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“We should hang out with them for a bit. Neither of us has to work tomorrow. I’m sure there is a less crowded room somewhere that isn’t as busy where we could go chill. I’ll go drag Ascher from the rest of the group. Come on. It will be fun.” She gave me a squeeze before kissing the side of my head.
I didn’t want to think about the kinds of things that were going on in the room she had just stepped out of. I barely suppressed a shiver. But Ivy had always been able to go with the flow. She probably hadn’t even batted an eye at the activities happening down there. Yet, I was almost positive she hadn’t participated – although maybe a little groping with the drummer – even though most things never fazed her. I wouldn’t have lasted two seconds in the lust fest.
“We could hang out in here until they’re done.” Teak jabbed his thumb over his shoulder to indicate the room behind him. “And then once they send the groupies off, I can introduce you to my band.”
“Why aren’t you hanging out with your band?” I couldn’t help wondering if he had slipped out for a moment to get something and I interrupted his return.
“I gave up that scene over a year ago. I love the rush of performing, but I don’t find any gratification in the little flings with groupies afterward. Although, I don’t deny my band their fun. It’s just not what I want anymore. We always celebrate with some beers or something – and just so you know, we’ve never touched drugs – but not until they’ve indulged in their sexual pleasures. Me? I usually find somewhere else to kick back by myself for a while before I rejoin them. Or on the once in a life time chance I’m really lucky, I run into a lost gorgeous girl who fascinates the hell out of me. Then I spend my time trying to get her number and learn everything I can about her.” He shot me a wink that had my panties growing damp.
Damn him. Teak was now making my head numb, after he had blown out all of my brain cells. However, before I could organize them into any semblance of working order so I could once again politely decline his offer; a cluster of giggling scantily dressed girls stumbled out of the room Ivy had vacated and staggered up the hallway. The ensemble cackled wildly as they drew closer and sent him shy waves and blew kisses, but thankfully didn’t step up to him. His standoffish posture with his arms crossed over his chest and a detached smile on his face discouraged their approach.
Well except for one who refused to be deterred.
A tall blonde – whose hair was so light she had to have bleached it – with dark unfriendly eyes and dressed in a tight black dress that dipped indecently low, almost showing her nipples, and so short I was sure when she sat down her panties peeked out – if she was even wearing any – sidled up to Teak and purred in his ear. “Come on, Baby. I want to get out of here.” Then she sucked his lobe into her mouth.
Wiping his hand over his ear, Teak stepped to the side. “That’s enough. Go catch up with your friends.” He barked. His swift change in demeanor pleasantly surprised me. And I didn’t believe for a moment it was an act. Unfortunately, I had some experience in that department and now had an easier time recognizing the charade. It was too bad I hadn’t learned to identify fake emotions earlier, like two years ago.
When her hand reached down to grab his crotch, he politely wrapped his fingers around her wrist and removed it as he stepped out of her octopus arms. “Naomi, please don’t make me get Jasper. I can’t stop you from coming to my concerts, but I can stop you from sneaking back stage or anywhere near me.”
The glare she shot me held so much fury I actually felt the daggers strike. Maybe there would be a murder tonight.
“Oh no.” I threw up my arms in surrender. “I accidentally ran into him and then my best friend showed up and loves to talk and – ”
“She doesn’t owe you any justification as to why she is back here because it’s none of your business.” He cut off my attempt at an explanation. “I’m talking with a fan and you rudely interrupted.”
Curling her nose and lip like she smelled something bad, she sneered down at me. “She won’t hold your interest long. Not dressed like she bought her outfit in the little girls’ section of a department store.”
I barely stopped myself from peering down at my booty shorts – my ass and panties not in jeopardy of falling out – and my flowery halter top that showcased a hint of cleavage, without my boobs being in any danger of spilling out.
“Jasper!” Teak’s voice surged with irritation.
A moment later, a burly blond guy with calculating brown eyes poked his head out of the door down the hall before stalking his way to our little group and frowned at Naomi. “You just don’t give up, do you? Let’s go. I’ll make sure you make it safely out to the parking lot.” Wrapping his big hand around her upper arm, he tugged her along with him.
