself in the mirror. If I was being honest with myself, I looked tired. I didn't really have time for make-up, but I didn't think Todd cared about that crap. My lips turned up into a smirk as I thought about how he looked at me last night. He lit me up every time his eyes grazed my skin. How was I going to make it through a whole day of that penetrating stare? I took a deep breath, grabbed my phone, and headed up the stairs.
My nephew was crying loudly from the living room, and I wasn't looking forward to the interrogation Eve would surely give me.
"Hey, buddy. Where's your mom?" I bent down and picked up Christopher from his Pack-'N-Play in an attempt to calm him down. Tears and snot poured down his face like he had been crying for a while.
"Eve?" I called out. Nothing. What the hell? I needed to leave soon. I walked toward her bedroom and heard her crying. As I slowly pushed open the door to her bedroom, I could see Eve's strawberry blonde hair was ruffled and tears stained her face.
"Eve, what's going on?" My sister was as hard as nails; she never cried.
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