The brunette’s driving me crazy.
“So, why this look?” he asks, wiggling his fingers in front of my face.
“I’m tired.”
“So? Sleep when you’re dead. You’re a rock star, dipshit. Start acting like one.”
“There’s more to it than sex.”
He looks me dead in the eyes for the longest time. “No, there’s not.”
I roll my eyes. “Fuck off, Coop.”
“Nah. Where’s Milo?”
I raise my eyes to the exit. “Left with Jessica thirty minutes ago.”
“Nice. She’s a solid nine. Texas?”
Gritting my teeth, I tilt my chin toward a booth. Texas and Isaiah are drinking together, sitting far too close. I fucking hate him, and I hate her.
No, you don’t hate her.
If he touches her leg one more time, I’m going to cut his fucking hand off. My chest is tight. Everything is too fucking tight. I’m grinding my teeth so hard that there will be nothing left. All I can feel is rage.
“Ah, go get him, girl,” Cooper murmurs. He sounds proud of her.
“Why are you encouraging that shit?” I bark.
“Why wouldn’t I? She’s a big girl now. If she wants to have sex with a rock star, she can.”
I want to punch him in the gut.
And since when has it been okay for Texas to sleep around?
Double standards. You’re hardly saving yourself for marriage. You didn’t even save yourself until it was legal for you to have sex.
“You know who she is, Cooper.”
“Mark knows she’s not going to stay a virgin forever. Heck, she’s probably not a virgin now.”
My hands shake. I slam the bottle down and clench my fists. “We should get her back to the hotel.”
Coop’s mouth turns up, and he folds his arms. “Are you jealous, Kitt?”
Jealous? I don’t get fucking jealous. I can have whatever I want, whenever I want.
“I’m just looking out for her—you know, like we promised Mark. Or have you forgotten everything he’s done for us?”
You sure have.
“Not forgotten, but she’s fine, bro. She can flirt and do whatever the hell she wants. We’re here to look out for her, but that doesn’t mean we’re her babysitters. It means, we’ll make sure she’s safe, and she gets home safe. What she chooses to do in the meantime is up to her. Now, again, are you jealous? Is there something going on with you and her? Because you’re not usually this uptight.”
“Of course there’s nothing going on.”
“Then, calm the fuck down. She’s having fun.”
Too much fun.
I feel sick.
“Nah, I’m beat. I’ll see you back at the hotel.” I push off the bar.
Cooper grabs my arm. “Are you making her go with you?”
“Yes.”
She’s lucky I’ve waited this long.
“I can get her back just fine, too, you know. She’s enjoying herself.”
Leaving Cooper alone with Texas when they’re both drunk is one of the worst ideas I’ve ever heard. Many times, he’s fallen asleep in a bar, and security has had to bring him back to the bus or his room. Or he’s stayed out with some girl and woken up in a strange house, having no idea how he got there or which hotel he was staying at.
“You’re kidding, right? Only a few weeks ago, you tried to let yourself into a room in the wrong hotel.”
“But I had the right room number,” he says, as if it’s something to be proud of.
I’m all up for having a good night and getting wasted, but I’ve always been able to walk at the end of it. “I’ll be taking Tex with me. See you tomorrow.”
He rolls his eyes. “Whatever, man.”
I leave him to it. No doubt, he’ll see his next victim soon and forget all about Texas anyway. My muscles protest from the effort of trying to slow myself down. All I can see is her with Isaiah, and I need it to stop.
Neither of them looks up as I approach. Isaiah brushes Tex’s hair out of her face and leans closer.
Fuck no.
I stop dead when his lips touch hers.
Instead of pushing him away, like she should, she kisses him back. I feel like I’ve just had the air knocked out of me by something big and hard smashing into my chest.
“Texas!” I snap. I make my legs move and finally reach the edge of their booth.
Stay calm.
Jumping, she looks over her shoulder. “Kitt, what’s wrong?”
“We’re leaving. Now. Cooper is looking for his next conquest, and Milo’s already gone. I’m not leaving you with a guy you’ve known for three minutes. No offense, Isaiah.”
He smirks. “None taken. I understand the situation.”
No, you don’t.
“But I don’t want to leave, Kitt.”
“Well, life’s a shit sandwich, Texas. Get up.”
“You’re being an arsehole,” she growls.
“Say good-bye. I’m sure you’ll see Isaiah again.”
“I’m sure she will,” he replies, stroking her cheek.
I look away and ball my hands.
Why does this hurt?
“Fine,” Texas says. “Thanks for the awesome evening, Isaiah.” She stands up without kissing him again.