Chapter 4 #2
“Just go easy on that stuff. It’s really strong,” I warn him.
He chuckles. His cheeks, warm with heat, lean closer as he plants a sloppy wet kiss on my lips. “I love you,” he states.
“Love you, too.” I grin, wiping my mouth.
“Go easy, have fun, and we will pick you all up later!” Mom yells from the truck, before Maggie’s wheels spin, kicking up dust and dirt. Zeke sways slightly, leaning his weigh on me.
“Whoa, Zeke!” I heave, trying to right him.
Enzo walks over, and I glare at him. “Why did you give him your home brew?!” I snap.
“Because he needed to relax a little. The guy is strung tight.”
“He’s right, I’m a very tense person.” Zeke nods in agreement.
Enzo’s grin deepens. I push Zeke towards Enzo, and he takes the full weight of him.
“You got him this way, he’s your responsibility.
Sober him up,” I order. Enzo goes to open his mouth, but I hold my index finger up, halting him.
“No arguments. Get him a coffee or something to eat. When he’s in a better situation, then you’re free to enjoy the concert.
” I grin, patting the side of his cheek as he glares at me.
I walk ahead, leaving the pair of them to figure it out. “Man, she can be mean,” I hear Zeke murmur, and that just makes my smile widen.
I spot Maisy up ahead, standing with River, Ripley, Raine, Oliver, and Mabel. “Hey, where’s Linc and Phoenix?” I ask.
“They’re just getting our wrist bands,” Mabel states.
I grin as Maisy’s eyes go behind me. “Er, why is Enzo trying to shove a burger into Zeke’s mouth?” I turn around and see Enzo’s face scrunched up in disgust as Zeke eats the burger. Sauce is all over his face as he slowly chews.
“Because my brother’s a dick.” I shrug.
Linc and Phoenix come back with our wristbands and trays of drinks.
We each take one. Enzo and Zeke now join us, and although it’s only been a short while, Zeke does seem sturdier on his feet.
Just merry drunk. Clearly that massive burger soaked up some of the alcohol.
He goes to reach for a beer, but I snatch it from him before he gets a chance to drink, and shove a bottle of water in his hand instead.
We all drink, and as the sun sets, the dark night sky blankets us.
The thousands of fairy lights are strung up in the surrounding trees, and as we make our way through the barrier towards the huge lit-up stage, the warm summer’s night kisses my skin.
The crowd grows, excitement building in anticipation for the band to come on stage.
Just as the lights begin to flicker, the crowd cheers as the three members of the band come on stage.
I grin, my skin prickling with goosebumps.
Linc isn’t the only one who loves live music.
High Fade begins to play, and the crowd jump around.
“What song is this?” I yell, asking Linc as I move and sway my body to the music.
“Swamp!” he yells back. I close my eyes and allow my body to lose itself in the music.
People jump into me, but I’m having too much fun to care.
Their next song The Fly comes on, and I swear I may have found my new favourite band to see live.
Someone knocks into me a little too hard, and I stumble forward, but a strong arm wraps around my waist, hauling me to them.
With my back against their firm chest, I tilt my head back and look up into Drix’s blue eyes.
His hand is splayed across my stomach, where my top had ridden up, and his thumb is caressing my bare skin.
I swallow, my gaze briefly betraying me as I look down at his mouth.
I pull away, forcing him to drop his hold on me.
Tucking my hair behind my ear, I give him a small smile, but he doesn’t grin back. His gaze is intense as he watches me.
“This band is awesome!” Zeke yells, coming up to me and jumping around all over the place.
My smile widens as I see him enjoying himself.
I turn back around to look at Drix, only to find he’s gone.
A small pang of disappointment washes over me, but I shake my head and continue to enjoy the rest of the night.
By the end of the concert, I’m a hot, sweaty mess. “I’m just going to get us some water!” I yell over the noise to Zeke.
He nods and continues to chat to Linc about the band. My heart swells, seeing him finally being accepted, even if it’s just by a couple of them. I make my way over to the stand selling bottles of water. The queue is long, so I pull out my cell and browse while I wait.
H: Behind the water stand.
I frown and look up, seeing Drix stood there, his cell in his hand as he types.
H: Come here.
I huff and roll my eyes, typing a reply.
S: I need a drink of water.
H: I have an entire case of it.
I look up and see Drix lift a case of water.
I slide my cell back into my pocket and make my way over to him.
When I get near him, he grabs my wrist firmly and spins me around until my back is against the stand.
