Chapter 24
Beck
Beck
Tough therapy session?
Idrum my fingers rhythmically on the kitchen table.
“That Andi?” Leo asks, leaning over my shoulder.
“Yeah,” I nod. “She had therapy today.”
“You know her schedule better than you know your own,” Eli grunts, placing a plate of takeout in front of me. “Eat. You haven’t eaten all day.”
He’s right. I spent the entire day in the little makeshift studio we have in our apartment, strumming my guitar until my fingers went numb.
There’s a little, angry red callous on my middle finger from all the writing I did.
I told Leo not to step a foot inside, because I knew the crumpled up pieces of paper scattered about the floor would bother the hell out of him. But he’s not allowed to throw anything away until I say it’s okay, because what if I need the lyrics from twelve drafts ago?
“I mean, I have you guys to help with that,” I grin, flashing Eli a grateful smile. “She’s got—”
“No one. I know. You’ve mentioned,” Eli grunts, pulling up the barstool next to mine.
His blood orange scent swirls around me. Even though his words are harsh, there’s not the usual tartness in his scent that becomes present when he’s actually upset.
Andi
Define tough
Asking for a friend
Obviously I’m fine
100% fucking peachy
I wince, seeing her rapid text messages.
“I take it things didn’t go well,” Leo asks, taking a sip of water and eyeing my expression.
“Doesn’t sound like it,” I answer.
Beck
I’m sorry, that sounds terrible
Andi
My head feels like it’s going to explode. How can just talking do that to you?
Is there anything I can do to help?
Her answer is immediate.
Andi
I don’t want to be alone
I immediately start typing a response. It must be pretty bad if Andi is actually saying she doesn’t want to be alone.
Andi
But I also want to get absolutely shitfaced
I pause writing my original message, quickly deleting my original offer of going over to her place or inviting her here. Sounds like she wants a night out.
“Crazy idea guys,” I say, glancing at Eli and Leo, both seated next to me.
“That’s never a good starting statement,” Eli teases, his lips quirking into a little smirk that accentuates how sharp his jawline is.
“Do you guys want to go clubbing tonight?” I drum my fingers against the marble countertop of our kitchen island.
“Huh, you’re not normally the party type,” Leo says, his brows raised in surprise.
“Andi wants to let off a little steam,” I shrug. “Seems like with her I’m willing to do a whole lot that I wouldn’t have done before.”
“I’m down,” Leo says with a nod. “Sounds like she needs to let loose a little. Might as well do that when we’re there to help support her, right?”
I glance at Eli, bracing myself for him to say it’s a terrible idea.
But he just eyes me carefully, his dark gaze tracing along my face, taking in my expression for an almost awkward amount of time.
“We’ll have to pick the club carefully,” Eli grunts.
“Wait, you’re cool with this?”
“I’ve already been outvoted,” he says with a shrug.
My lips quirk into a smile.
Even if he were outvoted and didn’t want to go, he’d make that crystal clear to us. I think she’s starting to grow on him!
“I’ll find something with a table for us in a VIP area,” Eli adds, pulling out his phone. “I assume she’ll be dancing with both of you?”
I immediately jerk my head towards Leo. There’s the faint hint of a blush on his cheeks. It’s starting to make its way to his ears too.
“I mean, I’d like to, if you think we can get away with it,” he says, running a hand through his hair.
“We’ll see,” Eli nods.
“Oh my God, wait, I’m actually starting to get excited for this,” I say, imagining Andi sandwiched between us.
“I’ll make some calls and make sure the paps are outside, but not inside the club,” Leo nods, pulling out his own phone.
I return to mine and type out a quick text.
Beck
Sorry for taking so long to respond, I was talking to the guys
How do you feel about going out to a club tonight?
Andi
With you and Leo?
Me, Leo, and Eli
Elijah’s actually interested in coming?
Believe it or not, he’s the one looking at places right now
The text bubble disappears and reappears a couple of times.
Andi
I’m down
Let’s do it
Beck
Fantastic, we’ll pick you up at 10, that enough time for you to get ready?
Course it is, I’m a pro
Boy, is she right.
When we pull up to her apartment, she’s already down at the roundabout, ready and waiting.
Her strappy black heels make her legs look a mile long, despite her petite stature. Her dark hair falls down her back in expertly done wide barrel curls.
She’s wearing a black minidress with a deep cowl neckline that hugs her curves in a way that should be illegal.
“Hey, Starlight,” I say, hopping out the back of the black SUV with tinted windows.
I wrap her in a hug, breathing in her chamomile perfume like I’m taking a hit.
My fingers trace along the bare skin of her back.
Oh wow. This dress is really backless.
Her hands immediately wrap around me, clinging desperately like she really needs this hug.
