“Ella!” he calls after me. But I don’t stop running. I move fast and go far, until my head pounds. I run until I find the bench where Liam played the song.
I sit and get out my phone, trying to slow my rapid breathing.
He answers on the first ring. “Tell me you changed your mind.”
My eyes close. “Email me the plane ticket.”
Chapter Nine
Liam
I strain my head around the seat in front of me to see Ronni coming down the aisle. It’s the first time I’ve laid eyes on her since the day after Mom’s funeral. She stops in business class. Not only did they have to hold the plane for her, she’s not even sitting with us. The flight attendant helps her with her carry-on and then Ronni catches me watching. In usual Ronni fashion, she ignores me.
“Why is she even going with us?” Bria asks.
Jeremy leans over the seats in front of us, where he’s sitting with Garrett and Brad. “She’s only coming to make sure you get settled. She’ll stay for the first few shows and then fly back.”
I raise a brow. “She doesn’t think our manager can handle it?”
“You know how she likes to micromanage,” he says with a snarl.
“Thank God she’ll only be there a short time,” Bria says. “I do not need her breathing down my neck.” She does her best impression of Ronni. “‘Cut your hair. Highlight your hair. Change your eye color. Can you grow taller?’”
Everyone laughs.
Bria and Ronni do not get along. They haven’t since day one, when Ronni was introduced as our IRL rep last summer. At first we all thought it was because Ronni was after Crew. Now we know better. Ronni is a self-centered bitch on wheels.
Crew takes Bria’s hand. “What’s the first thing you want to do when we get there?”
“The beach. No—Disney World. Do you think we’ll have time to go to every theme park?”
Crew laughs. “Probably not.”
We take off. It’s exciting, but a little terrifying. I’ve never been on a plane before. Neither has Crew.
“Better get used to this, boys,” Bria says, taking our hands. “We’ll be flying all over the country soon. Maybe even the world.”
“A world tour?” I muse aloud. And then, before any other thought enters my head, I wonder what I’d have to do to convince Ella to go with us.
I’m still not positive she’ll come this time. I forwarded her ticket to Jacksonville, but that doesn’t mean she’ll use it.
When the flight attendant comes by with the drink cart, I order a half-dozen tiny bottles of whiskey and one Coke. “Anyone else want something?”
The seatbelt sign is turned off. Jeremy stands and turns to address us. “Check your email. I sent you the finalized schedule Ronni gave me yesterday. We’re starting in Fernandina Beach tomorrow night, where Bruce will meet us with the van. We’ll work our way down the east coast of Florida, then up the west coast through Ft. Myers. We’ll spend a lot of time in the Tampa area before cutting over to Orlando and then up to Gainesville, where you’ll play on the massive campus at the University of Florida. We made sure to schedule you after their spring break, so hopefully those who vacationed at the east coast beaches will have seen you and told all their friends. We’ll finish the tour by going to Tallahassee and Panama City, then over to the naval air station in Pensacola, where your last concert will be for the armed services.
Crew puts an arm around Bria, who looks kind of green. “What is it?”
“That’s a lot of performances with few days off.”
Garrett laughs. “You of all people, Bria, should be prepared for this. You toured with White Poison.”
“That was different,” she says. “All I had to do was show up and sing twenty feet behind them. Nobody would have noticed if I wasn’t there. I didn’t have to worry about screwing everything up. What if I trip over something onstage?”
Crew kisses her temple. “I’ll catch you.”
They share a moment. I can’t turn away. Crew and Bria have lived their romance in front of us, most of it onstage. In some strange way, I envy them. I toss back a shot of whiskey.
Jeremy leaves to use the bathroom. Shortly after, Ronni takes his place. “I trust Jeremy has given you the schedule. Anyone have any questions?”
“Yeah,” I say, trying not to spit in anger as I talk. “Why in the hell didn’t you tell us Dirk bought the label?”