He pins me with his body; it happens in a blur, so quick before I could even process what is happening.
His blue eyes search mine before crashing his mouth to mine.
My entire body tenses, shocked, but as his soft lips caress mine, my body relaxes into him.
My eyes close as I kiss him back. A low moan erupts from him as I stroke my tongue against his.
I’m lost to him; the world around us has faded away.
His scent, his touch, has me utterly consumed.
Zeke, you’re with Zeke. This is wrong. That thought crashes through my mind, reminding me what a huge mistake this is.
I break the kiss, pushing on his chest; his gaze is molten, the blue in his eyes now deeper in colour.
I cup my face before looking at him. “No, no, this isn’t right.
It’s wrong. I love Zeke. And you. You, well, you are you. Fuck!” I hiss, gripping my hair.
“He isn’t right for you,” he argues.
I glare at him. “I don’t need your opinion. Why would you kiss me? I don’t feel for you like that,” I counter, but even as I say the words I know they’re not entirely truthful.
“Bullshit. I’ve seen the way you look at me, the way you lean into me, the way you just kissed me back,” he argues.
I fold my arms across my chest, heat, anger and defiance bubbling in my veins.
“Do not tell me what I do or do not feel!” I snap.
He just smirks, his eyes sparking. Oh, he did not just smirk at me.
“I’m fucking serious, Drix!” I seethe. “I love Zeke, and I am happy with Zeke. I choose him, not you, and just because that kiss was good—”
“Please, baby, it was better than good.” He laughs arrogantly.
I arch my brow. “I’ve had better,” I counter.
His eyes narrow on me. “You’re lying.”
I am. The kiss was incredible, and I felt it everywhere. Like hell am I going to admit that to him. “Am I?” I shrug, keeping my expression casual and unphased.
“I’ve known you your entire life. I know when you’re lying,” he points out.
I divert the topic away from the kiss. “Whatever, I want Zeke. I am with Zeke. This was a blip.”
“A blip?” he repeats back.
“Yes, a blip, a zip, a teeny tiny whoopsie daisy. Because we are close, so close that it could have been incestuous,” I rant.
His brows furrow. “You kiss Enzo like that?”
My face scrunches up in disgust. “No, of course I don’t. God just thought of it…” I begin retching. “Oh god, why would you put that thought in my head?” I gasp, fighting the urge to throw up.
He steps forward once again, crowding my space and caging me in.
I tilt my head back, just as he tucks my hair behind my ear, his fingers trailing around the back of my neck, giving me a firm but gentle squeeze.
He leans in as if he’s going to kiss me again.
Instead, he presses his lips to my temple. I close my eyes at the tenderness.
“One day you will realise that this—us—is meant to happen. I just hope you don’t realise it too late,” he rasps before walking away, leaving me leaning against the drinks truck. As I watch him walking away, a tiny part of me wonders if he’s right.
“Everything okay?” Zeke’s voice makes me jump, and I look to the left, seeing him stood there.
“Jesus, you scared the crap out of me.” I laugh, placing my palm over my erratic heart.
“You were gone a long time getting water. I figured you got lost,” he says, his voice cold and sharp. Had he seen?
I clear my throat and shake my head. “No. Just the queue was so long, and I was feeling a little dizzy, so I just needed a minute,” I lie. I’m a horrible, horrible girlfriend.
He eyes assess me before looking past me. “Is that what Hendrix was doing? Helping? While you felt dizzy?” Each word stabs like a jagged-edged blade.
“Zeke,” I begin, but he holds up his hand, pain and anger dancing across his eyes. My heart sinks, and my gut swarms with unimaginable guilt. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, my eyes brimming with tears.
“Stop,” he bites. “Message your fucking family and tell them you no longer need a ride home, because we are making our own way home.”
I nod and wipe away a single escaped tear.
I pull out my cell and send a quick text to Enzo.
Once it’s sent, Zeke takes my cell and places it in his back pocket.
I open my mouth to protest, but I get it.
He will need to see that it was just a kiss and nothing more.
He probably thinks we’ve been having a secret affair behind his back.
I need to convince him it was nothing more than a kiss, that I’m sorry, and beg for his forgiveness.
Zeke steps towards me, his eyes blazing with boiling anger; anger I’ve never seen in him before.
His hand firmly grabs my jaw, enough to make me wince.
“You fucking disgust me,” he spits. His cell pings and he looks at it, releasing his grip on my face.
The hairs on the back on my neck stand on end as he places his cell in his back pocket, his glacial gaze returning to me. “Our ride is here.”