He glances up, catching me gawking, and winks.
Ugh. I drop my gaze, pretending to read.
I drove here after my morning classes, thinking I could do homework while he practiced. I’ve gotten nothing accomplished, and it’s not the music distracting me.
When I look up again, Penn is pulling a hat from his pocket, spinning it backward, and putting it on.Just great.
He smiles at me, and I grit my teeth. He knows exactly what he’s doing. Teasing me by simply existing, being so damn hot with the control of a saint. Every night he kisses me until I’m breathless and practically melting into a puddle at his feet, and then he just…leaves.
He hasn’t once pushed me for more, not even slipped a hand up my shirt for a little feel, even though sometimes when we’re kissing, I thrust my chest out, my nipples aching and begging to be touched. He keeps his hands firmly to himself, and it’s getting damn frustrating.
A few minutes later, the sound cuts off. The guys are huddled in a circle talking, but I try not to eavesdrop. Tanner says something and I hear Travis scoff, “Fuck you, man,” before stalking into his house and slamming the door shut behind him. Liam follows after him.
Penn shakes his head, talking to Tanner, who nods before he slips out the garage, a scowl covering his face.
Penn comes over to me, his guitar slung across his back, and leans down to kiss my head.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, Tanner and Travis just butt heads a lot. It’s nothing new.”
“Oh. Are you ready to go?” I shut my book and stuff it into my backpack.
“Let me talk to Trav real quick.” He helps me up from the chair and we slip inside. We’re making our way through the den when I hear Travis and Liam arguing.
“Fuck him. He thinks he can make decisions for all of us? Without even asking?” Travis’s voice carries through the house.
“He’s only looking out for us,” Liam says, sounding reasonable.
We step into the living room, and I attempt to pull back to give them privacy, but Penn doesn’t let me go.
“Dude, how are you so calm about this? He met with a fucking label without telling us! Then decided not to move forward, not bothering to tell us shit,” Travis spits.
I can’t say I blame him for being frustrated. I don’t know much about trying to make it in the music industry, but I feel like meeting with a label is a huge deal.
Penn steps next to Travis. “I know, man, but you know Tanner. He fucking breathes for this band. He’s not going to steer us wrong.” He doesn’t seem the slightest bit upset about the situation. “Besides, do you really want to sign to some shit label that’s going to want to change everything about us?”
Travis scoffs and goes to the kitchen to grab a beer. “He still should’ve told us!” He takes a drink before slamming it on the table.
“Come on, buddy, you know it’s not like that.” Liam stands next to him, clapping a hand on his shoulder to calm him.
I attempt to step back again. This feels like a conversation I shouldn’t be part of, but Penn tightens his grip and has the nerve to send me an annoyed look.
“Okay, I’m going to go. See you guys tomorrow.” Liam sighs, shoulders slumping as he walks out.
Travis empties his beer and tosses it in the trash can. He spins around and grabs something from a drawer. When he turns back around, a joint is hanging from his mouth. He stares at Penn, lighting it and taking a long drag.
My eyes bounce from him to Penn as they have some sort of silent stare-off. After exhaling a cloud of smoke, Travis holds the joint toward us. Penn shakes his head, then Travis glances at me.
“Fuck off,” Penn growls.
Travis smiles. “Don’t be a buzzkill, man.” He raises his eyebrows.
I shake my head. “No, thanks.”
“We’re heading out now. You good?” Penn drags me toward the door.
“Yep.”
