As I got ready for the concert that night, a huge flux of emotions ran through me. Annoyance at Rowan’s continued hovering—someone clearly wasn’t getting the message. Anxiety over whatever the hell was going on between me and Ella. Excitement over my plans with her tonight. Dread at the thought of Chase finding out. Hunger because, hell, I was always hungry.
The concert we were about to perform was literally the last thing on my mind.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and read the text.
Unknown: I got something you definitely don’t want your adoring public to see. It’ll cost you to keep it safe.
What the fuck? I mean, I’d done a few things in my thirty-six years that most would probably regret, but I didn’t give a shit. This was who I was. And I was a rock star; hard living kinda came with the job description. I had done—slept with, snorted, drank, shot up—everything. And I didn’t regret a second of it. I didn’t believe in regrets.
Not that the message didn’t piss me off. I hated when people hid behind anonymity. Just step out and say your piece.
Me: Who is this?
Unknown: Someone from your past
Me: No shit
I tapped on the contact, but instead of a phone number, a weird email address was displayed. Fuck. Clearly, it was time to change my phone number.
I blocked the person and made a mental note to talk to Harper about getting a new number. Then I toggled over to my photos. Thumbing through the pictures from earlier today, I couldn’t fight the smile spreading across my face. Ella looked so gorgeous sitting next to me in the gondola. All pretty and bright in her yellow dress.
I paused at the last picture. The one where I was seriously thinking about kissing her. You could see it all over my face. The interest. The lust. For someone whose job it was to steer around lovers, Luca sure had shitty timing.
I hadn’t gotten the chance to kiss her again. As soon as we docked, a few people nearby recognized me and started hounding us. So we’d had to hustle out of there. And then Chase had called Ella and taken over the rest of her downtime.
Cockblocked by the best friend.
Although if he knew what he’d inadvertently done, I was sure he’d have a much stronger message to relay to me. Most likely with his fists. No way was he going to be okay with me seeing/dating/screwing his sister. I couldn’t put a label on what we were doing, but I knew Chase would have an issue with all of it. Chase knew me better than anyone on this earth. Hell, he’d been along for the ride on most of those should-probably-be-a-regret excursions. Chase wouldn’t want me anywhere near his little sister.
When I exited the private greenroom, my eyes went straight to Ella.
Sometimes you just wanted to go scorched earth. Consequences be damned.
Noah popped up next to me. “You might wanna try to be more discrete, my man.”
I looked away as I leaned over and grabbed a bottle of water from the side table. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m just saying. You’re being obvious as fuck. And I’d like to get at least halfway through this tour before it all implodes.”
I shook my head as I opened the bottle. “You’re fucking crazy.”
“You know it. But you know I’m right. The eye fucking is getting to inappropriate levels. It’s like you’re trying to impregnate her from across the room.”
“Like you’re any better with Harper?” I held the bottle up to my lips and took a pull.
“Harper is just harmless fun. We all know it’s just a matter of time before Xander locks that shit down.” Noah patted my shoulder patronizingly. “I also know it’s just a matter of time until Chase rips your balls off.”
I choked, inhaling water and struggling to breathe. My rough, choking coughs drew all eyes to me. I waved a hand at the room. “Just went down the wrong way.”
“I’m sure there’s a sex joke there somewhere.” Noah drove his elbow into my side. “Give me a second.”
“Get the fuck away from me.” I shoved him roughly. “You’re fucking with my head before we go on stage. You know I don’t like that shit.”
“Just trying to be your own little Jiminy Cricket. Lord knows you’ve got enough devils on your other shoulder.”
“The day when you’re the voice of reason is the day purple leprechauns fly out of my ass.”
“Hey, we’re halfway there. You already have a pink unicorn tattooed on your ass.”
“You’re the ass.” But I was laughing as I said it. Noah just wanted me to think it through, since my actions would have ramifications on everyone in our circle.
But I didn’t know if it mattered. The wheels were already rolling, and I didn’t feel like stopping this freight train. Ella and I had been dancing around this for years.
We went through our usual preconcert traditions. Noah sponsored the shot. Xander eye-fucked his ex from across the room. Chase was distracted by a phone call from his wife. And the whole time Ella stood on the fringes with her camera.
Christ, I didn’t think there was anything hotter than that look in her eyes when she was all intent on her job. Maybe if I could see her doing it topless. That might be hotter.
She swung her camera in my direction and popped off a few clicks. I stared back at her. Then she lowered her camera and she frowned at me like she couldn’t understand what was going on.
Ditto, sweet girl. Ditto.
Then Noah was back at my side with his fucking pointy elbow. “Big brother alert.”
