Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Damien
I’d been looking forward to this night for the past week. It was Halloween, and finally, when I played at The Stadium Club in Fayetteville. Cadence had given me her word that she would be here tonight.
She’d grown distant again since going home to visit her friends and her mom.
And it bothered me. A lot.
I was eager to see her in person and get a feel for where we stood.
Did she not want to be friends anymore? Was it too much? Being friends was the only option, so I didn’t know what else she would want from me.
And if the option to be more than friends was there… I wouldn’t have the slightest clue what I would want.
I had said from the very beginning that I didn’t want to desire her. I didn’t want the connection we had. That electricity sparked something inside me that I never wanted to feel again.
But somehow, I’d gotten beyond that. Rationalized that. Since she was in a relationship, I didn’t have to figure that shit out. It didn’t matter what I wanted.
But none of that explained why I was so fucking pumped to see her tonight.
As the headliner for tonight’s gig, we had a while before we went on stage. Which made for a long day when you were looking forward to after the show.
Even if Cadence and her friends came early, there was so much I had to do before going on stage that prevented me from seeing her until after, anyway.
Luck was on my side, though. Chaos surrounded us as we set up, making the afternoon speed by. Before I realized it, the first band stepped on stage.
She’d told me they’d planned to arrive around six after everyone got out of work, so before 5:30, I excused myself to the bus to start my warm-ups and change.
Before a show, I had to get into game mode. There was a time and a place for distractions, and before I performed definitely wasn’t it. Even though I wanted nothing more than to seek Cadence out. I wouldn’t. Not yet. It would have to wait.
Still, it killed me to know she was so close.
I put in my headphones and pushed her from my mind, and thankfully, my brain listened for once, leaving me to do what I do best.
Sing.
When I bounded out onto the stage, a strange sense of uneasiness filled me, different from my usual pre-show jitters, and it was all the fault of the gorgeous brunette whose eyes never left me. I really wanted to make a good impression tonight. After all, Cadence and her friends were here.
“Who’s ready for some rock n’ roll?” I shouted into the mic as Hudson picked up the rhythm.
As we played, the roar of the crowd surrounded me, the nerves faded and I loosened up. I made a mental note to watch Cadence’s eyes and see if at any point they traveled south of the border.
We had joked about her checking out my dick on stage, and now I needed to know exactly when it happened. I wanted to watch her as eyes traveled down my body. After all, I required answers.
Have I mentioned I’m a cocky bastard?
I gripped my microphone tighter as adrenaline spiraled through me and let the music take over my senses.
Closing my eyes, I got lost in the songs.
Our merch table was always the busiest after a set, and tonight was no exception. I felt Cadence’s piercing gaze on me while I spoke with new and old fans.
Unlike the last few times I’d seen her at a gig, she didn’t approach us. Instead, she sat in a secluded booth with her friends, throwing back her head as she laughed.
I enjoyed seeing her smile, even from the corner of my eye. I was learning that she didn’t often allow herself the opportunity to loosen up and relax. So, I was happy to see that, surrounded by her childhood friends, she let her true self out.
“Hey there.” A well-endowed, attractive brunette with fine curves and skin-tight clothes moved next to me. She smiled up at me, her eyes framed by precise liner and fake lashes. “I’m Chell.”
“Damien.”
“I know.” She grabbed my arm and pressed her impressive bosom against me. “I really enjoyed watching you on stage. You’re amazing. And like, so hot.”
I cleared my throat and put on my most dazzling smile to distract her as I put some space between us. “Thank you. That’s really sweet of you to say.”
She was beautiful, and I was a hot-blooded male, but she didn’t do it for me. Not when there was a sinfully stunning creature sitting with her friends nearby.
“So.” I could feel her nails digging into my arm. “Do you have any plans after all this?” She bit her lip and stared up at me.
“Yeah, I do actually. And it was really nice to meet you, Chell. Do you want a picture before you go?”
She pushed her bottom lip up in a pout. “Are you sure you can’t cancel them?”
I didn’t think it was possible for her to push herself into me any more than she already had, but she did. “No. But I hope to see you at the next show.”
“How about I give you my number and you can let me know if you change your mind.” Then she leaned in and whispered in my ear. “I don’t mind if you have someone at home.”
What’s with this girl?
I was trying to keep it professional but I didn’t know what else I could say. “I’m flattered, but that’s not necessary.”
