3. Alex
CHAPTER THREE
alex
“How much longer do you think we have to stay?” Jimmy asks, tipping back his beer and scanning the reception.
“What do you mean? It’s Jake’s wedding. We’re here until it ends,” I reply, wondering what the hell crazy antics Jimmy has planned for this evening.
I really hope it’s something tame because I don’t have the energy to bail his ass out of jail or clean up his mess.
Technically, I’m off the clock. As Jake’s tour manager, it’s my literal job to corral Jimmy and the rest of the band to make sure the show starts exactly on time.
But this is a wedding in Maui, not a Midwest amphitheater in the summer, so I’m not responsible for Jimmy’s nonsense.
Fuck. Who am I kidding? I feel responsible for him—for the whole band, all the time. Occupational hazard. Started when I entered the Marines at eighteen, and it’s never stopped.
Jimmy tilts his head in my direction. “I’m hoping to hang out with the girls we met at the pool yesterday. A couple of them have been texting me. Apparently, they can’t stop thinking about me, if you know what I mean.” Jimmy winks at me with a dopey grin.
“Uh-huh. Ever thought they also could be interested because you happen to be at one of the hottest celebrity weddings of the year?”
C’mon, Jimmy, please have at least entertained the idea that these women could be merely looking for a way into the wedding or an inside scoop.
He can’t be that oblivious. I mean…he has been in the past, but I’m hoping he’s starting to learn, especially after the debacle the last time he let a bunch of unknown women backstage.
It ended up being a massive story when one of the women sat on Jake’s lap without his consent and had their friend film it to make it look like there was something going on between them.
Jake and Kate faced so much unnecessary scrutiny thanks to that bullshit, which was one hundred percent Jimmy’s fault.
It’s why I had to institute strict rules on who gets to come backstage like I’m a babysitter, not their tour manager.
“Nah. I doubt they’re interested in this,” Jimmy replies, pointing his bottle around the room. “Who wants to spend their evening at a wedding for a couple they don’t even know?”
Oh, Jimmy. I pinch the bridge of my nose, debating whether it’s worth trying to explain how he tends to let people use him or if it’s a worthless cause because he doesn’t ever learn.
“Jimmy, what did you do to stress Alex out this time? Can’t you give the guy a break for once?” Jake asks when he joins us, standing next to a high-top table caddy-corner from the dance floor.
Jimmy sets his beer down and puts his hands in front of his chest. “Didn’t do a fucking thing. This is just Alex’s face. He always looks like someone pissed in his Wheaties.”
“That’s not true,” Jake retorts, defending me when he probably shouldn’t because Jimmy’s not wrong.
It’s not like I can help it. My brain’s wired to think of the worst-case scenarios all the time.
It’s what I’m paid to do in both of my jobs.
On tour with Jake, I’m responsible for ensuring everything gets done on time.
That everyone has what they need, from Jake to the band to every member of the crew, plus whatever additional people the team brings on the road.
I do draw a line at managing any of the needs of Jimmy’s one-night stands, though.
If he ever has a woman hang around for longer than a weekend, I might rethink that decision, but hell is more likely to freeze over before that happens.
Then there’s my other job. The one I can’t let go of, no matter how ready I might be for that chapter of my life to end.
I don’t regret joining the Marine Corps when I was eighteen.
It was one of the best decisions of my life and made me the man I am today.
It gave me a sense of purpose and responsibility, which is a blessing and a curse.
Now I’m one year away from hitting twenty years of service, then I can retire and actually move on with my life.
Only one more year.
“I’m going to trust that whatever shit Jimmy is about to get himself into will not be my problem because you’re handling it.” Jake arches his eyebrows, looking at me.
I nod silently. He doesn’t even need to ask.
There’s no way I’d let Jimmy or anyone else ruin Jake and Kate’s special day.
Not after everything he’s done to change my life.
Jake allowed me to become his tour manager after I finished active duty, even though I had zero experience in the field, never questioning whether I was capable of figuring it out. Always trusting me to get the job done.