“Hi,” she mumbles, her lips forming a tired smile.
Her makeup is absolutely flawless. The dark, smoky eye and thick mascara make every one of her blinks feel like a whispered seduction, but knowing Andi, she doesn’t need to try for that effect.
“You look stunning,” I say, smoothing a hand down and resting it at the small of her back.
There are goosebumps along her arms.
“Are you cold at all?”
“Hmm? Oh, I guess a little,” she says with a shrug. “But I’ll warm up when we’re inside. Plus, I may’ve already put on my liquid jacket.”
“Really?” I ask, leaning in.
I can smell the hint of alcohol on her breath.
“Just a little pregame to take the edge off,” she winks. “I’m going clubbing with the Beckham Knight, after all. Who wouldn’t have to take a shot for bravery?”
I purse my lips, biting back the cheesy grin that wants to break out across my expression.
Man, am I excited for tonight. And I’m never all that excited about going out.
“Take this,” Eli says, appearing beside us and shrugging off his leather jacket.
Her eyes go wide and she opens her mouth, probably to voice some sort of protest, but the intense look Eli shoots her way has her keeping quiet.
“Thank you,” she says, shrugging it on. The sleeves are so long on her that it’s like she’s being swallowed by the fabric. “You really didn’t have to.”
“It’s fine,” Eli says with a shrug, crossing his arms over his chest.
The motion only draws attention to the rippling of the seams in his black button-up shirt.
I don’t miss the way Andi’s gaze lingers. Or the way she tries to surreptitiously take a sniff of his blood orange scent without him noticing.
“You ready to go, guys?” Leo calls, rolling down the driver’s side window.
Andi’s expression relaxes when she catches sight of him, and she shoots him a smile.
“Ready,” she nods, reaching for my hand.
I have to fight to keep my expression relatively neutral. It’d be pretty embarrassing to freak out over her holding my hand, even if it’s ridiculously exciting that she’s initiating the physical contact.
“You look good,” she says as we slide into the backseat.
“Really?” I glance down at my outfit, a wave of sheepishness washing over me. “It’s a little dressier than I’m used to. I don’t think I’ve ever worn this out before.”
“It suits you,” she says, reaching up and playing with the satin fabric.
It’s a black satin button-up shirt that has a pretty deep V-neck.
“We’re all matching,” she says with a smile, in reference to the fact that all four of us are wearing black.
“It’s an easy color to work with,” Eli grunts.
“Matches your sparkling personality, too,” she huffs playfully, crossing one of her legs over the other, drawing my attention to the expanse of smooth skin.
“I’m trying,” Eli grunts in return. “Talk back more and I’ll show you how dark my sparkling personality can get.”
Something twists low in my gut when I see the playful smirk appear on Andi’s expression.
“I’ll talk back as much as I want.” Her perfume picks up a hint of sweet honey, and a thrill shoots through me.
Are the two of them flirting?
“Don’t think that pretty smile means I won’t dish it right back,” Eli says, his lip curling in a sneer as he twists in the front passenger seat to eye her directly. “You get what you deserve, Princess.”
Holy shit.
They’re definitely flirting.
“Princess?” Andi huffs. “Hmmm, I like that. I hereby decree you call me Princess from now on.”
“Shut up,” Eli grunts, turning back and facing out the front window with his arms crossed over his broad chest.
“That means I won, right?” Andi teases, leaning in to whisper in my ear.
“I heard that,” Eli grunts.
“That definitely means you won,” I whisper back, turning my head to face her.
We’re so close that Leo could turn the car, and inertia would have our lips touching.
“I’m excited for tonight,” I murmur.
“Me too,” she says, her shoulders dropping forward ever so slightly. “I needed this, I think. I didn’t want to think anymore.”
“Sometimes you’ve gotta turn your brain off,” I nod. “I get it.”
“I knew you would,” she says, tucking herself into my side. I wrap an arm around her and brush a light kiss against the top of her head.
She relaxes into my touch even further, sending a thrill shooting down my spine.
Pretty soon, we’re pulling up in front of 4Pine, one of the more popular clubs in the city.
“I got us a table,” Eli says.
“A table? Fancy, fancy,” Andi comments, sitting up straight and smoothing her hair over one of her shoulders.
“You’ve never gotten a table here?” I ask, holding open the door for her.
Her expression sobers for a split second, her knees going extra stiff as her feet hit the pavement.
“Not a VIP one, but I’ve been here plenty of times,” she mumbles, brushing some of her hair away from her face as she stares at the concrete beneath us.
Leo appears next to me, having already given the keys to the valet.
“It’ll be different this time,” Leo murmurs softer. “We’ll have fun.”
