Debt Money nods. “That’s what I’m saying, dog. Rap and rock. The beats. They flow like a river. We run together, a beautiful harmony and melody like my ladies. Ya feel me?”
I look at Danger, raising my eyebrow. Danger looks completely confused. “You’re fucked in the head! Like, seriously delusional.”
I try to hold in my laugh as Debt Money frowns. “So, you don’t want to do a collab, dog?”
“For starters, I’m not a dog, and the only bitch here is you! And for you to come crawling touswanting to collaborate only tells me how muchyoutrying to fuckusover has fuckedyouover. No, we willnotcollab with you! Yes, you can leave now. No, don’t ever contact us again. And if you try to spin this to the media in any way, wewilltake you down. You feel that,dog?” Danger spits, and I fist-bump him in plain sight of Debt Money.
He bares his teeth and growls like a dog, but slowly backs away, taking his entourage with him, and leaves the VIP area. I turn to Danger as Declan laughs, shaking his head. “Seems like you didn’t need our muscle after all,” Declan says.
“Yeah, seems like Danger’s tongue-lashing is enough to scare him away,” I say.
“Fuck! I sure showed him. Who the fuck does he think he is? Wanting a collaboration with us to try to gain his popularity back. Fucking freeloader.”
I shake my head as Nate and Matt walk over with two Miss Somethings on their arms.
“What the hell was that?” Matt asks.
“You don’t even want to know. Let’s keep having a good time. This VIP room is ours tonight, guys. Let’s enjoy it,” Danger says, and I smile with a nod.
I take my seat and look over to Lilah. She gazes over at me, and I gesture for her to come back. She does, and this time she sits in the seat next to me rather than on my lap.
“So that looked…intense,” she says.
I quirk a smile. “Yeah, just a guy we used to know trying to mark his territory. Thing is, I think we kinda kickhisass now.”
“Well, I’m glad. Would hate for anyone to mess up that pretty face of yours.”
I chuckle. “I need another drink. Is it time for a refill?”
“Yes, please, whiskey, thanks.”
“Okay, be right back,” I offer and head to the bar. I order a whiskey for Lilah and a soda water for myself. The endorphins of kicking Debt Money’s ass—metaphorically speaking—are running high, and as I grab Lilah’s whiskey, it smells so good. I look at my soda water, and the thought of drinking another bubbly water doesn’t make my happiness stick around. Looking back at the whiskey, I know my liver is still recovering, and drinking alcohol will be bad, but tonight is messing with my emotions. I miss Tillie and keep thinking about Katie, but I’m also on a high from putting Debt Money in his place.
Fuck, my head is all over the place.
One drink can’t hurt, right?
I turn back to the bar and order another whiskey.
Carrying the drinks, I return to Lilah, and as we drink, she takes a few more happy snaps. I don’t mind. It’s not every day a country girl meets a rock star. Plus, I feel like we’re friends, so it’s nice to connect with her. But after I finish my whiskey, I’m feeling a little dizzy and sick, and I want to go home. The emotions of the night are all becoming a bit too much, and I’m ready to leave.
“You okay, Ryan, you’re lookin’ a little pale?” Lilah asks.
“Huh? Yeah. I’m not feeling the best. You’ve been amazing company, and I’m so glad I met you, but I think I’m gonna call it a night.”
“Sure, well, it was great to meet you. Hopefully, our paths will cross again sometime.” She leans in, giving me a curt hug with a warm smile. There’s nothing flirtatious about it, and I like that about Lilah. Unlike most women, when they meet a famous rocker, she isn’t trying to get into my pants.
“My boyfriend’s gonna be so jealous when I tell him about this,” she says, and I smile, letting it all click into place as to why she hasn’t been flirting.She has a boyfriend. It all makes sense now.
“Good luck with your pageants in the future, peaches. I hope you finally win one. One day.”
“Thanks. I won’t, but thank you anyway. Goodbye, Ryan from Recoil.”
“Goodbye, Delilah-May Pageant Queen.”
She giggles, winks, and walks back to the ladies she came in with. I turn to find Danger and see he’s in the back, talking to Declan.
“Hey, D, you ready to leave?”