In the beginning, it was a baptism of fire when we were traveling in vans, staying in shady motels with four of us to a room.
A far cry from the resources we have on the road now, thanks to how much his career has grown.
He could’ve replaced me at any time with someone more experienced, but he never did.
It’s one of the many reasons he has my loyalty and friendship forever.
“Why does everyone assume I’m always going to get into trouble? It’s not like I go looking for it; it always finds me. Just like hot chicks. I’m a magnet for trouble and women.” Jimmy smiles widely, taking another swig of his beer.
Jake shakes his head. “Before I got distracted by whatever is going on with Jimmy, I was coming over to get you. Kate wants to do the official bridal party dance so we can open up the floor to everyone. Don’t ask me to explain any of it.
I’m merely the messenger. Whatever my wife wants, she gets.
” A blissful grin spreads across his face, starting the second the word “wife” came out of his mouth.
“Fuck you!” Jimmy teases, pushing me slightly. “You get to dance with Chelsi. What a lucky bastard. I’ve been trying to talk her into dancing with me all night.”
My muscles tense slightly at the mention of her name as my head swirls with indescribable emotion about what it’ll be like to have her in my arms. Similar to Jimmy, I was mesmerized by Chelsi when I first met her over a year ago during the weekend she came out on tour with Kate.
All the guys in the band and crew were eager to chat with her.
Meanwhile, I watched from afar. Taken aback by her beauty, warm laugh, and entertaining humor.
The spark that started within me that night has only continued to grow each time I’m in her presence.
It’s not like I’m shocked by the prospect of dancing with her.
We were paired up in the bridal party, so it makes sense I’d be her partner for any obligatory dances.
However, the thought of touching her bare skin didn’t hit me until now.
Walking arm-in-arm up the aisle was one thing—holding her in my arms is something entirely different.
Jake’s grin immediately morphs into a grimace. “Chelsi is off-limits, Jimmy. We’ve talked about this. Back the fuck off.”
“Okay, boss man.” Jimmy holds his hands up again. “But it’s not my fault if Chelsi eventually decides she wants a piece of all this.”
For fuck’s sake, I think Jimmy might have an actual death wish. Jake considers Chelsi his family, and anyone who harms her had better watch out. One of the many reasons why I keep anything I’m feeling toward her on lockdown.
Jake glares at Jimmy, clenching his jaw so tight he might actually crack a tooth, which would not be a great start to his honeymoon.
Time to save Jimmy from himself once again.
“Keep dreaming, Jimmy. Chelsi is way out of your league. She’s out of all of our leagues.” I clasp my hand on his shoulder and squeeze before nodding at Jake and heading toward the dance floor.
There she is—the woman who haunts my dreams—standing on the outskirts of the dance floor next to the bride, looking breathtaking. Hell, I bet she looks incredible wearing a pair of sweatpants and a ratty T-shirt. What I wouldn’t give to see her in one of my shirts.
Get yourself together. You have to dance with this woman and don’t want her to think you’re ogling her like Jimmy does.
“Ready to sweep me off my feet with your dancing skills?” Chelsi asks, batting her long eyelashes at me as I try not to get lost in her mesmerizing, deep brown eyes.
“Are you sure your boyfriend is going to be okay with us dancing? I’m fine with sitting this one out.
” It takes everything in my power to keep my focus on her face and not take in the way her dress hugs the curves of her body.
Or think about how I’d love nothing more than to trace the outlines of her tattoos with my finger.
Find out where they start and stop. What they mean. Why she got them.
“If Alex doesn’t have to dance with Chelsi, I’m definitely not dancing with Jason.” Anna places her hands on her hips as she stares at Jason. “I’d prefer not to have his grubby little paws on me.”
“But you’re fine with Max’s hands on you?” Jason sneers at Anna.
“We’re just friends, Jason. If you were a decent human being, you’d know what it’s like to have one.”
Kate blanches at the drama unfolding in front of us. I bet she’s regretting pairing Jason and Anna together in the bridal party. Still don’t understand what she was hoping to accomplish with that decision, given the animosity between them.
