I stare at her, head leaning against the window as she sleeps soundly. I’ve been watching her since I parked. Ellie and Travis went inside, but I wanted to sit with her for a bit longer. Tension eases from my chest, and the pent-up shit I was feeling minutes ago slips away just from looking at her. Being near her.
I’m so fucked.
Her eyelids flutter before opening, and she smiles, making my heart hammer against my ribs.
Fucked.
“Hi,” she says shyly, sitting up. Her eyes fall to my busted knuckles, and she slides over to me, reaching for my hand. “Oh my God.”
“I’m fine.”
Her fingers rub across my skin gently. Fucker’s blood stillon me. She looks up at me, regret all over her beautiful face. “Does it hurt? How are you going to play? This is all my fault. I’m sorry.”
This is not the first time I’ve punched someone and then played my guitar. Shit, I’ve done it right before a gig before. Do not recommend.
She buries her face in her hands.
I peel her hands away, using my finger to tilt her chin back and force her eyes to mine. “I’m not hurt and don’t apologize. This isn’t on you. I’m sorry if I scared you, but I’m not sorry I did it. You don’t deserve to be treated that way, and I wasn’t going to sit back and let it happen.”
I hope I didn’t freak her out, but she has to know I’d never let someone disrespect her like that. At first, I wasn’t sure she was going to tell him to fuck off. She sat there like a deer in headlights for so long that I started to sweat. Eventually, she did, and it was a relief. Then he started to spew bullshit because his pride was hurt, and yeah, I caught the dig about her following Mommy and Daddy’s wishes. I’m not dumb enough to think they’d approve of someone like me, but I don’t give two single fucks either. The way she tensed up when he said it made me worry she does, though.
Olivia pressing soft kisses to each of my knuckles snaps me from my thoughts. “We should put some ice on it.” She starts to move, but I lift her and put her in my lap instead.
“I’m okay. Plus, I have my gloves. They’ll heal me.”
She scoffs, rolling her eyes. “They aren’t going to fix your swollen knuckles.”
Maybe not, but it makes me happy to wear them. Seeing her face light up tonight when she watched me put them on had my head floating in the damn clouds. I could tell she was nervous about giving them to me. All I want to do is keep reassuring her that I fucking love them, knowing she thought aboutme and took time out of her busy day to make them for me. A part of her is always with me now when I perform.
“They might,” I say, cupping her neck, and stroking her bottom lip with my thumb.
She huffs a laugh, failing to hide her smile. She shifts in my lap, the tight little skirt she’s wearing riding up. I almost forgot how good she looked because I was so distracted by everything else. I let my eyes dip down her body and will my dick not to react. She’s wearing a preppy sweater with one of those fancy collars and a plaid skirt with pantyhose under it.
I can’t help it, my cock jerks as my hands slide up her legs to grip her thighs.
She leans in, brushing her lips softly over mine. “Thank you.”
I pull back to stare at her. “For what?”
“For standing up for me.”
Using the hold I have on her neck, I bring her mouth back to mine. “I’d do anything for you.”
“We have lessthan a week before this show, Travis. Get your head out of your ass.” Tanner’s voice is calm, but his nostrils flare. His body language tells me he’s trying to keep his temper in check, something he’s normally good at. If anyone can get under his skin, it’s Travis. They fight like brothers, but I know they love each other.
“Fuck off, I’m good. Let’s go again,” Travis says, taking a swig of water before tossing the bottle across the garage.
We’ve been at it for two hours. Whatever Travis has been going through keeps making him lose focus, which forces us to start over before we can get through a full song. We eventuallymanage to get through one before Tanner gets a phone call. He darts out to answer it.
“If he doesn’t stop trying to fuck me with that big dick of his and put it in his girlfriend instead…” Travis grumbles.
I shake my head, sliding my guitar around my back, and walk over to the chair where my phone sits. It’s been days since I last saw Olivia. She’s been busy with classes, and I’m missing her like crazy. I know getting attached to her is a bad idea when she doesn’t know what she’s doing after graduation, but it’s too late.
Liam and Travis are trying to rope me into their conversation, but I ignore them and send her a message.
Penn:
Practice is running long tonight. Call you later.