I rolled my eyes and jabbed him back. “Dickhead alert.”
“What? Where?”
Sometimes it was too easy.
After the show, Noah stood in the center of the greenroom and raised his arms. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like your attention please!”
The room quieted and I turned to my buddy with a frown.
“Thank you. I’d just like you all to join me in thanking Mister Jesse Mala for finally keeping his shirt on for an entire concert.” Noah turned to me with a slow clap. “I think I speak for everyone when I say it’s been a long time coming. And thank you for sharing the spotlight with all of us again.”
I flipped him off with both hands. “Fuck you very much.”
“No way!” some random woman shouted. “Take it off! Take it off!”
The whole greenroom—including Noah—started chanting, “Take it off!”
I ducked my head and rubbed the back of my neck. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ella panning her GoPro camera around the room, recording this moment.
Fuck it.
I reached behind my neck and slowly pulled my shirt up and off my body. Once it was clear, I chucked it straight at Noah’s head.
He caught it with a laugh and held it aloft like it was a knightly favor.
I lifted a fist. “Take it off! Take it off!”
The rest of the greenroom joined in. “Take it off!”
Noah shrugged, dropped my shirt, then did a ridiculous attempt at a bump and grind as he pulled his shirt off. Everyone in the greenroom roared. A few women screamed. Holding it aloft, Noah looked around the room, and I knew the second he spotted Xander in the crowd. He laughed and chucked his shirt at Xan.
But it fell short and landed at Xander’s feet.
Noah jerked his chin at Xan and then chanted, “Take it off!”
I laughed and joined in with everyone else. “Take it off!”
Xander swung around and glared at me. “This is not turning into a thing.”
“Take it off!” I shook my fist in time with the chant. “Take it off!”
Xander groaned and dropped his head back. “Fuck.”
“Take it off! Take it off!”
Giving in, Xander reached down and pulled his shirt up and over his head. I laughed as the crowd roared their approval. A woman feigned fainting, letting her girlfriends catch her. Xander turned his head, searching the crowd.
I knew exactly what he was looking for.
And I was proved right when Xander’s shirt sailed over to land on Chase’s head. Chase ripped it off his head with a scowl.
“Take it off! Take it off!”
“I’m fucking married!” Chase yelled at the crowd.
“Doesn’t mean we can’t look!” a woman yelled back.
The crowd laughed then chanted again. “Take it off! Take it off!”
“Fuck.” Chase shook his head then jabbed a finger in my direction. “This is all because of you!”
“I learned it by watching you!” I yelled mockingly.
Xander and Noah came to stand by my side. We all crossed our arms over our naked chests and stared Chase down.
“Fine. Fuck it.” Chase whipped his shirt off and flung it in my direction.
The crowd roared. A few women screamed.
Chase crossed the room and punched my shoulder. “Thanks, asshole.”
“I wasn’t the one who started this. They all expected me to take my shirt off now. I’m thinking you all might’ve started a new tradition.”
“Oh fuck.” Chase closed his eyes with a wince.
“Fuck that.” Xander reached down and grabbed Chase’s shirt then pulled it on. “I’m not a piece of meat.”
“That’s my shirt, fucker!” Chase grabbed Xander’s shoulder before he could walk away. “Give it back!”
They tussled like grade-schoolers, pulling on the shirt until it was nothing more than a pile of ripped fabric on the floor.
I laughed, watching the fools.
“So you got plans for after the after party?” Noah whispered at my side. “Want to go to a titty club?”
My eyes swung Ella’s way. For once, she wasn’t holding her camera. She stood next to Harper, talking and laughing. And I watched, mesmerized.
“Right.” Noah slapped me on the shoulder. “I’m gonna take that as a no. Let me know when you need a bodyguard. I know a guy.”
“Fuck off.” I shoved Noah with a scowl. “And no, I’m not down for a titty club. I got plans.”
“I think we can all agree that was clear.”
“What was clear?” Chase asked as he came to stand with us.
“N-Not to ah, ask you about going to a titty club tonight,” I stuttered, wide-eyed.
“You’re right. Crystal clear. I’m not doing that party scene anymore. I might have a drink or two and hang out with you guys, but not at a titty club.” Chase shifted his weight. “Which club are you guys hitting?”
I raised my palms. “This is all Noah.”
“You’re just along for the ride? Got it.” Chase jerked his chin. “I’m gonna go gladhand so I can get back to my suite. Shay’s gonna be calling soon.”
Noah and I watched Chase walk toward the group of suits in the corner.
