25. Riley
Chapter 25
Riley
SHE’S JUST A FRIEND.
S he’s just a friend.
She’s. Just. A. Fucking. Friend.
I’ve had to repeat the phrase in my head nothing short of a thousand times since Sunday, when she ate that fucking melted chocolate chip from my skin. My dick grew achingly hard and I thanked my lucky stars that I had the good sense to put some boxer briefs on under my sweats since I usually go without when I’m home. Before Collins, it was just Creed and me at the house, so I didn’t have to walk around worried about popping random boners.
After we’d smoothed things over with her on Sunday, I attempted to take a very cold shower to stave off the urge to wrap my fist around my dick when the memory of her emerging from the pool in that soaking wet shirt, my shirt, clinging to her like a second skin, her hard, rosy nipples standing out against the wet fabric.
I’d failed later that night and had fucked my fist while lying in bed. And again two nights ago when I was practicing on my drum set, testing out my new double kick pedal, the vibrations of the beat remind me of when we watched her aerial performance to our song. No surprise my cock ended up in my hand again, my release coming hard and fast when I thought about her lithe toned body and the way she moved like she owned the stage.
I was starting to feel like a fucking prepubescent teenager when I jerked my cock for a third time last night when I’d made her a mountainous sundae with every topping I could possibly fit on top and she fucking moaned around that first bite. Creed and I shared a look and I knew we were both thinking the same thing. The immediate thought and fantasy of her moaning like that over the pleasure we’d bring her took up residence in our brains. I wanted to yank her over to me and remind her of how good it felt when she’d straddled my lap, when she let me touch her smooth skin. I was fucking itching to touch it again.
But I couldn’t. Wouldn’t.
I’ve seen the way she and Creed look at one another. I’d never eavesdrop on their conversations, but I know something had to have happened between them that first night she was here. There’s lots of uncharted waters lingering between them and I’m not about to insert myself into a complicated equation that they themselves haven’t even attempted to solve yet. Every day the tension between the two becomes more and more palpable, and I’m just waiting for the snap. It doesn’t help that they’re sharing a bed, with the knowledge hanging over their heads that the forced proximity won’t change when our tour starts.
Though he’s offered on drunken nights in the past, I’ve never shared a girl with Creed. I never had much interest in women or men. It’s not like I have any attached trauma or bad memories of relationships, I just wanted my time with my person to actually mean something. But that’s just me.
The thought of sharing Collins with Creed? Fuck.
It's now Wednesday and it’s no surprise that Collins grows on me every day she’s here. We leave in two days to go on tour and she’ll be practically glued to our sides for almost four months.
Christ.
She’ll be living on the same fucking bus as me and Creed .
Collins Weston really is a ray of sunshine— in her own way . This girl adds a little boost of serotonin to whatever room she walks into. Even when Creed says something dumb to her and causes her to bristle, she’ll snap back with her own fire or flip him the bird, but it’s tampered quickly and she’s back to shining her sunny rays on everything.
I can’t get enough of her. Obviously, she’s ethereally beautiful, but she’s also a fuck-ton of fun to be around. She’s wicked smart, she’s funny, and she’s equal parts sweet and sassy.
Her pissy side isn’t fun to be on though. I firmly planted myself at the top of her shitlist when I surprised her with a trip to the mall to buy her more outfits. She made it clear that she doesn’t like people spending money on her. And I made it clear I don’t give a damn because I never get to spoil anybody.
Creed couldn’t come as he had to meet with Steve and Ayla to go over the finer details of the shows we’re taking over for As We Stand. After that, he was taking Bear and two of the band’s security guards with him to Viper to inform Tank that Collins won’t be returning to work. Ever. According to Creed. I’m glad for it, too.
I’m sure that’ll go over really well when he tells her tonight. I know she hates that place, but she also hates being manhandled, so I’m sure she’ll have some rather colorful words to exchange with him later.
Hopefully she won’t be pissed for too long when we surprise her with seeing her brother tomorrow morning before we leave.
We’d pulled up to the mall and Collins shot me that same hellcat glare I’d witnessed the first night Creed brought her home and firmly refused to get out of the car. My eyes absolutely stayed glued to her face and not at all drifted toward the tattooed shoulder that became more exposed when she crossed her arms over her chest, causing her vintage cut off tee to fall further down her shoulder. I was a perfect gentleman and kept my eyes on her face. Mostly.
I just shrugged with a shit-eating grin and told her I’d just buy her clothes that I liked and would guess her size for her if she didn’t want to get out. I would’ve left her there, too. For a minute, anyway. After grumbling some very colorful curses she threw the door to my Jeep open and strode toward the main entrance before I could even shut off the engine.
