Dirty Little Mistake (Hard to Love #2)

Chapter 4

Trystan

S aying goodbye to Cam shouldn't have been that hard, but it was. It's not like I was leaving forever. I'd be back in a couple of weeks, and I had her number. I could call her anytime, but it wasn't the same. I was already craving her mouth, the feel of her skin against mine, her taste.

I inwardly groaned. How was I supposed to stay away for weeks?

The night before, we'd agreed that it was just the wrong time for anything more than a friendship, but the truth was that I hated the thought of her being with someone else. It wasn't fair for me to ask her to wait for me, though.

Hiking my bag higher on my shoulder, I glanced around the empty parking lot where I was supposed to meet Lennon, Creed, and Saylor. We were heading to Atlanta, Georgia, for a few days for a gig, but apparently, everyone was running late. I glanced at my watch: 9:30 a.m. We were supposed to be on the road thirty minutes ago. Pulling my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans, I slid the phone open and clicked on Creed's name.

"Hello." Creed's voice rasped against the speaker, followed by the distinct rustle of bedsheets.

"Are you still in bed?" My boots scuffed against the pavement as I paced the empty parking lot, checking my watch for the tenth time.

"Uh yeah." Creed cleared his throat, each word dragging slower than the last. "You missed out last night. It got a little wild."

My free hand clenched into a fist. "Did you forget we are leaving this morning?"

"I guess you didn't get my messages?" Creed yawned into the phone. "The gig was canceled. Something about them having to close the club down or something, and since that was our only gig, we aren't going anywhere."

"No." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I didn't get it." Cam had all my attention last night. "Thanks, I'll see you at practice Monday." I disconnected and flicked another look at my watch.

Everyone was in Nashville today for Jax's game. There was no way I'd make it for the game, but if I left now and took my bike, I could make it before Broadway closed.

It was dark when I swerved my bike into the hotel parking lot. I'd called and texted Cam for the last hour and a half, but all my messages had gone unread, and all my calls unanswered. My mind immediately went to the worst-case scenario: I'd wasted my time because she was with someone else.

Scrolling through my contacts, I hit Jax's messages.

My thumb hovered over the phone screen, streetlights casting shadows across the glass.

Trystan: You still on Broadway?

The three dots pulsed for what felt like hours before Jax's reply lit up my screen.

Jaxtyn: Yes, but we closed the street down. Headed back to the hotel soon.

My stomach knotted as I typed the next message.

Trystan: Cam with you? She's not answering her phone.

Jaxtyn: Kind of.

Trystan: What does kind of mean?

Jaxtyn: It means there's a possibility she's crashing with Colton Hunt tonight.

Colton fucking Hunt ... No fucking way! Colton was a playboy. There was no way I was letting a fuck boy like Colton Hunt touch her.

Trystan: I'll be there in five.

The hotel was a block over from Broadway, but I wasn't exactly sure where they were. I flipped open the 'Find My iPhone app,' clicked 'People,' and searched for Kaia or Jax. "Gotcha.” It wouldn't even take me five minutes. "Thank God for family sharing."

Pushing through the crowds, I stormed down the block and Broadway until I spotted Jax and Kaia first and then Cam.

"Put her down." I shouldered through the crowd, my boots striking the pavement hard enough to jar my teeth.

Colton was completely supporting her weight; her head was hung forward, her dark hair covering her face, and her eyes were closed.

"She's crashing with us tonight." Colton tightened his grip on Cam's waist. Us? Oh, fuck no.

My vision blurred red at the edges. "Does she really look like she's capable of making that decision?" I reached for her waist, muscles coiled tight as I pulled her from him.

Colton released her, and Cam practically collapsed in my arms. "How much did she drink?" I scooped her up into my arms.

Kaia rushed toward me and slid Cam's dark hair out of her face. "Should we take her to the hospital?"

Colton stepped back, horror flashing across his face as his brows raised.

"Cam." Kaia gripped her jaw and shook her face.

"Wha..." Cam slurred, swatting Kaia's hand away, and I blew out a heavy sigh. "Why is the world spinning?"

"She's okay." I shifted Cam's weight in my arms, her head rolling against my shoulder. "But we need to get her back to the room and sober her up."

I locked eyes with Colton, taking one deliberate step closer. "If you ever touch her again, I'll make sure you never walk again."

And I meant that. I couldn't get past what might have happened if I hadn't shown up. My gaze flashed up to Kaia and then to Jax, and I realized Jax and Kaia wouldn't have let anything happen to her.

I carried Cam into the hotel and onto the elevator. "Cam is crashing in my room tonight so I can keep an eye on her. Do you want to stay too, Kai?" I didn't want Kaia to spend all night worrying about her.

"I'm crashing with Kai." Jax scrubbed a hand across his stubbled jaw, exchanging a loaded glance with Kaia. "Owen is... Occupying my room."

The elevator doors chimed open. I adjusted Cam against my chest, her breath warm against my neck. "I'm in 6578 if you want to check on her."

Kaia's fingers twisted in the hem of her shirt. "Call me if anything changes."

I rounded a corner going left, and Jax and Kaia went in the opposite direction.