What Comes After

by Toppen, Melissa

  I don’t know if it’s my attraction to him winning out or the nice buzz of alcohol swimming in my veins, but suddenly I feel less concerned with protecting my heart and more concerned with making this man mine.

  Abel hops off the stage and makes a bee line to where we’re standing, huddled against the far wall a few feet from the stage. My eyes trace his broad shoulders and the width of his chest before coming back up to his face. I have to bite down on my bottom lip to keep myself from moaning.

  Maybe that’s a sign that I’ve been kicking back my Long Island ice teas a little too quickly tonight, but I’m past the point of really caring.

  I didn’t come here intending to drink much. In fact, I rarely drink past a slight buzz, but the instant I saw Abel I knew I was going to need something strong tonight.

  He puts me so on edge that I feel almost nauseous from the knots sitting in my stomach like heavy rocks. He makes me nervous, so off kilter. So much so that when he stops directly in front of us and his eyes come to mine, my knees wobble beneath me.

  “You are so amazing,” Henna coos over Abel, clearly feeling her alcohol as well.

  “Thank you.” He offers her an easy smile. “I’m going to go get a drink. Does anyone need anything?”

  I look down at my near empty drink. “I do. I’ll come with you.”

  “Okay.” He nods once. “Anyone else?”

  “I’m good.” Henna leans into Aaron.

  “I wouldn’t mind another beer if you’re going that way.” Aaron holds up his empty bottle.

  “You got it.” Abel cocks his head, gesturing for me to follow him.

  “Be right back,” I tell Henna before quickly setting off after Abel.

  Instead of getting in the line at the bar that’s at least twenty people deep, Abel heads around to the side and flags down one of the bartenders who immediately heads in our direction.

  “Two Bud Lights and...” he pauses, turning to point at my drink.

  “Long Island,” I semi-shout over the crowd.

  The bartender nods in acknowledgment before walking away to retrieve our drinks.

  “Hitting the hard stuff tonight, I see,” Abel observes, pointing at my glass.

  “Needed something to take the edge off,” I explain, sucking the remaining liquid through the straw before setting the empty glass on the bar behind Abel.

  “Is it working?” He cocks a brow.

  “Maybe a little,” I admit, feeling calmer around him than I normally do.

  “Are you having fun?”

  “Surprisingly, yes.” I giggle at my bluntness.

  “Surprisingly?” he questions.

  “I wasn’t sure how I would feel with those two.” I point in the vicinity of where I know Aaron and Henna are. “Third wheel and all.”

  “Well for the record, I’m glad you’re here.”

  “You are?” My thoughts come out in the form of actual words.

  “I am,” he confirms, turning when the bartender reappears with our drinks. “Here.” He hands me my Long Island before grabbing his and Aaron’s beers off the counter.

  “Don’t I need to pay?” I ask, preparing to grab some cash from my wristlet.

  “Bands drink free.” He waves me off.

  “But I’m not in the band,” I object.

  “Close enough.” He smiles, that damn dimple sending my heart into a frenzy.

  “Okay then.” I lift the straw to my lips and take a long drink, humming when the taste hits my tongue.

  “Good?” He chuckles, watching me with a narrowed gaze.

  “So good.” I nod enthusiastically, offering him my drink. “Try it.”

  To my surprise he leans in, wraps his lips around my straw, and takes a drink. The whole thing lasts less than ten seconds but it’s enough to make me feel like my entire world shifted on its side. My face feels flush and tiny droplets of sweat form at the back of my neck.

  My god, what is wrong with me?

  “That is good,” he agrees after he’s swallowed his drink. “Maybe I should have ordered me one of those.”

  “Nah, beer suits you better,” I say, once again voicing my thoughts instead of keeping them in my head where they belong.

  “It does?” His lips quirk up.

  “Yeah, you know, hot musician and beer just go together. Like PB and J.”

  “So, you think I’m hot?” His smile widens and I know he’s just messing with me.

  “Have you looked at yourself?” I blurt. Stupid word vomit. “I mean...” I stutter over my words. “Crap.” I laugh and admit defeat. “Yes, I think you are extremely hot. There, are you happy?”