“Stop the bickering, you two. Everyone will dance with their assigned partner and enjoy it. Understand?” Jake’s darkened gaze darts between Anna and Jason, making it clear no one had better cross him, or they won’t like the consequences.
The music starts playing softly in the background as the emcee welcomes the bride and groom to the floor, then announces Jason and Anna, followed by Chelsi and me.
“Are you going to put your arms around me or what?” Chelsi asks, standing in front of me in the middle of the dance floor, while the others have already started dancing.
“Yeah,” I murmur, snagging my arms around her waist and pulling her in close. Not too close, though, but enough that I can feel her body heat and smell her enchanting vanilla-and-floral scent.
My muscles tense slightly as her arms wrap around my neck, sending a shockwave of electricity coursing through my body.
“Are you okay?” Chelsi pulls back slightly, looking me in the eyes. “Do I make you uncomfortable?”
I swallow hard and quickly shake my head, unable to say anything without word vomiting the truth.
How she’s captivated my thoughts since the first moment I saw her.
How much I hate watching other guys flirt with her.
How I want to pummel Logan for touching her.
How I’d do anything to make her mine. And why I know that’ll never happen.
“Are you always this quiet?”
I chuckle softly. “Yes and no. I only tend to talk when I have something to say. Otherwise, I find solace in silence.”
“Ahh…that makes sense. I was worried for a minute that you didn’t like me or something.”
How could she think I didn’t like her? If anything, it’s the complete opposite. I like her way more than I should. Way more than I deserve to.
I exhale deeply, trying to control my breathing, which seems to increase in her presence, along with the pounding of my heart. “You’re great, Chelsi. Anyone would be lucky to have you in their life.”
“Damn straight.” She breaks out in a killer grin, making my heart skip a beat.
“By the way, you still owe me another good Jimmy story. You can’t drop a couple of bangers to me via text and then go all quiet on me.
I know that man is always up to something, and you have to give me the inside deets.
Kate’s too much of a goodie-two-shoes to gossip with me about Jake’s band. ”
I chuckle, remembering how I texted Chelsi to get an update on Kate when Jake was freaking out about a news story threatening to tear them apart, courtesy of Jimmy’s shenanigans.
Somehow that turned into sporadic text conversations between us about what was happening on tour, how she was surviving on wine and cheese, and anything else that popped into her head.
Little does she know how much she lifts my mood whenever her name pops up on my phone.
She might be the only person who ever calls or texts me that brings an actual smile to my face, rather than the standard brace-for-impact feeling I usually get—definite hazard of the job—where someone is always wanting something from you.
“I promise to keep you updated on all the tour nonsense once things start up again in a few months,” I reply, gazing into her eyes longer than I should.
“Good. Most people think it’s a ‘happy wife, happy life,’ but they would be wrong,” Chelsi adds with a smile. “It’s actually ‘happy best friend, very happy life.’ So, as Kate’s best friend, my happiness should be your top priority. Not Jake. Not Kate. Definitely not Jimmy. Little old me.”
If she only knew how much I’d like to make that true. Her wittiness and zest for life are two of the many reasons why I’m so enamored with her. Why she’s unlike any other woman I’ve ever met. Why no one else in the world can compare to her.
Even though I know better, I can’t stop myself from lightly stroking my fingers along Chelsi’s waist as we dance, desperately wanting to memorize every second of the closeness between us, knowing it’ll likely be the only time I ever have her in my arms.
“Can I cut in?” Logan asks, coming out of nowhere to stand beside us.
Chelsi looks at me, furrowing her brow before she quickly plasters on a smile and glances in Logan’s direction.
“Of course,” I reply, forcing myself to remove my arms from around Chelsi and take a step back, when I really want to tell Logan to back off and wait his goddamn turn. He gets her every night. He could wait a couple of minutes so we could finish our dance.
But that’s not my luck.
It’s not my life. And Chelsi’s not my girl.