“I’m not leaving, Xander. I came to see Summer’s show. She invited me.”
“Yeah, well, you saw. And now it’s time to go.”
“Sayswho?”
“Says the guy who’s gonna drag you out of here if he has to. Get moving.”
“Are you guys okay?”
I glanced over my shoulder. Elle was standing just behind me, watching us. She’d just come out of the back hall, her bodyguard shadowing her. She looked from me to Courteney, concern on her face.
“No, I’m not okay,” Courteney snapped.
“She’s upset,” I said evenly, my eyes on Courteney’s. “Because she’s underage and I know it, and I’m taking her home.”
Courteney looked to Elle, obviously hoping to get bailed out of this.
I glanced back at her. And great news; we were drawing a crowd. A couple of bouncers from the VIP area were now hovering, and people were looking over.
Elle looked us both over, and gave Courteney a small smile. “Sorry, sweetie. Maybe you should go home?”
I gave Courteney a look, like,The fuck are you waiting for?
“Ihateyou,” she practically spat at me. Then she turned on her heel. The bouncer opened the door for her and she stomped away down the back hall.
You know, like the teenager she was.
“You okay?” Elle asked gently. There was sympathy written on her face now… for me.
“I’m fine.”
“Okay.” She hesitated. “You know I’m gonna call her, and make sure she’s okay, too. She’s my little sister’s best friend.”
“Yeah. That’d be good,” I said. “Appreciate it.” Like I was grateful she’d check in on her.
I looked for Lucas; he was standing just off to the side. “I’m out,” I told him. He nodded, and I took off after Courteney, down the back hall. She was already out of sight, but I followed the exit signs—pissed right the fuck off.
Because now what? She had Elle wondering if I was some kind of creep?
I mean, if Elle really thought that, she wouldn’t have let me leave with Courteney. Not like she could stop me—but her bodyguard could. His name was Flynn, and though I’d spent several months on the road with him this winter, I’d never seen the guy smile. He was ex-military or something, and he wasn’t as big as me—but he definitely looked like he could rip out my throat or something before Lucas could blink.
Courteney was outside in the alley, waiting for me, her arms crossed over her chest. She made a pissy noise as I approached.
“You not learn anything the last time I dragged your ass out of a bar?” I walked right past her, headed for my car.
“Whattime?” she hissed, hurrying to keep up with me. “Refresh my memory. Oh, you mean the time you offered to stick your dick in my mouth like such a gentleman?”
I stopped dead. I turned to her and stared her down as she stopped a few feet for me.
“At least Iofferedfirst.”
“Meaningwhat?”
“Meaning, you really want to get raped or something? That your mission in life?”
Her jaw dropped right open. “I was hanging out at a club! With friends! Since when does that equal me wanting to get raped?”
I took a step toward her. “Friends, huh? What was in that drink that guy gave you?”
