Fucking Brielle.
I shifted and tried to readjust myself. Now he was a springboard. Just the thought of her sent him into full action mode.
“That’s the end of Callen, folks,” Wes said into the microphone.
Emerson swore, “We’re not his paying fans. He needs to stop talking to us like we are.”
“The next band up is Easter Midnight.”
No one clapped as they left the stage. A few people called out to Brielle, telling her she did a good job, but that was the only response. The other two members scattered, going to different groups, and Brielle headed toward us. Wes saw where she was going and held back at the stage.
“He’s not welcomed,” Emerson growled. “Braden, if that singer douche comes over here, I’m going to punch him.”
Wes hadn’t heard. He decided to come over anyway.
Braden laughed. “Better get ready, cousin.”
When he was closer, Emerson hollered at him, “Just warning you, if you try to sit with us, I’m going to punch you. No dumbshits allowed.”
He wavered in his walking, and his foot went sideways, making him trip for a second. “What’d you say?”
Brielle caught my gaze.
Everything else melted away. With the weight of her gaze on me, the world centered again. For one moment, just one god forsaken moment, I wished all our problems away. I wanted to be with her. I wanted her in my arms.
I had a snowball’s chance in hell of getting any of that.
“Luke.”
I glanced to the girl sitting on Dustin’s right. It was Candy Lake. She gave me a warm smile and patted the seat in front of her, spreading her legs for me.
I could feel Bri’s gaze on me, but I headed over to Candy and sat down in front of her. Her hands went to my shoulders, and she leaned forward. Her lips brushed my neck as she murmured, “Could you look any better? Rock stardom suits you, Skeet.” She leaned down and gripped my arms, giving me a slight hug before she started massaging there, moving back up to my shoulders. As her hands settled into my deltoids, her legs pressed against me, hugging me from both sides. She was warm and comforting. She was what I needed at that moment.
Bri was glaring. Her hand crushed her beer can, and she jerked her gaze away.
Satisfaction flared through me. Good.
“Hunt!” Braden said, waving.
Jesse Hunt came over to our group. When he caught sight of me, he shook his head.
I held a hand out. “Hey, man.”
He slapped it and gazed around. “I didn’t know we had to bring our own chairs.”
“You don’t.” Braden hopped off his and settled in front of Brielle, poking her at the same time. “You can have mine. Is your woman with you?”
Jesse cursed as he took the seat. “Yes, and do not let her know you referred to her that way. We’re still in the ‘coming together’ stage.”
Candy kept massaging my shoulders. Jesse’s gaze lingered on her, confused. To his unspoken question, I shrugged. She wasn’t Brielle. Jesse knew the status of my feelings. I met him one night in a bar, drunk off my ass, and the two of us decided to fight the entire bar together. I had invited him earlier, but I wasn’t concerned he would invite anyone else. Jesse Hunt had his own celebrity status. His father was a world-renowned director, and he could go pro in basketball whenever he wanted. He played for Grant West University’s basketball team, but it was only a matter of time when Jesse would decide if he wanted to finish his degree or go straight to the professional league. So far, he seemed content with his university team.
It wasn’t long until his woman joined the group. She stood, gazing around the group with a star-struck expression, but Jesse caught her hand and pulled her to sit on his lap. Hunt was a good friend. We weren’t close, but I knew he’d be there if I ever needed him and vice versa. Emerson teased him, trying to flirt with his woman. Hunt handled him fine. Studying them, seeing the easy camaraderie between Hunt and his woman, had me glancing at Brielle. They reminded me of us. They were best friends, no matter what was going on between them. He loved her. It was obvious. The sight of them sickened me. I should’ve been happy for them, but in that moment, I wasn’t the good friend.
I wanted what they had; I shot Bri another glare.
I protected the band. I did the dirty work, maintaining everyone kept on task. I brought us to where we were, and I had done it by being the better man, but I wasn’t in that moment. I was the jealous man. I was the petty man. I wanted a love like theirs, and I wanted it from Brielle.
She mistook my glare and lifted her chin in defiance. Taking a drink, she let me watch how she swallowed it before gracing me with a smug smirk.
The desire to grab her and haul her off into the woods was more than I could handle. I was still fighting it when it was our turn for the stage, and as we took it, I signaled for our new material. She was still with me. She was in my mind. The feel of her, the taste of her, and the need for her were suffocating me.
I sang to her. I didn’t give a shit who knew.
This song was for her. It was about her. I wanted her to know.
You promised the world with my hand in yours
We grew up beside each other
Together, never apart, and now I can’t let go
Here I am, on all fours
Baby please, baby that’s mine
Baby please
Bring me home
Bring me in to you
No matter where you go, how far you are, you’re home
Home, home, home
Don’t let me go
The emotion was in my voice. Everyone could hear it, and I even heard Braden swear softly behind me. He knew as well. I was laying it out. When I opened my eyes and found her, she was still there. She was riveted, and she made no movement to wipe the tears from her eyes as they flowed down her face. One fell into her beer. She still didn’t turn away.