“Because it doesn’t change anything, and because Dirk asked me not to.” She glances at me. “I’m good at keeping secrets.”
I empty another one of the tiny bottles, shaking every last drop down my throat. “It’s not going to work, you know. He’ll want to control everything and everyone.”
“I don’t think so. He’s more like a silent partner. Niles is still the president and the boss as far as I’m concerned. I suppose he has to report to Dirk, but Dirk is leaving the day-to-day operations to us. And speaking of day-to-day operations, Niles and I have been able to procure you a new rehearsal space at IRL.”
“You want us to rehearse in New York?” Brad asks. None of us seem as bothered by it as he does. In fact Bria and Crew appear downright excited.
I suspect it’s another way for Dirk to keep me close, but it’s better than his barn. It’s also more than an hour away from his house.
“As you know we only have the one studio. We reserve it for our best clients. Right now, you’re our best client.”
Crew snorts. “What happens when we’re not?”
Ronni studies her manicured nails. “Then I guess you’ll be out on your asses. So do yourselves a favor and remain at the top.” She eyes the empties on my tray table and returns to business class.
“New York?” Brad says. “That’s a long way from Stamford. Isn’t there someplace closer to home?”
Crew, Bria and I look at each other. Guess it’s time to tell Brad and Garrett what we talked about.
“I was thinking I’d move to the city,” I say. “We play more gigs there than anywhere else. Now that we’ll be rehearsing at IRL, it makes sense. I asked Crew to have his stepdad check into some places.” I turn to him. “Has he had any luck?”
“That depends. One-bedrooms in decent locations are off-the-chart expensive. Maybe if it were a year from now, you could afford it. The two-bedroom apartments he found didn’t hold much promise. I know you talked about living with Garrett, but what if three of us live together? Gary found a modest three-bedroom on a great street. It’s about two miles from Bria’s.”
“Three of us?” Garrett asks. “As in you, me and Liam? What about our boy, Brad?”
Brad grins. “I told you Katie and I are moving in together.”
“So both of you move to the city.”
“She works in Stamford. That wouldn’t be fair to her.”
“Sorry, man,” Garrett says. “That would have been sick if we all lived together. Well, everyone but Bria.”
Crew studies his girlfriend. “It could still work you know.” Bria questions him with her eyes. “Brad’s out. That’s three bedrooms and four of us. You and I could share one.”
Her lips form a flirtatious grin. “You want to live together?”
“Hell yes, I do. I’ve been asking you for six months. We sleep over at each other’s places half the time anyway. What do you say?”
Her smile fades. “I don’t know. I don’t think I could share a bathroom with three men.”
“There are two bathrooms. We get one, Liam and Garrett use the other.”
“Can we afford it?” she asks.
“With all four of us making money now, yes.”
“It could work,” I say, turning to Garrett. “You in?”
“I’m in. Just say when, and I’ll give notice.”
“Gary said the place is available in two weeks. I’ll see how far he can push them out. Obviously May would be best for us, but we might have to start paying rent sooner.”
“We’re really doing this?” I ask.
; “I guess we are,” Crew says.
I flag down the flight attendant and order more drinks to celebrate.
For the next hour, the four of us talk about how great it will be to live together in the city. We go over what furniture we have. Well, what furniture they have; I have none. Crew can’t stop smiling. He hates where Bria currently lives.
Brad stares out the window.
“He’s feeling left out,” she whispers.
“It’s his choice,” I say. “Katie has him so far up her ass, he can’t see daylight.”
“But he’s a part of RA,” Crew says, “and Katie is a permanent fixture in his life. We’d better get used to it.”
“Maybe she’s the one who needs to get used to us,” I say. “Who doesn’t like to be around rock stars?”
I’m thinking of Ella again, the woman who thinks I have syphilis because I’m in a band and believes I’m a narcissist who sleeps around. Who’s convinced I have ulterior motives for wanting her near me.