  “I actually am, so thanks for that.” He laughs. “For the record, you’re not so bad yourself.” His eyes do one long sweep over my body and I swear every surface of my skin prickles.

  “Is it hot in here?” I fan my face with my hand, suddenly feeling severely overheated.

  “It’s a little warm,” he says, thankfully not adding further to my increasing mortification.

  “We should get back to Henna and Aaron.”

  “Yeah,” he agrees, but he doesn’t move.

  “Um...” I hesitate, not sure what to do.

  Abel seems to find humor in my indecision.

  “Come on.” He chuckles. Holding both beers by the neck in one hand, he grabs mine with his other and pulls me through the crowd.

  I try to pay attention to where I’m going and not run into anyone, but truth be told I’m finding it difficult to focus on anything other than Abel’s fingers wrapped around mine.

  If I didn’t know it before, I sure as heck know it now. I’m in serious trouble...

  Chapter Twelve

  Peyton

  “Killer set tonight, bro.” Aaron raises his beer bottle to Abel when he slides up next to the table we were able to secure after the crowd started to clear out.

  It’s nearing midnight and they announced last call about ten minutes ago so we, of course, rushed to the bar and ordered another round.

  Aaron is more intoxicated than I’ve seen him before, not that I’ve been around him that much to begin with. Henna has slid off her stool twice since we sat down. And me, well I’m a happy drunk. Which means I’ve been sitting here staring at Abel for nearly the entire night with a wide smile across my face. Because while all of the concerns I had earlier are still there, the buzz running through my veins has made it easy for me to forget all the reasons why I can’t have Abel and remind me of all the reasons I want to.

  “Thanks.” Abel runs a hand through his messy hair before snagging Aaron’s beer from his hand. He takes a long drink and my eyes are immediately drawn to his neck, throat bobbing as he drinks.

  It’s such an average everyday motion and yet something about the way he does it makes it so incredibly sexy I can barely contain myself.

  “Hey!” Aaron’s delayed reaction causes us all to laugh.

  “I was thirsty.” Abel gives him a shit eating smile and takes another drink.

  “If you want a beer, I’m sure the bartenders will get you one.”

  “Can’t. Gotta drive. Just wanted a drink.” He shoves the beer bottle back into his brother’s hand. “Speaking of which, I take it you all need a ride home tonight.”

  “We’re gonna Uber,” I explain, my words borderline slurred.

  “Like hell you are. I’m only a few blocks from you. I’ll drop you off on my way home.”

  “How do you know where I live?” I ask way too loudly.

  “Because I’ve dropped Aaron off there.”

  “Oh.” My cheeks flush.

  “Finish your drinks and we can head out. I’m going to go get paid.” He nods to the table and then spins on his heel, heading in the direction of the bar.

  “You are so obvious,” Henna slurs next to me.

  “What?” I look away from Abel’s backside to see my friend watching me with knowing eyes.

  Well hell, if drunk Henna is picking up on it then there’s no way sober A
bel isn’t.

  “I see the way you look at him.” She smiles, leaning to the side to lay her head on my shoulder. She turns her big eyes up to my face and bats her lashes dramatically. “Peyton’s in love.” She sighs loudly.

  “Peyton most certainly is not in love. I’m a little smitten, but make no mistake, there is no love involved.”

  “So, what you’re saying is you want to bang my brother,” Aaron chimes in.

  “I do not want to bang anyone. Who even says that anymore? Bang.” I snort.

  “Doesn’t matter how I word it. Still true.” He shrugs, taking a pull from his beer.

  “Considering you’re drunker than I am, I’m going to pretend like it’s the alcohol talking.”

  “Blame it on whatever you want, doesn’t change the facts.”

  “And what are the facts exactly, Aaron?” I lean forward, causing Henna to pop up off my shoulder.

  “That you have a thing for my brother.”

  “I do not have a thing,” I lie and fail miserably at doing so. Even I don’t believe the words coming out of my mouth at this point.

