Chapter 15
TRAVIS
The others file out ahead of me, and I slip some cash into Calvin’s waiting hand.
The pills have been a lifesaver. I still don’t sleep, but I don’t need to now.
If I get tired, I just pop one or two, and then I’m fucking wired and ready to go.
As soon as the tour is over, I’ll stop. I just need something to keep me going for now.
We pile out of the cab once we reach downtown.
It’s late, after midnight, but we still have a few hours before all the bars and clubs close up.
We work our way through the line of some nightclub we randomly chose.
We hit up the bar first, ordering a round of shots.
Standing in a circle, we clink our glasses together and toss back the vodka in unison.
“This is why I don’t drink.” Pacey winces.
“Time to man up, baby Hayze,” I tease, nudging her with my elbow. “You’re hanging with the big boys now.”
She rolls her eyes and slides the shot glass across the bar, ordering a beer instead.
I know Penn worries about her sobriety. Fuck, I do too.
Pacey’s always been like a sister to me.
But seems like she’s doing better now, and she deserves to have some fun.
It looked like she was having a damn good time in the crowd tonight.
Ellie and Olivia, not as much. They were getting smashed, and for a split second I felt like jumping in the crowd to knock some fuckers out for pressing Ellie into the bar like that.
I don’t know what came over me when I called her out like that, but the scowl on her face told me she was not pleased.
“Let’s dance!” Ellie shouts to Pacey. They scurry off and Tanner and I take a seat on the stools, turning our bodies away from the bar so we can keep an eye on them.
As they make their way to the center of the dance floor, I already clock several heads turning their way.
I’m not one who’s ever been possessive—then again, that’s one of the reasons my ex cheated.
She said it didn’t seem like I cared either way, but with Ellie, I feel my jaw tightening as I watch dude after dude approach her.
Huh. Wonder when that started happening.
Tanner hasn’t pulled his head out of his phone since we sat down. “Who are you texting?” I jab my finger into his phone, and he jerks it away.
“No one,” he snaps.
I scoff. I have a million dollars on that crazy girlfriend of his. Where the hell is she anyway? Pretty sure she checked into the same hotel as the girls yesterday. Instead of letting him shut me out like he normally does, I press, “Where’s Katie?”
He lifts his chin, finally, and I notice how worn down he looks.
Pissed off is Tanner’s normal face. I think he was born with it, but either I haven’t been paying attention, which is possible, or he’s aged in the last few days.
Dark circles line his eyes, which even his glasses can’t hide.
Scruff that is normally non-existent lines his jaw.
I don’t expect him to answer me, but then his shoulders rise with a deep breath, and he says, “She ditched the show three songs in to bar hop with random people. Can you believe that?”
I can, actually, but I don’t say that. “That’s shitty, man.”
He shrugs, staring at the dance floor. I follow his eyes, zeroing in on Pacey and Ellie. They’re no longer dancing together, but side by side, two dudes behind them while they back their asses into their groins.
“Christ,” I mutter, wondering when the appropriate time would be to toss the dudes out on their asses. Tanner glances at me and then back at the girls. “Fuck it.” I shrug. “Let’s go.”
Tanner appears wary but he follows me anyway.
We sidle up to the girls. I cock my head at Ellie when she lifts her chin, green eyes bright, practically glowing when they meet mine.
She gives me a sassy grin. She hates me a little right now for what I did during the show, but there was no way I could continue to perform knowing she was in distress.
And she was in distress, whether she wanted to admit it or not.
That dude was practically lying on her back.
The girls share a look. Ellie rolls her eyes and though I’m not looking at Pacey, I’m willing to bet she’s doing the same.
“What?” Ellie asks, picking up her rhythm again. Her chest glistens, hips swaying to the pounding rap song that’s making my ears bleed. Jesus Christ, this place has zero taste.
I peek behind her at the guy with his hands all over her hips. He glances at me, an arrogant smirk on his face, like he’s got something that I can’t have. Little does he know, my hands and mouth have covered every inch of her perfect body. I know what she tastes like, but he never will.
I stand there, staring him down. His hands inch lower, knowing I’m watching, trying to slip under the gap in her overall dress.
She reaches down, pulling them out and placing them high on her waist. I straighten, waiting for him to try it again so I can punch his teeth out. Fortunately for him, he doesn’t.
Tanner elbows me, sending me a what the fuck glare. He’s probably wondering why we’re standing here watching the girls while they dance. Before I can step in, we’re ambushed.