I can’t stop picturing her sitting on the bench next to me when I played. The way she looked at me. Nobody has ever looked at me that way before. Girls and women scream and throw themselves at me, but they never just look at me. Not like that. If I thought she was my muse at the hospital, it was only the tip of the iceberg. Back then, I couldn’t even begin to imagine how she would live in my fucking head twenty-four-seven.
I pull out my phone and gaze at the picture I took of the two of us. I start to get hard, stash the phone, and unbuckle my seatbelt. “Be right back.”
A woman is waiting for the bathroom, and I line up behind her. Ronni flashes me one of her fake smiles.
A few minutes later, the woman exits and it’s my turn. Someone pushes me from behind and then there’s two of us in the tiny lavatory. Me and Ronni. She shimmies against me.
“Seriously, Ronni? There’s like two inches of space in here.”
She rubs my semi-hard dick and then grabs it through my pants. “I’d say more like six or seven.”
I flinch and push her hand away. “What the fuck are you doing?”
She puts my hands on her tits. “Just testing the limits.”
“Well, that’s a hard fucking limit, Ronni.”
She unbuttons her blouse and unhooks the front of her bra. “Let’s make this quick. There’s a line.” She turns away. “And you reek of booze.”
I unzip my pants and push them down a few inches. I’m not fully hard yet. I stroke myself until I am.
She squirms, watching. “That is so hot.”
“Are you ready for me?”
“Why don’t you find out?”
I put a hand under her skirt. No panties. I easily stick a finger inside her. Oh yeah, she’s ready.
“Do you have a condom?”
“Fuck.”
She gets one out of her skirt pocket and hands it to me. I put it on. She leans against the counter and perches a leg up on the toilet, giving me access in the small space. I close my eyes and fuck her. She doesn’t talk, which is good, because then I couldn’t pretend she’s someone else. Someone who would never in a million years let me do this to her. Someone who deserves so much more than I’m capable of giving.
Ronni reaches between us; she’s rubbing her clit. That helps me come, and I bite my cheek to keep from grunting loudly. Ronni’s moans, no doubt, are heard by anyone in earshot. I pull out and toss the condom.
She doesn’t even seem embarrassed. She washes her hands. “See you on the ground,” she says and steps out.
A man tries to enter but sees me. I quickly buckle my belt and wash up. He smirks as we pass each other. I ignore him. I’m not exactly proud of what just happened, and for some messed-up reason, I feel guilty about it. I push the thought out of my head. Because I know this is all I get. A sick fuck like me deserves nothing more.
Chapter Ten
Ella
Coming in for the landing is exciting. There isn’t a cloud in the sky. I can see the coastline perfectly, including tiny people dotting the beach. Even at six o’clock in the evening, people go to the beach. In March, no less. I still can’t believe I’m doing this.
I’m not sure if the feeling in the pit of my stomach is from the plane landing, or my continued uncertainty. Getting away from Corey is good. And even though I’ll be working, this will seem like a vacation.
In baggage claim, I wait for my one large suitcase to come around and that’s when I see him. Liam is searching for me. His eyes dart from one woman to the next like a boy looking for his long-lost mother. He sees me and smiles in slow motion. Then his teeth appear. He’s genuinely happy I’m here.
The kid in front of him moves, and I notice the sign he’s carrying: Mrs. Campbell
I laugh as he trots over. “I wasn’t sure you were coming.”
“Me either.”
“What finally made you do it?”
“Maybe I thought I needed to celebrate.”
His eyes brighten. “You got the job?”
I’m still absorbing the news myself. “Ten books. It’s a dream come true.”
“Congratulations!” He hugs me, the kind you give a friend, and I relax.
My suitcase is coming toward us, and I reach for it. “That’s mine.”
He gets to it before I can.
I put my backpack on and start for the door.
“Don’t you have anymore? We’ll be here six weeks.”
“Bikinis don’t take up much space.”
His jaw goes slack, but he recovers quickly. “What about all your art stuff?”