  “Who has a thing?” Abel suddenly reappears, seemingly out of thin air.

  “Peyton,” Aaron tells him, leaning in close to his brother.

  “Peyton what?” Abel questions, his gaze going to me.

  “Peyton is ready to go home,” I interrupt in hopes of derailing Aaron.

  “Peyton,” he slurs, “has a thing for you, little brother.” He shoves Abel’s shoulder.

  “Oh my god.” I groan and shake my head. “Don’t listen to him. He’s so drunk he doesn’t know his ass from his nose.”

  “Eww.” Aaron crinkles his nose. “How would I not know my ass from my nose?”

  “On that note.” Abel laughs, hooking his brother under the arm and lifting him to his feet. “I think it’s time we get you home.”

  “I’m not going home,” Aaron objects.

  “He’s coming home with me.” Henna leans across the table and wiggles her eyebrows at Abel.

  “Oh my god, Henna. We get it.” I push off my stool, swaying slightly when my feet hit the floor.

  “You okay?” Abel’s eyes are glued on me.

  “Yeah, just stood up too fast. You get him, I’ll get her.” I hitch my thumb at Henna.

  “Maybe I should just take turns getting all three of you.” He gives me a knowing look.

  “Nah, I got this.” I swipe my hand through the air. “Come on, Henna Boo.” I pull her up next to me. “Let’s get you and lover boy home.”

  “Lover boy.” She giggles.

  “Lead the way,” I tell Abel, hooking my arm around Henna’s shoulder and securing her to me.

  “Okay.” He gives me one last look before he guides his brother from the bar, me and Henna fast on his heels.

  Getting Henna into the car proves even more difficult than getting her to the car. She tends to get a bit lovey and as such, she keeps grabbing my face and telling me how much she loves me.

  “Abel, a little help.” I finally give up after my fourth attempt at guiding her into the backseat.

  Abel shuts the door once he has Aaron in and crosses to the other side of the car. Stepping around Henna, he swoops her up so he’s cradling her like a baby. I’m instantly jealous of my too drunk friend.

  “You’re hot.” She giggles, petting his face. “Peyton and you are two hot tamales. You should make sweet love and create some equally beautiful babies.” Her words are so slurred I can barely decipher what she said.

  “What did she just say?” Abel cocks a brow at me.

  “Ignore her. When she gets drunk she talks in cursive.”

  He looks at me for a long moment like he’s trying to figure out what I just said, then out of nowhere he bursts into laughter.

  “You’re funny,” Henna tells him.

  “And you’re getting into the backseat now.” He leans down and plops her in the car next to Aaron, shutting the door before she can try to escape.

  “Sorry, she’s like a wild animal sometimes.”

  “Nothing I haven’t seen before.” He chuckles. “Here.” He steps back and pulls open the passenger door for me.

  “Thank you.” I smile, trying to ignore the way my heart whooshes in my chest.

  Abel shuts my door and crosses around the car, hopping into the driver’s side moments later.

  “I’m hungry,” Henna announces loudly from the backseat. “Can we get pizza on the way home?”

  “Pretty sure all the pizza places are closed,” Abel tells her, starting the car.

  “Boo! How about burgers?”

  “I don’t know of any burger places open twenty-four hours between here and your house,” he tells her, slowly backing out of his parking spot before pulling out into the road.

  “Let’s go to Jack’s!” Aaron announces it like he’s just had an ah ha moment.

  “I am not taking your ass to Jack’s in your current condition.”

  “Why not? Claudia and Jack won’t be there.”

  “You hope they won’t,” Abel argues.

  “What’s Jack’s?” I chime in, curious as to what they’re talking about.

  “It’s a little diner across town. Our aunt and uncle own the joint. Best burgers in the world,” Aaron answers.

  “Best burgers in the world, huh?” I stare at the side of Abel’s face which causes him to glance in my direction.

  “Oh no. Not you too.” He shakes his head before his eyes slide back to the road.

  “Oh come on. We’re hungry.” Aaron starts kneeing the back of Abel’s seat.

