Chapter 23
ELLIE
The band played incredibly tonight. I know I’m biased, but it’s true. Travis appeared more refreshed than usual. He must have gotten a good night’s sleep.
He was on fire. The guys and the crowd were feeding off him. He and Penn were bouncing all over the stage; even Tanner moved more than normal. It was so amazing, I FaceTimed Liv so she could see.
I knock on their greenroom door. When no one yells “go away,” I pop inside. They’re all gathered around, chatting loudly, still clearly pumped.
“Great job tonight, boys,” I tell them, and they swivel their heads my way.
“Ellie!” Travis jumps up, rushing toward me and pulling me into a hard, sweaty hug. It takes me off guard, and I shift, pulling away quickly.
“Great job out there. Top notch.” I pat his shoulder and step away. I don’t want anyone to think we’re being too friendly. It always feels like everyone is staring at us, waiting for us to crack and mess this whole thing up.
“We’re celebrating tonight, are you down?” Liam asks me.
“Oh, um, I don’t think so. I’m pretty tired.”
“Ah, come on!” he pleads. “I need a wingwoman to protect me from the vultures out there.”
I laugh. “I’m not sure you need a wingwoman. Sounds like you need a girlfriend.”
His brows lift. “Will you be mine? It can be pretend, to keep the ladies at bay.”
I frown. Why is he suddenly against groupies? It’s not like he’s ever participated as much as Travis, but he’s also never shied away if he saw someone he liked.
“What’s wrong, Liam? Your dick quit working?” Travis asks.
I choke on the drink of water I was taking.
“Dude,” Penn says, shaking his head.
Travis throws his hands up. “What? I’m just asking. I saw at least four gingers out there.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure one has been to every show,” Calvin adds from the corner.
“Really?” Liam asks, eyes shifting nervously around the room.
Calvin doesn’t lift his head from his phone as he replies, “Yeah. She’s hard to miss. Bright fucking hair and glasses. Swear I’ve seen her at least five times.”
“Well, what do you know?” Travis starts. “Liam, you better lock that shit down now. A redhead and a fan. Marry her.” He glances at Calvin. “Wait? Did she have freckles?”
“Hell if I know. I didn’t see her up close.”
“She might not be your girl, stand by. She’s not a ginger if she doesn’t have freckles,” Travis says.
Liam laughs awkwardly.
“I’m sure she’s still out there,” Calvin notes.
Travis’s eyes light up. “Let’s go see!”
“No, that’s ok. I’m not feeling it tonight,” Liam says, a cough coming out of nowhere. “Yeah, I should probably rest.”
“Fuck that, we’re going out!” Travis argues.
Tanner’s phone rings, silencing the chatter. He slips out the door instead of answering. Probably tired of us eavesdropping.
“Then Ellie has to go and be my girl,” Liam quips.
Travis looks at me expectantly. I was planning on eating a pint of ice cream and crashing in my hotel bed, but again I don’t want to have FOMO.
“I’ll protect you, Liam,” I say, sweetly.
“Do you want to dance?” Liam asks in my ear.
“Do you?”
He lifts a shoulder, gazing around the busy club. We’ve been sitting at a table, almost like we’re hiding back here, though I don’t know why. But I promised Liam I wouldn’t leave him.
“Are you having a bad time?” he asks, seemingly guilty.
I give him a smile as I lie. “No.” I like people-watching sometimes, but I’d rather be in my room, eating my ice cream—it’s donut flavored. His eyes scan the area, like they’ve been the whole time we’ve been here. “Are you ok?” I finally ask. What is his deal?
His head slowly turns toward me. “Yeah. I’m fine. Just a lot of people here.”
My brows dip. “There were ten times more at the show tonight.”
He nods but doesn’t say anything.
Travis is on the dance floor, a drink in one hand, a girl’s hip in the other, as she grinds all over him. We agreed to act normal to not draw any attention when we’re out. So I don’t care that he’s dancing with her. It’s what he should be doing.
“You know what? I do wanna dance!” I tell Liam after sitting for too long.
He hesitates, but when I arch my brow, daring him to deny me, he smiles, showing me his dimples and taking my hand.
He leads me to the dance floor and parks us right beside Travis.
The song switches to a slower tune, so I snake my hands around Liam’s neck.
He places his high on my waist. What a gentleman.
I try my best not to pay attention to Travis.
If there’s one thing I hate more than attracting a clingy hookup, it’s looking like one.
It’s hard, though, when the girl is practically humping him right next to me.
I peek, nosiness getting the best of me.
The blonde he has in front of him has her face buried in his neck, one hand in his hair, one in his shirt, like she’s clinging to him for dear life.