“You are so fucked, dude. It’s gonna be funny, but I’m also kinda scared for you. It’s been a while since Chase has gone apeshit. I’m thinking he’s got a lot of rage stored up, ya know?”
I ground my teeth. I didn’t really have a comeback for that.
“You might die. It’s gonna be fun.” Noah slapped my back and walked away.
Leaving me alone and debating my options.
Up until now, it’d been a little bit of harmless flirting. Now it felt like we were approaching the point of no return. Once I crossed this line, there was no going back. I’d be burning a bridge with my best friend, and the repercussions would ripple all over my life. We worked together and hung out during our downtimes. Our lives were so intertwined, there wasn’t a part of it that Chase didn’t touch.
Across the room, Ella’s head was tipped down as she listened to something Harper was saying. Then she looked at me with a devilish little smile, and my heart thumped unevenly.
Shit.
What Chase didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.
Right?
Fuck it. Maybe it was time to make some regrets.
I crossed the room and stopped next to Ella. “Do you have plans after this?”
Her eyes bounced between me and Harper. “I was just going to head back to my room and edit some video.”
Meaning our little striptease was going to be posted all over social media tomorrow. I didn’t even have it in me to get pissed off.
“Pretty sure you can do that tomorrow morning. I’m gonna go do my duty, then me and you have plans.”
“Sir, yes, sir.” Ella stood at attention with a salute.
“What the fuck?”
“I go where commanded, sir.”
I sighed as I rolled my eyes. “Ella, would you please come with me after we’re done here?”
“That’s what she said,” Harper muttered before choking with giggles. She coughed then cleared her throat. “Sorry. Clearly I’ve been spending too much time with Noah.”
“Agreed.” I shook my head and turned back to Ella. “So what do you say? Will you come out with me? There’s something I want to show you.”
Harper made that choking sound again. “Sorry.”
Ella’s eyes were dancing as she grinned at me. “Yeah sure. Sounds like fun.”
“I’ll meet you in the private greenroom in twenty minutes? I need to find another shirt.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I saw a woman dancing away with the one you were wearing.”
I just shook my head as I headed over to the fans I needed to talk to before I could get out of here.
Half an hour later—after twenty women had ogled me (and after one brave woman had copped a very inappropriate feel), after I’d watched Chase leave, and after I’d found a new shirt to wear—I met Ella in our greenroom.
“So what’s the big mystery? It better not be that we’re joining Noah and Xander at the strip club. I’d rather catch up on my sleep than have sparkly boobs shoved in my face.”
“That sounds like you’ve been to a strip club before.”
Ella tossed me a flirty smile. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
I really would. The mental picture alone… I groaned. But that was a fantasy for another day. I had an agenda, after all. “Come on. Hyde is waiting for us around back.”
Without a thought, I reached out grabbed her hand and lead her down the hall and through the backdoor. It felt natural and like something we’d done a thousand times before.
I tried not to overthink it. It didn’t have to mean anything. This was just one night with a friend.
Or at least that was what I told myself as we made our way through the crowd at the backdoor and through the parking lot with Hyde.
Ella gave me a wide-eyed look as we climbed into the back of a black SUV. Hyde sat up front with the driver.
“Let’s roll.”
We peeled out of the lot.
Ella turned to me. “Seriously? You’re not going to tell me where we’re going?”
I shrugged. “It’s not a strip club, if that helps any.”
Ella shifted away from me, crossing her arms over her chest. “That’s all I get? Seriously?”
“You’ll find out soon.”
“Argh! You’re aggravating. You know that?”
I smirked. “It’s not the first time a woman has told me that.”
“You’re not nearly as charming as you think you are.” She was still all hostile body language, but I would’ve killed to see her expression. Stupid darkness.
“Eh, you make do with what you have.”
Ella snorted. “That’s rich coming from you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Seriously? You’re good looking, talented, rich, and famous. What exactly are you making do with?”
“My un-charming personality?”
Ella snorted again. This time, light laughter followed it.
I might’ve smiled the rest of the short drive to our location.
After a few miles, the car slowed and pulled over.
“We’re here,” the driver muttered.
“You two stay put.” Hyde pushed his door open. “I’ll make sure all the arrangements are in place.” He hopped out of the car and walked into the building.
“Where are we?” Ella unbuckled and attempted to look out the windows, but I knew she wouldn’t be able to see anything—she wasn’t looking in the right direction.
I shrugged and grinned at her huff of annoyance.
After a few, Hyde came back and opened Ella’s door. “They’re ready for you.”
Ella swung her head around and gave me a look before she hopped out of the car.
Then I heard, “Oh hell no.”
She’d figured it out.