She’s fucking quick for a short little thing.
I know the kind of person she is, knowing how she grew up. I know because I was the same way. Between Creed, Collins, and me, we didn’t grow up with a lot and had to provide for ourselves in one way or another. At least Creed’s dad is pretty cool. I met him once after a concert a few years ago. He’s like an older version of Creed but burlier. We grew up without a whole lot of affection or care, so accepting the gifts and help of others definitely doesn’t come easy to any of us.
Like I told her, I’ve never been able to spoil anyone and she makes me want to spoil the fuck out of her.
I could feel the anxiety rolling off of her in waves at first, but I quickly pulled her to the side and gave her a bear hug and told her I wasn’t letting her go until she was better. Honestly, I couldn’t tell if the hug was more for her or me. I can’t help it. I was starved for human affection and she’s just fucking adorable and all too huggable. I released her and dragged her from store to store when I heard her muffled laughter at how I started walking while hugging her, our bodies waddling side to side while awkwardly navigating the walkway.
The sweet sound of her raspy, fading laugh makes me weak in the knees, so I’ve made it my personal mission to make this girl my new best friend and get her to laugh every opportunity I get. Sorry, Creed.
We wandered from store to store, and it took us ‘til the fifth one—a grunge fashion type of store with more alternative and thrifty-looking outfits and accessories before her face lit up like a Christmas tree. She floated around the store and loaded up the basket I was carrying with items varying from ripped jeans to old band tees, tank tops, shirts so tiny they had to be considered lingerie, fishnet tights, goofy, graphic high rise socks, choker necklaces and a ton of other cute and edgy shit I don’t know how to pronounce.
A few hours later, my arms were loaded with bags for her and we had to make a trip out to the jeep to load it. I’d just shut the back hatch when her belly grumbled out loud, so here we are, sitting in the food court and I’m watching her eat a philly cheesesteak after eating one of my own and I once again find myself wondering where the hell she puts all that food in her tiny form.
“So how come Creed couldn’t come with?” She asks as she wipes her lips with a napkin and takes a sip from her giant grape soda.
“He has to go over some last minute details with Ayla and Steve, but he should be home by the time we’re done here.” I offer her a half-truth, hoping she doesn’t read that there’s more that I’m not telling her. Again, I don’t think she’d take kindly to Creed quitting her job for her.
She nods, accepting my answer and steals one of my French fries, dipping it in ranch before eating it. A girl after my own heart. She reaches for another one, so I slide the entire tray over to her side of the table with a smile as she grins really big and dives in like she didn’t just put a giant sandwich away like a champ.
She finishes the fries in record time and we walk lazily through the mall, just enjoying talking about everything and nothing. Getting to know Collins is quite the trip. She tells me her own side of the story of her brother and Creed gifting her with a polaroid and stationary, how she wrote them letters, and how she still prefers to capture images through the old camera, rather than her cell phone. I make a mental note to get more cartridges for her camera as we move on to the next store.
She also tells me about her obsession with David Bowie that started when she was little, and how Creed called her Stardust because of it. I can tell there’s more there, more I’d gathered from Creed’s reactions a few days ago. Shit she went through that she’s not ready to tell me yet, and that’s okay.
She’s so fucking happy right now and I won’t pry and bring down the good mood we’ve got going on. We pass what looks like a brand new music and instrument store and I don’t even have time to blink before Collins is dragging me through the doors. In the back corner display on a dais is a pristine DW five piece drum set. The stunning woman still holding my hand—which I try very hard to ignore the way it makes my heart pound—yanks me around the side where a sign is sitting on the stool that says, ‘see attendant for drumsticks to test the set’.
I look at Collins and raise an eyebrow at her. She bites her lip and my eyes automatically drop to her mouth before springing back up to her eyes. “I’ve listened to Dark Sins’ music since your first album, but I’ve never seen you perform.”
Both my brows shoot up now. “You want me to play for you?” I’m beyond flattered when she nods her head eagerly, bouncing on her toes as an attendant approaches with a set of drumsticks.
“You want a song to play along with?” the guy asks, holding up his phone that’s now attached to an aux cord.
The guy doesn’t recognize me but I’m not offended in the slightest. We took a risk by not taking security with us to the mall, but I’m the newest member of the band and not as well-known as Creed and Bear. Tony is more notorious and his face is recognized nearly everywhere he goes.
I look at Collins and she clears her throat. “Um, Riptide by Dark Sins ?” she asks softly.
I smile wide and take a seat behind the drum set because Riptide is one of my favorite songs to play. It’s high-energy and upbeat. I had so much fun recording this song because I got to really show my skill with the varying beats and rhythms.
