I held her in my spell, the same one she wove when she played. She couldn’t look away the entire time. Even as we finished our set and headed down, she couldn’t move.
“Luke,” Candy called my name. She patted the space in front of her again.
Brielle closed her eyes. I watched her as she held her breath. Something broke in me then. She did care. A flood of love and hate washed through me.
“Luke?”
Candy was looking at me, her eyebrows scrunched together. I glanced around. Everyone else was watching me, too. I had stopped in front of Brielle’s chair. She was the only one not watching me. Her arms were wrapped around herself, and her head was pushed down into her chest. She was closing herself off from the world.
She had done that when we were kids, when she was scared and hurting. I hated seeing it then, and I hated seeing it now.
“Bri.”
She stiffened, but I ignored it. I stopped thinking about the past. I turned it off. Seeing her like this made all of that go away. I wanted her to stop hurting. Without thinking, I bent down and slid my hands around her. Lifting her, I moved so I was underneath her. I pulled her onto my lap and wrapped my arms around her.
Her body was like cement, as if she was scared to relax. I ran a hand down her hair, smoothing it out. Her entire body shuddered as she let a sob out. She swallowed it immediately and stared straight ahead. I could feel her body trembling, yet she was still so rigid.
I had made it worse.
Cursing in my head, knowing I couldn’t do anything else, I held her while neither of us said a word.
I wanted to loathe this girl, walk away, and live my life unscathed by her. I couldn’t. She was my other half, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t convince myself otherwise.
A few more bands played, and our group sat in our small circle as some people wandered over to talk. When the first ones came over, Braden glanced at me, but I shook my head. I wasn’t the leader tonight, and he nodded, stepping into that role for the evening. Braden did the talking for us. Candy tried to get my attention during the rest of the night, so did that other girl, but I ignored them and tightened my arms around Brielle.
It was awkward, but damn, I’d do it again. And again. And again. I didn’t want to let her go.
“Luke, my man,” Dustin called out when The Feast was over. Everyone was picking up their chairs and coolers, but paused and waited. He pointed at me, a wide grin on his face. “I know you have alcohol at your place, and I can get some kegs. What do you say? Should we end this night with a party to end all parties at your new place? You’re a rock god. Let’s party like rock gods!”
“Hey, yeah.” Candy perked up. “I’m game.”
Others joined in with the same sentiments.
I glanced at Braden, who shrugged. “Fine with me. We’re on vacation, right?”
I grunted. “Says you. It won’t be at your place.”
“Come on, Luke,” Candy taunted. “You can afford to hire cleaners. I don’t think you’re hurting for money.”
I didn’t want a party. I didn’t want strangers at my place. I wanted Brielle, and I wanted privacy. But…I took in all the looks. They wanted a party, and damn, I knew I was going to give in, even before I said the words, “Okay—”
Dustin let out a war whoop and smacked his girl’s ass. He pointed at me. “You won’t regret it. It’ll be awesome. A rock god party. Let’s do this!” His fist thrust in the air in triumph. “Who’s going with me to get the kegs?”
Others called out to him, and he motioned up the hill. “The cars! Let’s get this bitch going.” He took off, and his girl giggled, running after him up the hill.
Brielle had crawled off my lap, and I stood, waiting as she collected her chair and blanket. There was no going back. We would talk, even if I had to throw her over my shoulder and lock her away from everyone else.
“Bri?”
I stiffened. Callen’s lead singer was there. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, and his gaze lingered on me as he said further, “Can I get a ride home?”
What the—?
His shoulders tensed, reacting to my anger, but he added, “The others just left—”
“Hey, man.” Emerson clapped a hand on Wes’ shoulder. He jumped back, but Emerson tightened his hold on him. He added, “We’ll give you a ride home. I was just joking around before. I wouldn’t punch you.”
Bri frowned. “Emerson? What are you doing?”
He gestured to me. “I’m being a good buddy.” His hand tightened again on Wes’ shoulder. “I’m taking one for the team here. We’ll give your rocker a ride home. No sweat.”
“Uh.” Wes had gone pale. “I think I see a friend. She can give me a ride home. Never mind.”
He took off, and Emerson started laughing. “I think he just shit his pants.”
“Why are you always such an ass?”
He stopped laughing and glared at Bri. “For the record, I was going to give him a ride home.”
“You were?” Gunn had joined the conversation.
Emerson amended, “I was going to have Gunn give him a ride home, so you two lovebirds didn’t have to part.” He fixed me with a glare. “You’re welcome.”
Bri rolled her eyes. “You weren’t going to give him a ride home, and you know it. You just wanted to scare him, like you did before, so he wouldn’t sit with us.”
“Again,” Emerson bit out. His scowl deepened. “I did that shit for Luke. That prick just wants in your pants, and he’s using you for his band. You make that band. His band sucks. He sings off-pitch half the time and tries to cover it up, and the other two are hardly on beat. The only thing they have going for them is their hot drummer.”
“If you’re hoping to piss me off by insulting Callen, it’s not going to work. I’m not attached to them, so I don’t care what you say about them.”
“You’re right. We all know what band you’re attached to—”
“This isn’t happening.” I stepped between them and said to Emerson, “Walk.”
“I was trying to help you.”
“I know, but you’re not anymore. Walk away.”
“Luke—”