“Ohh my God!” A high-pitched shriek pierces my ears as a body flies into mine, knocking me sideways into Tanner. “You’re like, Travis Beckett?! You guys are from Loose Threads!” she screams.
“We are.” I give her a cocky smile.
Three girls crowd us, pressing close and forcing Ellie and Pacey back a few steps. In my peripheral, I notice they stopped dancing and are watching intently. I was hoping it was dark enough in here that no one would notice us.
“Do you want to dance?” the girl asks me, as her two friends stand by with wide eyes.
They dart back and forth between me and Tanner, but Tanner hasn’t said a word to them.
He’s giving his usual fuck off vibes with his face.
I came over here to drag Ellie and Pacey away from these two douchebags but…
“Sur—” I get cut off before I can accept her invitation.
“Sorry, he can’t,” Ellie interrupts, latching onto my forearm. “He’s with me.”
My head tilts back, eyes flashing to hers in surprise. She arches her brow high, as if daring me to deny her. The girl scowls at Ellie before glancing at me in question.
“Remember what you promised Penn,” Ellie taunts, leaning up to whisper in my ear.
My brows dip as I flick through my memory.
Ah, yes.
I promised him I wouldn’t be on the prowl tonight. Damn. I give the girl an apologetic smile. “Sorry,” I say, letting Ellie drag me away. “You’re becoming quite the cockblock, May.”
“You deserve it this time.” She drops my arm, crossing her own over her chest. It pushes her tits up nice and high, and my eyes can’t help but notice.
More than a handful on her short frame, they filled my palms nicely, and she loved when I played with them.
Flicking my tongue ring across her nipples. Biting them. Pinching them. All of it.
As if knowing exactly what I’m thinking, she drops her arms with a breathy laugh. “Perv.”
“Can we go now?” Tanner asks.
“What? No! You guys ran off my dance partner for nothing!” Pacey growls, earning a chuckle from my lips. Tanner doesn’t fold, though, just stares blankly at her.
Then, the bumping, annoying-ass rap music switches to a slower hip-hop song. Pacey’s eyes light up, moving between me and Tanner. I sigh, prepared to dance with her, when Tanner surprises the shit out of me by holding out his hand.
“One dance,” he tells her as she slaps her hand in his palm.
I turn to Ellie and roll my eyes playfully before grabbing her hand and dragging her next to them. She tries to fight me for a split second, but she can’t stay mad at me.
“Ya know, I was fine earlier. I didn’t need interference, Dad.”
My hands find the comfort of her soft hips, and she reluctantly tosses hers over my shoulder. “Looked different from where I was standing. And it’s Daddy, not Dad.”
She scoffs out a laugh, trying and failing miserably not to smile as I wiggle my brows at her. “I’m a grown-ass woman. I can handle myself.”
Of course she can, she’s a total badass. What she doesn’t understand is that I couldn't control it. I saw her getting smashed by men three times her size, and I saw red. My mouth opened on its own.
“Mhm,” is all I manage to give her.
She huffs, letting her hands slide to the back of my head, twirling the strands between her fingers.
She eyes Tanner and Pacey dancing next to us.
Tanner’s hands are so high on her waist they may as well be on her shoulders, and there’s enough distance between them to fit three people.
Not sure you can even call what they’re doing dancing.
“Tanner seems…different tonight,” Ellie muses.
“Yeah. Girl problems.”
She nods, bringing her attention back to me. “You guys played great tonight. It was so cool being in the pit. While it lasted anyway.”
I grin at her. “We play great every night.”
She sticks her tongue out at me, and I have the strongest urge to suck it into my mouth. Fuck, I need to get laid so I can stop fantasizing about Ellie.
“You are so cocky.”
My smile widens. “It’s not cocky if you can back it up.”
She sighs, shaking her head. “Such a diva.”
We continue to dance. Once the music switches back to rap, I’m prepared to head back to the bar, but Ellie wraps her fingers around my shoulder. “I love this song! Dance with me.” I hesitate. “Please!” she begs.
Tanner’s already stalking back to the bar, Pacey trailing behind him.
Ellie spins me around and presses her back to my front, and I know I’m in trouble. She drops low, hands on her knees, and rubs her ass against my crotch. Heat swoops in my gut, right down to my cock, and I grit my teeth, trying to refrain from springing a hard-on.