The song starts playing throughout the store speakers at a pretty loud volume and I don’t waste any time jumping in, drumming along with myself on the track. I get lost in the beat and my body loosens up, muscle memory taking over from performing this song countless times. I don’t pay attention to the lyrics but I can still hear Creed’s voice belting out the words .
The last time I played this was just over a week ago in Sydney, where a group of girls all threw their bras on stage. Creed had just picked up the sparkliest one, draped it over the turnkeys of his guitar and kept going. We’re used to the harassment by now.
I glance up from the drum set look up to see Collins watching me.
I didn’t know how she’d react to watching me play, but I’m a drummer, there’s only so much you can watch before you get bored. She’s sitting in a chair right in front of the drum set, her toned legs folded beneath her, and her hands braced between where her legs are crossed. Her head tilts to the side and instead of boredom in her eyes, I see awe and wonder.
Her jade eyes are bright as she watches me, every part of me. She tracks the movement of my hands as I pound between the drums and symbols, feeling the beat and matching the pattern I’d set in the song.
I close my eyes and power through the rest of the song and when the final notes ring out throughout the store, my chest heaves. Clapping and whistling startles me and when I open my eyes I see a crowd of people now swarming around the drum set, all of them chanting and cheering for me. I hear my name being called out by a few people in the small sea of onlookers.
They recognize me.
A few camera flashes go off and I smile before scanning the crowd for the only face that matters. I jump down off the dais when I don’t see Collins and begin to push my way through the crowd, plastering a smile and nodding a few thanks to people who try and grab my attention as I pass. My heart starts racing as panic sets in until I see a flash of that white hair of hers waiting for me at the back exit.
Little genius.
I rush towards her and grab her hand at the same time she throws a flowery hippie hat over my head and fucking cackles at how ridiculous I probably look, but I don’t care as long as it covers my face. I’m not bothered by tabloids, because I don’t do anything to get bad press—though it never stops them from trying—but I don’t want Collins to be thrown into a spotlight that she didn’t ask for, speculations made about her for being seen with me. It’s none of their business who she is to me.
We break into a sprint and head towards where my Jeep is parked in the sun in the back of the parking lot. The second we jump into the car, stare at each other, panting through the silence before bursting into heavy belly laughter. I’m absolutely mesmerized by the way her eyes crinkle at the corners, the way her nose scrunches, the sound of her voice and the way it cracks and disappears when she gets excited and her voice rises in pitch. I love the way she just glows with a happiness that wasn’t there a few days ago.
We get home and see Creed standing by the oven in the kitchen, scrolling through his phone. He looks up and smiles when he sees Collins but his brow furrows when he looks at me.
“What the hell are you wearing, Ri?” I look down at my usual attire and it's nothing new. Old black jeans and a band tee with my Vans.
Collins bursts out laughing again as she reaches up and yanks something off my head and plops it on her own. I’m assaulted with an array of vintage floral patches all over the top of this floppy denim hat. God, I completely forgot that she threw that hat on my head as we made a run for my Jeep.
I slap a hand over my chest, feigning hurt. “You let me drive all the way home with that monstrosity on my head? You injure me, Snow .” She rolls her eyes at me as I set the remaining bags down on the floor by the entrance to the living room and turn towards Creed. “On our way out of the mall, we stopped at a music store where I played one of our songs on the display drum set for Collins. No one really recognized me so I didn’t think anything of it. But I guess I drew a bit of a crowd anyway.”
Creed runs his fingers through his hair. “Well, that’s not the worst kind of exposure you can get. You were just playing music.”
“Yeah, but they could’ve seen me with Collins.” I look at her and she tenses, her face flushing. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea or think that I didn’t want to be seen with her at all so I add, “I don’t mind being seen with you. You’re my friend and as far as they know, we were just two friends hanging out together at the mall. But having you become the center of the shark tank tabloids that love to spread taboo rumors isn’t what I want for you.”
“Right,” she says as she takes a seat on the stool at the island. “Thank you for looking out for me. Though it’s not so much me I’m worried about. It’d be more worried about what the press would have to say about you two being seen hanging out with someone like me.”
“Someone like you?” I parrot, not understanding.
She shrugs like she doesn’t care, but I can tell that she does, indeed, care. “An exotic dancer in a low-class club.” She says it while staring down at her nails so she doesn’t see the way Creed’s jaw tics at the way she so easily insulted herself.
But that must be the conversation initiation that Creed needs to tell her what he was really up to, because he looks at me and nods once, his expression shifting to something hardened and defiant. I swallow, knowing the high energy and good mood I worked hard to get Collins into and keep today is about to crash. I take a seat next to her and just wait for the war to begin.