“Get your hands off of me.” She snarled. “I know where I’m going.” She shook his grasp from her arm before briefly pinning me with her vicious gaze. Shooting Teak a provocative smile, she ran her tongue enticingly along her bottom lip. “I’m sure you’ll be calling me later.” Then twisting on her black stilettos, she sashayed off with Jasper following close behind.
Teak blew out an exasperated breath. “There always has to be one, huh?”
“Maybe not her in particular, but I’m sure girls like that are more your speed. It was nice meeting you, but we really should get going. I don’t want to keep you from your stuff.” Even though deep down I believed his words about no longer being interested in a tryst with a groupie; I wasn’t his type. I moved to walk away.
Reaching out, his long fingers wrapped around my wrist, before sliding down to loosely clasp my hand. “I know you don’t believe it, but girls like that group that staggered down the hallway earlier and that one just now in particular hold no interest for me. I’m attracted to girls who dress sexy, not like a skank. You pull off sexy with ease. And as I told you before, you’re real. And I really like that I can have an actual conversation with you. Even if I can’t get you to stay and hang out for a bit; can I get your number so I can call you sometime to get together? I’d really like to get to know you better.”
Ivy elbowed me in the side. I was surprised she had waited this long to butt in . . . again. “Give him your number. We can double date. I wouldn’t mind seeing Ascher again.”
“Hey, Teak. What are you planning to do later? You’ve been gone for a while now.” A guy with blond hair that hung past his shoulders poked his head out of the same door Jasper had come from a few moments ago. Apparently where the real party was happening.
“I’m not sure yet. Can you give me another five?”
“Sure.” Even from the distance, I caught the way his eyes ate up Ivy and me. “Well, whatever you decide, bring the hotties with you. I wouldn’t mind spending some more time with Ivy and I’d like to meet her friend.” His head disappeared from the door.
Teak released a low growl, but his sexy smile quickly reclaimed his lips.
I had no idea what that sound was all about.
“See, Ascher wouldn’t mind hanging out with me some more too. Come on, Serenity.” Shooting me a forlorn puppy look, Ivy bumped her shoulder into mine.
I politely slid my hand out of his. “I still don’t think it’s a good idea. However, I will definitely come see you in concert again if I can. And I’ll be watching for your next album to drop.” I inwardly cringed. Why did I have to get a sudden case of diarrhea of the mouth instead of just ending with not a good idea? Because meeting Teak shifted my world on its axis and I needed to get away from him. Before I did something stupid. And my best friend would not stop me since she was staring at me like I was the biggest idiot in the world turning him down. I didn’t believe he was being deceitful or would intentionally hurt me, but this was not a road I could go down again. Before anything else stupid fell from my lips, I grabbed Ivy’s hand and pulled her down the hallway. Feeling his hot stare on my backside the entire time, I didn’t dare glance over my shoulder and give him even the slightest indication I was second guessing or regretting my decision. Because I was not. On either account.
“I can’t believe you wouldn’t at least give him your number. What is wrong with you?” She hissed at me. “He was totally into you.”
“I’m sure he looks at all of his female fans like that and says stuff like that. Well, except to ones who are definitely way too clingy or something. I don’t want to know what that episode was all about. Besides, he wants us to keep shelling out the money for his concerts so he is going to be charming and charismatic.”
“You are such a dolt. How did you not notice? He did not look at me like that. He was extremely interested in you and I don’t think his entire vibe was merely lusty. Don’t get me wrong; there was a great deal of that going on, hello he’s a rock star and you’re a hot little number with class. I think he was really captivated by you.”
I let out a huff of air. “Fine.” I grumbled. “I have to admit he did seem genuinely interested, but I am no way going down that road again, ever. You know how easily my feelings get involved. So right now, he’s into me. But what happens when he then grows bored? I’m the one left picking up the pieces. I’m not setting myself up for that again.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” She squeezed my hand. “But you have to put yourself out there again. I think you learned from that disaster. And besides, what if there isn’t a crash and burn? Or if there’s a crash but no subsequent burn?”
She made another good point, but I had made my decision and I wasn’t turning around and going back. That would make me look pathetic. At the end of this hallway, a door with a sign indicating the parking lot stood in front of us. “Well hell. Why wasn’t it that easy to find earlier?”
“Because fate wanted you to meet Teak Pierce face to face.” Ivy swatted my ass as she shoved open the door and stepped out into the humid air. “Come on. Let’s go home, you party pooper.”