Travis glances over at me. His brows dip low, and his hand on the girl’s back falters, as if he’s unsure suddenly. I turn away, not wanting him to think I care or that I’m upset. Because I’m not. Not really…
Liam continues to dance with me, even when the DJ switches to something faster. He lets me shake my ass—keeping a perfectly safe distance—for two songs. When we head back to the table, Travis is there, alone.
“Should we leave now?” Liam asks eagerly.
I’m ready. I can’t stop thinking about my ice cream.
“Not yet,” Travis says, tipping his beer bottle back for another drink. He better not be taking any sleeping pills tonight.
Liam pouts.
I cross my arms over my chest, glancing between the two of them as they stare at each other.
“Liam, I saw a cute redhead earlier.” Travis stretches his neck, searching the bar.
“I’m ok. I’m pretty tired, actually,” he says, shooting a pleading look at me.
“My God, dude, how long’s it been since you’ve gotten your dick wet?”
“Travis!” I scold.
He waves me off and grabs Liam’s arm, dragging him in the booth next to him. “Seriously, is there something wrong with...” He glances pointedly at Liam’s crotch.
Liam’s eyes go wide, and I swear his face gets red. “No!”
“If you stop using it, it’ll fall off. That’s not a myth.” I roll my lips to keep from laughing. “Are you giving yourself some love?”
“Jesus,” Liam sighs, exasperated. “If I stay a little longer, will you shut up?”
Travis smiles wide. “Sure, buddy.”
They both glance at me. I throw my hands up. Guess my ice cream is going to have to wait.
After a couple rounds of drinks, I drag them both out on the dance floor. If I have to stay and miss out on the deliciousness of my treat waiting for me, I’m at least going to have fun.
I can feel the heated glares of every girl in this place as I stride to the center of the floor.
Travis stands behind me and Liam in front.
Even if they don’t know they’re rock stars, they aren’t blind to their hotness.
Liam has a total surfer vibe, but slightly edgier with his tattooed legs.
That mixed with his boyish charm, those irresistible dimples, and disarmingly sexy curls. Swoon.
Travis is the complete opposite but so damn hot, my mouth waters just looking at him sometimes.
He’s dressed in black cargo shorts and a sexy as hell ripped T-shirt that shows off his colorful ink.
His hair is messy and his skin shines with a coat of sweat as his body rocks into mine.
I know because I keep glancing over my shoulder at him.
Liam holds onto my hips lightly as he sways and Travis grinds into my ass.
I arch back and his hold on my waist tightens.
The hard outline of his dick is jammed against my ass as I move and a shudder runs through me.
When the song switches, I spin, facing Travis and letting my ass press against Liam.
I dance between their warm bodies, letting my head fall back and my eyes close.
The flashing lights, the bass vibrating through my body, and the feel of these two sexy men so close to me has me panting, sweaty, and slightly horny.
It’s somewhere around 2 a.m. when the three of us stumble into my room.
“God, I’m starving,” Travis groans, falling on my bed.
“I have some leftover tacos from last night.” I walk over to the mini fridge and pull out the Styrofoam container.
The boys pounce. They don’t even bother to heat it up, they wolf it down cold.
“Gee, I’m glad I didn’t want any,” I say, shaking my head and snatching what I haven’t stopped thinking about all night. My ice cream.
“Sorry, Ellie,” Liam says sheepishly.
“It’s fine. This is what I wanted.” I grab a spoon and pop the top off, taking a massive scoop and shoving it in my mouth. “Oh my Gawwdd.” I moan as the chocolate-glazed goodness melts on my tongue. It gets weirdly quiet in the room and my eyes flick to the guys. “What?”
“You wanna share that?” Travis asks, stepping toward me.
I hug the pint to my chest. “There’s not enough.”
He creeps closer, towering over me, backing me into the counter. “Come on, Ellie, don’t be stingy. Let me have a taste,” he says, voice low, and a hint of teasing in his tone. His proximity, mixed with the alcohol I’ve consumed, sends a dangerous tingle down my spine.
I add more ice cream on my spoon—not nearly as much as I gave myself—and put it to his lips.
They curve into a little smirk before he opens, letting me feed him.
He makes a show of licking it clean and I’m immediately reminded of how good it felt when he did that to me.
He always knew just the right way to use his tongue ring for added pleasure.
One time he used a vibrating ring. I don’t think I’ve ever screamed so loud. Thank God Liv wasn’t home that night.
As if he knows exactly where my mind went, he flicks his ring at me and my skin grows hot. Liam clears his throat, and I jump. Shit, I forgot he was here. “I should probably go to the bus.”
“Ellie’s sharing, don’t leave yet. Get you a lil taste, buddy.”