She batted her eyelashes a few more times before finally understanding it was a solid no. She pulled her phone out from her pocket and I smiled for a selfie. At the last second, she turned her head and put her lips on my cheek.
“One for the road,” she said with a wink before walking away.
“I’m not sure if I’m jealous or not. Having pretty girls throwing themselves at you sounds nice. But in reality, girls are crazy.” Hudson crossed his arms as he watched Chell walk away.
“You’re right about that.” I turned toward Hudson. “Speaking of, how are you and Lara doing?”
“Better than ever. I’m thinking it might be time to pop that question.”
“Hudson!” I slapped him on the back. “That’s great!”
“Now, now. I said might be. As in, not quite ready.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.” Shane said as he stood next to us. “I’ve heard you two talk on the phone. It sounds like a damn Harlequin novel.”
I tilted my head. “And how exactly do you know what those sound like, Shane?”
He rolled his eyes. “My grandmother. I got curious once. Never again.”
“Like you and Jenny are any better?” Hudson huffed out.
“I’m not the one trying to deny that I’m ready to settle down.”
Jeremiah wordlessly joined our circle and laughed along.
The idea that my band members, who were my closest friends, were finding happiness in their lives sent a warmth through my chest. Knowing they had found the one who made them complete, brought a true smile to my face.
“Speaking of happiness,” Shane said. “Why are you standing over here, when you actually want to be over there.”
I flicked my gaze toward Cadence just as she threw some sort of fried food into her mouth with a grin.
“Because he knows she’s too smart to fall for his shit.” Colton smirked as he joined us.
I lifted an eyebrow. “And she’d fall for yours?”
Colton shook his head, as he ran his fingers down the scruff on his face. “Nope. I think we are both out of luck. But for some reason, she pretends to fall for yours.”
Everyone around me froze, including myself.
“Did Colton just…” Hudson pushed his curly hair back from his face.
“I think so.” Shane said.
“I’ll be damned. I never thought I’d see the day.” Hudson took a long drink of his beer. “I’m not drunk enough for this. I’m in a damn twilight zone.”
“Shut up, Hudson,” Colton said.
But I could see it in his eyes. The words he didn’t say aloud. Colton saw it too. The connection Cadence and I had.
Colton simply rolled his eyes before walking away and muttering something like ‘bunch of fucking girls.’
When only a few stragglers stood around our table, Shane nodded his head, shooing me away. I didn’t hesitate. I moved through the crowd, a man on a mission, and approached her.
Her eyes caught mine instantly, and a grin spread across my lips.
“You’re here!” she shouted as she rose.
I didn’t expect it, but she rounded the table and threw herself into me. It took a second for me to wrap my arms around her. I had thought of how she felt pressed against me so many times over the last few months. But my fantasies didn’t do her justice.
She pulled back even as my fingers longed for more.
“You were incredible on stage, as always. My friends are so excited to meet you.”
She was bubbly and animated, a fire in her eyes I had never seen before. Her energy was contagious, and I felt like I was seeing another side of her.
She stood next to me and started pointing her finger at her friends, moving left to right. “This is Liam, Wesley, Erikson, Jamie, and Blakely.” She then turned toward her friends. “Guys, this is my friend Damien.”
I chuckled, recognizing a few of those names from our chats, like Liam ‘the one more famous than me’. “I’m going to need a cheat sheet to remember all that, but it’s nice to meet everyone.”
“Do you want to sit down?” Cadence asked.
“Actually,” I said, leaning closer to her. “I was hoping we could talk for a minute.”
I honestly didn’t have a clue what I wanted to ‘talk’ about. I only knew I wanted to get her alone. The silence over the last few days had driven me crazy, and I’d worried about her and how Elijah handled her coming to Fayetteville.
I just needed her to tell me she was okay.
She nodded and leaned down to whisper something in Blakely’s ear before turning back to me and smiling. “Come on. I know a quiet place.”
I followed behind her, doing everything in my power not to stare at her ass as she walked in front of me, my attempt at being a somewhat decent human being.
We moved away from the bar and tables to a door that led outside. And because it was October, the patio was closed.
Leaving us alone.
A brick fountain sat at the end, and it drew me in out of curiosity. It had been closed down for the winter, of course, but at the bottom lay a few lonely pennies. Wishes that were left abandoned.
I felt more than heard Cadence follow behind me.