Heavy metal blared from the speakers, only adding to the chaotic vibe that vibrated the floors and climbed the walls.
For the most part, Lyrik barely lifted his chin in acknowledgment of someone calling his name, those competing for his attention, this dangerous, volatile man seemingly unaffected and aloof.
He led us to the very back where a bar was set up.
Here, most of the people in the room held back, giving us space.
Anthony appeared off to the side with a grin on his face. He clapped Lyrik on the shoulder. “Lyrik, it’s good to see your face. Feel good to be back in town?”
“Sure thing,” Lyrik said with a little less enthusiasm than someone might anticipate.
Anthony turned his gaze on me, appraising again, but where the asshole back in the hall had been exactly that…an asshole…Anthony’s assessment was soft and without judgment. Just…curious.
“Nice to see you again, Tamar.”
“Nice to see you, too.”
Ash squeezed through, bounding onto the scene, always larger than life, cutting off any further conversation. “Anthony, how’s it going, man? You outdid yourself this time. Sold out. Guess we can’t ask for better than that, now can we?”
“Hell yeah,” Sebastian agreed as he sidled up to the bar, his hand wrapped up in Shea’s, refusing to let her go.
She eyed me with a knowing smile.
Crazy, huh?
I shook my head with a smile, thinking it truly was crazy, that Lyrik had me wrapped up kind of the way Sebastian had Shea.
Staunch and resolute.
That I was here, and for the moment I was his.
That whole feeling fluttered through me again. The promise of something good.
Stupid, stupid girl.
Because that thrill trembled with the consequences of leaving myself susceptible and weak.
Right then, I wasn’t sure I could much make myself care anymore. Wasn’t sure I could conjure the fight.
I squeezed Lyrik’s hand, turned my nose to his arm so I could breathe him in.
Maybe it was better to hurt and bleed and cry than to be vacant and alone.
Maybe fear wasn’t such a horrible thing, after all.
Ash leaned over the bar and helped himself to a bottle of Jack, lined up a long row of shot glasses, and set to pouring the amber liquid across them.
I felt the curve lifting at the corner of my mouth. “You’re making me feel like a slacker, you pouring the drinks while I stand over here pretending like I don’t have a thing in the world to do. You sure you don’t want a professional to handle that?”
Ash cracked up with a shake of his head, his blue eyes sly as they cut across to me. “Ah now, my Tam Tam…I do appreciate the gesture…”
His attention kept sliding until it landed on the side of Lyrik’s profile, Lyrik’s head inclined so he could hear whatever Anthony was saying, clearly paying us no mind.
Ash flicked his attention right back to me. “Think you have plenty to keep you busy. My boy there is a handful. Wouldn’t want to leave you at a disadvantage.”
He said it like a tease, but I didn’t miss the undercurrent of warning that made its way into his words.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, accepting the glass he passed my way.
“I know you will.”
Ash nudged Lyrik’s arm, and Lyrik turned from his conversation and took the shot glass Ash offered. Everyone seemed to know their routine, each taking a step back or closer, huddling until they’d made a small circle of friends.
These boys who’d always seemed so bad.
The ones who’d shaken my axis the second they’d invaded Charlie’s bar, because they’d ushered in this black-haired, broken boy who would steal my world.
A beautiful storm.
Still holding my hand, Lyrik slanted me one of his deadly grins and a wink.
My insides went haywire.
A sizzle and a snap.
Ash lifted his glass. “To the future of Sunder. May all our roads be paved in gold and may badass songs continue to pour from our souls. Oh yes, and may there always be lots and lots of girls.”
He grinned like the Cheshire and tossed back his shot.
Shea smacked him on the chest. “Hey.”
He deflected, jumping back and trapping her hand against him. “Don’t worry, Beautiful Shea. We know Baz Boy here is locked down tight. No worries. Just leaves more for the rest of us.”
Tugging her hand away, she pointed at him. “I still have two hundred bucks saying you’re going to be filling up that house with a herd of little Ashes. I’ve got your card, buddy. This girl needs a new pair of shoes.”
Ash gripped his chest like he were in pain. “Oh…God…you’re killing me here, Shea. I’ll gladly fill up your whole damned closet with shoes if it’ll stop you from this mad delusion.”
The entire time, Lyrik was squeezing my hand. Hard. A little hopeless. Like he didn’t know where this was going, either, but he couldn’t bear the thought of letting me go.
I squeezed back.
Don’t let me go. I need you. I want you. I love you.
Do you hear me?
He suddenly looked down at me. “You ready to get out of here?”
“Yeah.”