“Call head office back, Jace. In case you forgot, we signed contracts and we’re currently in breach.” His expression was impassive. Cold. Closed off. I envied him for that ability.
It irritated me that he was right. Not only had we cut our tour short—right before going international—but we also owed our record label a new album, and right now I had a grand total of fuckingnothingto submit.
Trouble was, I also had no desire to write new music. Before Billie reappeared, I’d been struggling with writer's block. I couldn’t keep writing music about her; it’d been too damn long and I wastired. But then she came crashing back into my life, and now every time I picked up a pen,allI could think of washer.
“I’m too fucking sober for this shit,” I grumbled, reaching forward to knock on the privacy glass dividing us from the driver. “Let me out here.”
Gray was two seconds away from smashing my head into the window, I could see it written all over him. Better I remove myself than have to deal with a broken nose.
“Jace, you can’t just keepfakingit. Sooner or later, you have to man up and face your damage.”
I scoffed. “That’s where you’re wrong, Gray.” I popped my door open as the car rolled to a stop in front of another busy nightclub and climbed out on slightly wobbly legs. “I’m young, rich, famous,hot. I’m living my best fucking life with no damage left to face.Sheran back into the arms of her backstabbing lover, so I’m washing my hands clean.”
Not waiting for his response, I slammed the car door shut and cut the line to the entrance of the club. A bouncer put out a hand to stop me, then within seconds realized who I was and let me in. It was nice being famous sometimes.
Ralph, my bodyguard, shadowed me, like he always did, and I ignored him, like I always did. Gray had gotten under my skin, and I was suddenly too worked up to try and go home. Rhett would be there, wallowing in self-pity, and I couldn’t face that yet.
I’d never regretted sharing a penthouse apartment with my best friend, but damn, it was growing uncomfortable.
My gaze scanned the crowd as I pushed my way over to the bar. I needed a shot of some hard liquor, then probably something stronger. Glancing over my shoulder, I tipped my head to Ralph. “Find me some coke or something,” I ordered him. “Gray fucked my mood right up.”
Ralph was a professional. He just dipped a short nod, then melted into the crowd to do as I’d asked. He wouldn’t be far away if anything happened. But I wasn’t worried.
“Hey, you’re Jace Adams, right?” A breathy female voice jerked my attention to the left. My undoubtedly bloodshot eyes scanned the girl from head to toe. She was young, maybe twenty-one at best, and her mousy blonde hair was tied up in two high ponytails. Her whole look screamedinnocent,but the calculating gleam in her eye said she was more than down to party with a rock star.
“I sure am,” I replied with a sly, flirtatious smile.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she wet her lips. “Are you here with the rest of Bellerose?”
That soured my mood. Another girl who’d rather fuck Rhett or Gray over me? Maybe I was losing my good looks.
“Nope,” I replied, turning back to the bar and giving her a cold shoulder. It didn’t last long, though, as her delicate fingers threaded around my wrist to pull my attention once more. “What?”
Her brows lifted at my harsh tone, then she lowered her eyes in a practiced coy gesture. “Can I suck your dick in the bathroom?”
Christ. It wasn’t even a challenge anymore.
“Sure,” I agreed with a shrug. She grinned and tightened her grip on my wrist, eagerly pulling me after her as she led the way to the bathrooms. Ralph passed me a small baggy of coke on my way past, and I smirked to let him know where I was headed.
The girl wasted no time, undoing my pants before I even locked the stall door, dropping to her knees on the disgusting floor, and wrapping her lips around my soft cock.
“Fucking hell,” I grunted, leaning my shoulders against the door and grabbing her two ponytails in my fists. It was easy enough to close my eyes and picture…someone else. That got me hard. I let my eyes open just a crack, just enough to squint at her in the dim light andpretend.
I was rough with her, not giving a fuck about her feelings, then blew my load down her throat without even a word of warning. She choked on it, understandably, but I was already pulling my jeans back up over my wet dick.
“Thanks,” I muttered, opening the door while she spluttered and coughed. I crossed to the vanity where a girl stared in shock, her hands under a running tap totally forgotten.
Ignoring her, I dried off a patch of the marble counter and dumped out a small pile of coke. From my pocket, I pulled out my black AmEx to cut a couple of lines, then used an already rolled hundred dollar bill to snort one. If you’re going to be a cliché, you need to go the whole hog.
“Jace, what—” The girl stumbled out of the stall, still wiping her face from where her eyes had watered and streaked her makeup. She cut off abruptly when she saw the other girl standing there staring at me. Then glared.
“Here,” I said, handing blondie my rolled up note. “Help yourself. You earned it.” I grabbed her face and kissed her, tasting myself on her tongue and feeling nothing but self-loathing. She was just… some girl. Not my girl.
With a deeply disappointed sigh, I walked away and left her to the remaining lines.
“Fuck,” I breathed as I stalked back into the club. There was only one reason I’d gotten hard for that chick, and it was her vague resemblance to Billie goddamn Bellerose. Maybe Gray was right… I needed therapy.
“You good?” Ralph asked as I exited the club once more.