“In the backpack, along with my laptop and supplies. I’ve got almost everything I need.” I don’t mention the art table. I resist the urge to ask him if he’s still planning to get me one. He’s doing so much already—giving me his hotel room, paying my expenses. If I have to work on a desk in a hotel room, it’ll have to do.
A large van is waiting outside. The driver helps put my suitcase inside.
“This is Bruce,” Liam says. “He gets us where we need to be and sets up our equipment.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ella.”
“It’s my pleasure, Ms. Campbell,” he says. “I’m at your disposal. If you need a ride anywhere—shopping mall, grocery store, beach—just say the word.”
We climb in back.
“This is how we’ll travel between cities,” Liam says. “Bruce drove down from New York with our head of security.”
They have their own security? Maybe they’re bigger than I thought.
I bounce up and down in my seat. “It’s pretty comfy. You guys must be doing well to afford a roomy van like this.”
“It’s not really ours. It’s what we always use, but it’s my uncle’s. Anyway, forget about that. What do you want to do first?”
I shrug, not knowing what my choices are.
“We’re playing at a bar in Jacksonville Beach from nine until midnight, but like I said, you don’t have to come to every gig.”
He flew me down. I should go, but I’m exhausted. “Liam, would you mind terribly if I passed on this one? I was up at six this morning to prep for my meeting. My day was pretty stressful, and I just want to eat, shower the plane grime off, and go to bed.”
“I don’t blame you. It’s fine. Bruce can drop you off on his way to set up.”
He tells me about the two times they played in a town north of here. I ask him to tell me what our days will be like.
“With the exception of weekends, we play about every other day, so there’s time off to do other stuff. We’ll change hotels every two or three days, depending on how far away the gigs are. Mostly we play at night, but there will be some daytime concerts—most of those are beachside.”
“Sounds like you’ll be busy.”
“We will, but not so busy that we can’t have some fun. I bought running shoes at the mall yesterday—not that I call running fun—it’s more like torture—but I did promise.”
I remember when I was a novice runner. “It’ll
only seem like torture for a week or two. After that, it gets easier.”
“How often do we have to do it?”
“Daily would be ideal, but for a beginner, three times a week.”
He regards me thoughtfully. “I guess I can agree to that.”
“We’re here,” Bruce says.
I look at the hotel. Something-or-other Suites. It looks decent enough. Not the Waldorf Astoria, but it’s no Motel Six either.
We get out, and Bruce hands Liam my suitcase, then checks his watch. “We’d better get going.”
“You go,” Liam says. “I’ll get Ella settled and catch an Uber.”
I think I see a sliver of water between the buildings down the street. “Wow, is the beach right there?”
“It is. I went earlier. Garrett and I tried surfing.” He rolls his shoulders. “Got the shit beat out of me.”
“Is it safe? You know, if I wanted to go for a walk later?”
“Should be,” he says, leading me to the elevator. “Crew insisted all our hotels be in nice areas. He’s kind of hung up on protecting Bria. I’m sure you’ll figure that out by the time this is over.”
“Speaking of your bandmates, when will I get to meet them? Are they here?”
“They went to a fancy seafood restaurant at the beach.”
“I’m sorry you couldn’t go. I could have caught an Uber from the airport.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re here because I asked you, El. I’m not going to make you fend for yourself.”
Up on the fourth floor, he pulls a keycard out of his wallet. “It’s the only key, and it’s yours.”
I take it and open the door. He follows me in, dragging my suitcase behind him.
The room’s not huge, but it has a king-sized bed, a couch, a desk, and a small fridge/microwave unit. There’s a large box in the corner, and I stride over to it. “You got me an art desk?”
“I had no idea what kind you wanted, but this was one of the few desks that was easily moveable. It collapses and can be carried with a handle, see? I hope it’s okay.”
Reckless Invitation (The Reckless Rockstar Series) Page 6