Following her outside, my eyes scanned the parking lot. I was surprised a decent amount of cars remained in this section. We walked about half way down the lot to where my car was parked, a gray compact. After hitting the fob, the two of us ducked inside. I backed out of the spot and slowly made my way down the aisle.
I had barely driven fifteen feet when something white slammed into my front windshield, its contents splattering red all over the glass. Shrieking, I slammed on the brakes and shoved my car into park.
Ivy and I both jumped out of my car.
“What the fuck was that?! And where the hell did that come from?! And that better not be blood!” I screeched.
“Hey, you fucking son of a bitch! Come out from your hiding place so I can kick your ass!” Ivy shouted; her fists clenched at her sides, her face twisted in fury. My best friend had a bit of an explosive temper.
Although, I was pretty pissed off at the moment too, I wasn’t ready to dish out any violence. “Watch your threats. You’re going to get us both killed out here.” Getting a closer look at my soiled windshield, I groaned. “The windshield wipers are just going to make that worse. How the hell am I going to be able to see to get home?” And what if that was blood? I couldn’t tell for sure in the dim illumination from the parking lot lights. As I stared at the mess, ice ran through my veins when my brain drudged up the memory of the psycho chick who had shot me a death glare when I was talking with Teak. Could she have done this? She seemed bitchy enough. Well, she didn’t need to threaten me because she had felt threatened. I had walked away from him.
“If you’d let me kick the asshole’s ass who did this; we could make him lick it off.” Ivy still hadn’t lowered her voice.
“What seems to be the problem here, ladies?”
The question startled the two of us and we yelped as we spun around to face the security guard who had ventured our way.
I slapped my hand to Ivy’s arm so that she’d let me do the speaking. I didn’t want tossed in arena jail, if there was such a thing. “As we were heading down the lot, someone threw a bag of red stuff at my car. It’s splattered all over my windshield. I think my wipers will just make the problem worse.”
“And you have some lunatic running around the lot.” Ivy added, despite my squeeze.
He keyed up his mic and asked a Jim to check out the north lot, briefly explaining the situation. Then he radioed maintenance and requested they report to our location to clean up a spill. While we waited for maintenance, he asked the two of us more questions and inspected the mess on my windshield, jotting down various notes and reassuring us that the red substance was ketchup not blood.
Less than ten minutes later, one of the arena golf carts rolled down to us and circled around to the front of my car. After the guy hopped out of the cart, he removed the plastic bag that had suctioned to my windshield and tossed it into the garbage bag in his hand. Then he sat the bag in the back of the cart and grabbed the bucket and squeegee. When he was finished, he put his supplies back and gave Ivy and me a friendly smile. “Glad you ladies are okay. There’s always at least one out of control drunk at these events. Although I’m sure I’ll discover other acts of vandalism and mischief before my shift is over. Have a great rest of your night.” He tipped his hat at the security guard before climbing back into his cart and driving up the lot.
The guard shifted his attention back to Ivy and me. “I’m sorry there isn’t much else we can do here. Jim hasn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. No one skulking around the lot. My guess is a drunk and he’s probably gone. Hopefully, he got a ride home and isn’t driving.”
“And if he would have caused an accident just now, he would have gotten away with it.” I scowled, patting Ivy’s arm so that hopefully she would hold her tongue and not berate him.
His expression grim, he nodded. “Unfortunately. The guys and I will check the other lots as well and see if we come up with anything, but that’s the best I can do. You ladies try to have a great rest of your night. I’ll watch until I see your taillights disappear at the end of the aisle.”
“Thank you.” I bumped my shoulder into Ivy’s. “Come on. Let’s go home. I’m way past exhausted.”
We climbed back into my car and headed down the aisle. The drive home was quiet. That insane incident in the parking lot was not the best way to end our night and it had my thoughts ping ponging around in my brain. Was it a harmless prank from a drunk idiot or a more disturbing act from a jealous infused wacko? My nerves were on edge. And Ivy was probably silently cussing me out for not staying with the band. Because if we would have still been hanging out with those guys, we wouldn’t have been in the line of fire of hopefully someone’s drunken fun. But I couldn’t regret my decision to walk away. Because a mess on my windshield was a lot easier to clean up than the mess of a shattered heart.