“Promise?” she asks, looking up at the two of us with wide eyes. Her lower lip trembles ever so slightly. “I could really use some fun right now.”
“Promise,” I say, flashing her a winning smile. “You trust us, right?”
“I do.” Her nod is definitive, drawing my attention to the low neckline of her dress.
Well, I don’t know if it’s her nod that does that. I think I’d notice her exposed cleavage without any sort of prompting. I’ve been trying my best to remain polite ever since we picked her up from outside her apartment.
“Perfect,” Leo answers for me. “Let’s go in and have some fun, then.”
I lace my hand with hers as we walk around the corner to the entrance.
Eli parts the way through the lingering people on the sidewalk as we skip past the line. There are a few young women who start doing double takes as I walk past.
“Mr. Popular,” Andi whispers under her breath, clinging to my arm in a way that has a cocky grin appearing on my expression.
I let myself believe it’s a true act of her marking her territory.
She can mark me anytime.
“You ready for the paps?” I murmur, nodding towards a couple of people with cameras lingering around the entrance.
“Yeah,” she says, flashing me a soft smile. “As long as I’m with you.”
The cameras start flashing in our direction, right on cue.
I want to see those photos.
Because Andi is looking up at me like she actually likes me. Like, really likes me.
All for taking her out to let off some steam after a really hard day.
Part of me is thrilled, but another part of me wants her to raise her standards. She deserves so much more than she wants for herself.
It’s funny. She’s looking at me like I hung the stars in the sky, but she is her namesake. She’s my entire galaxy.
“Table reservation for Castillo,” Eli says to the bouncer.
A second after the bouncer checks his list, he’s lifting the red velvet barrier and ushering us inside.
The moment we step into the dark club, Andi squeezes my hand.
“Wait,” she whispers. “I forgot to take off Eli’s jacket! What’s gonna happen with those pictures?”
“I think it’s fine,” I shrug, turning to Leo. “Right?”
Leo’s brows draw down as his eyes scan over her.
“I think it should be fine.” He nods. “Oversized jackets are in style.”
“This oversized, though?” Andi huffs, gesturing down at herself.
She shrugs off the jacket now that we’re inside.
“You callin’ me fat?” Eli grunts, plucking the jacket from her.
She eyes him up and down, pausing for a significant amount of time. The faint sound of pounding bass from further in the club vibrates through the walls.
“I don’t think there’s an ounce of fuckin’ fat on you,” she says, rolling her eyes.
“You’re right,” I whisper-yell into her ear, flashing Eli a wink that has him scowling and walking further into the club.
“It’s unfair, in my book,” she says, her arms crossed over her chest. “How does it feel to live my dream?”
He shoots her a look over his shoulder, his scowl darkening as we start to climb the stairs to the VIP section.
“You sayin’ you want to lose weight?”
“Who doesn’t?” she scoffs. “Especially in this industry.”
I open my mouth to protest because Andi is literally perfect.
You look up perfect femininity in the dictionary, and her picture should be there.
But I don’t have a chance to respond because Eli whirls around, towering above us all because he’s a couple of steps higher.
He leans down and grips her chin in his hands.
She goes deathly still.
I narrow my eyes on Eli, preparing to yell at him if he does something stupid.
“That’s the stupidest fucking thing I’ve ever heard,” he grunts. “There’s no universe where you’ve gotta lose weight, you got that?”
“Tell that to my mother,” she scoffs, reaching up and gripping his wrist. But she doesn’t pull his hand away from her face. The contrast of her paler skin and blood-red nails against Eli’s tan makes my burnt caramel perfume sweeten in the air.
Fuck, the two of them would be so hot together.
“Fine then,” he snorts. “Next time I see her, I’ll add that to the list of fuckin’ things I need to get through that thick skull of hers.”
He drops his hold on her face and resumes stomping up the stairs like his ass is on fire.
“Did that just happen?” she murmurs, falling into step with me and clinging to my arm.
I trace my nose along the column of her neck, fighting the urge to lick her skin.
Her chamomile perfume is thick with a hint of bitterness from frustration, but I can barely tell underneath the overwhelming note of sweet honey.
“It did,” I hum. “It was also hot as fuck.”
She jerks her head back, her gaze darting between my eyes.
I let her see the open desire in my expression. I don’t shy away from it.
She visibly swallows before letting out a startled laugh.
“Are you hearing this?” she asks, turning to Leo.
“I am,” he murmurs, stepping up on her opposite side, sandwiching her between us. “And I agree.”
She melts into our touch, just like I knew she would.
God, am I so excited for that dance floor.
“I feel like I’m being ganged up on,” she laughs, rolling her eyes. “Let’s go, boys. Wouldn’t want Mr. Grumpy-Pants up there to steal all our fun.”