I gasped in outrage. “You guys are all assholes.”
Eventually Bryan and Dylan went back out to dance, so Smith and I hustled a few games of pool. Before I knew it, a couple hours had gone by and it was last call. We grabbed the girls on the way to close out our tab. Thanks to her cock-blocking older sister I hadn’t gotten to spend any alone with B all night. Watching her dance and laugh had only made me want her more. She used my own pick-up moves on me without even knowing it. The way she danced, holy hell. Her tight little body, her curves. I knew every man in the bar was thinking the exact same thing I was. It made me want to kill them, and fuck her. I didn’t know if making a move would be the best thing I ever did, or the worst. But I couldn’t stay away from her any longer. It was inevitable.
While we were waiting outside for our driver, Bryan put her head close to mine. “You know, I’m pretty sure that blonde chick we saw earlier would be up for anything.”
I put my hand on the small of her back and pulled her body against mine, putting my mouth next to her ear. “The question is, doll, would you?”
She took a small step back, her eyes searching my face for any traces of humor. But I was dead serious. I grabbed her and brought her back against me, letting her feel my hard body. “You’re the only girl I have eyes for.”
“Guys! The car is here.”
Bryan stepped back again when Smith opened the door to the black SUV. She climbed into the third row and when Dylan went to climb in next to her, Smith put his arm around her waist and gestured for me to get in. I loved my bandmate. I got in and sat down as close to B as possible. She was quiet, I could feel the confusion coming off her. The inside of the car was dark, the tinted windows not really letting in any light from the street. I reached for her hand, threading our fingers together. Our first kiss would not be in the backseat of a car with her sister sitting a few feet in front of us. I wanted to savor her.
***
As soon as we got home I headed upstairs to check on Landry. She was still sound asleep in her pile of stuffed animals and blankets. Her dark thick eyelashes resting against her beautiful skin. I shut her door a little more and then crossed the hall to my room. I was nervous. And scared. Crossing this line with Bryan? It was intense; it was important. And I didn’t want to fuck it up. I wasn’t sure I knew how to give her the relationship she deserved. And apparently she might not know how to stick around after three months. It’d been so long since I was with someone I actually cared about. I sat on the edge of my bed, my head in my hands. What kind of example was I to my kid? I vowed right then and there to change my ways, change the way I saw and talked about women. I’d be damned if my little girl grew up thinking that it was okay to be treated like anything less than royalty. And I’d start with Bryan. I’d treat her so damn good that she’d never want to leave.
I looked up when I felt her walk in. I could always feel her when she entered a room. It was like she caused a shift in the air around me. “Hey, doll.”
Her smile was cautious, like she was nervous too. “Hey.”
I stood and closed the door softly. I’d open it later, just in case Landry needed us. Us. I stepped back and placed my hands on Bryan’s face. “You looked gorgeous tonight, although I might be biased because I think you look gorgeous every night.” I let one hand move to her hair, grabbing the dark silky strands in my fingers. “I couldn’t see anyone but you. You are all I ever see, baby doll.”
“Jacks…” She said my name in that soft way again.
“I want you. If I’m being honest, I’ve wanted you since the moment I fucking met you. I haven’t wanted to go out, haven’t wanted to miss your call. Talking to you is the highlight of my day. You are the best friend I’ve ever had, I couldn’t have made it these last few days without you. But having you here, holding you while you sleep and seeing you across the dinner table… I want more than your friendship. I want all of you. And I’m done pretending like I don’t.” I held my breath, it was all out there now. There was no taking it back. I told her how I felt, what I wanted. And now it was up to her. I should take a step back and give her room to think, but I couldn’t. “Talk to me, baby doll.”
She sat down across from me at the desk chair. Her mouth opened and closed a few times. Like she was trying to find the right words. Was she trying to find a way to let me down gently? For a brief moment in time I got a glimpse of what heartbreak felt like. And it fucking sucked. “I think I want more too.”