  “Fucking hell,” Abel grumbles. “Fine! I’ll take you to Jack’s, but so help me, Aaron, you make an ass of yourself, you’re the one that’s going to have to apologize to Jack and Claudia the next time you see them.”

  “I’m not going to make an ass of myself.” Aaron laughs.

  “Yay burgers!” Henna celebrates.

  “Any chance we can just take them home and they won’t notice?” I ask Abel under my breath.

  “Um, I heard that.” Henna knees the back of my seat.

  “What is with you two kneeing seats?” I turn and glare at her. “If you don’t stop, we’re going to kick you both out of the car and you can find your own way home,” I warn, playfully serious.

  “I know why she wants to kick us out of the car,” Henna whisper yells to Aaron.

  “So she can get all up on my brother’s nuts,” Aaron finishes her thought.

  Heat floods my cheeks and I know I must be a hundred shades of red at this point, but I do my best to laugh it off in hopes of hiding my embarrassment.

  “You two are children,” I tell them, avoiding looking at Abel as I turn back toward the front. “Sorry about them,” I murmur.

  “Don’t be. Nothing I haven’t dealt with many times before. My brothers try to pretend they’re all holier than thou but get a little alcohol in them and they are just as fucked up as the rest of us.”

  “At least you have siblings. Try being an only child with parents who are so overprotective you could barely breathe most of your life.”

  “I take it you didn’t get to do much as a child?” he asks, keeping his gaze locked on the road.

  I’m thankful that despite Henna and Aaron’s outrageous attempts to mortify me further than I have already done myself, Abel moves along like nothing was said.

  “You could say that. My mom was the more lenient one. But my dad, that man needed to take a serious chill pill. He got even worse after my mom passed.”

  “I’m sorry.” It isn’t until Abel apologizes that I realize what I said. I’m not one to typically share such personal things with someone I barely know. Guess that’s what happens when you drink too much alcohol. You become all loose tongued.

  “It’s okay. It was a long time ago.”

  “How old were you when she passed?” he asks, ignoring Henna and Aaron’s playful moaning and laughing in the backseat.

  “Fifteen.”

/>   “How did she die? If you don’t mind me asking.”

  I’m hesitant to tell him, knowing that’s how his wife died, but I don’t see a way to avoid answering without coming across as rude.

  “Cancer.” His expression shifts the moment the word leaves my mouth.

  “Did she have it long?” he asks after a few beats of silence.

  “Just a few months. One day she was perfectly healthy and a year later she was gone.”

  “Wow.” He blows out a slow breath. “That had to be hard.”

  “It was. But I like to think she’s still here with me. I swear sometimes I can even hear her laugh. Or feel her next to me when I’m baking our favorite pie in the kitchen. I don’t know if she really is or not, but it helps to picture that she’s here.”

  “I get that.” He nods, eyes glued to the road.

  “Aaron,” Henna moans, the sound echoing through the car.

  “I swear to god if any body parts come out back there, I’m cutting them off,” Abel warns, flashing a smile in my direction.

  I’m happy for the shift in conversation. Alcohol may make me happy, but it can turn me into a crying drunk in a matter of seconds, and no one wants to deal with that. I think I’ve suffered enough embarrassment for one night.

  “Are they always like this?” he asks me.

  “Yep.” I nod. “You should try sleeping in the room next to them. Let’s just say our walls are not very thick.”

  “I think I’d move.” He laughs.

  “I’ve been tempted as of late.” I smile, dropping my head back against the headrest as my eyes stay fixed on the side of Abel’s face.

  Henna breaks away from Aaron’s mouth long enough to comment, “You would never leave me.”

  “Keep telling yourself that,” I joke.

  “Fucking finally.” Aaron sits upright as Abel slows and pulls into a parking spot next to a small, rundown diner.

  “I say we let them sit by themselves,” Abel suggests, a smile on his face as he puts the car in park and kills the engine.

  “Let’s do it,” I agree, swinging open the car door before sliding out. The ground sways slightly under my feet and I have to grip the top of the door to keep myself from toppling over. Luckily Abel doesn’t see.