Jillian hummed.“Looks like she found her own stress release.”She was across the room, staring out the window.
Something sick curled in his stomach.He strode to the window and scanned the scene outside.People danced and talked and drank around an in-ground pool.He spotted Skye standing within a crowd.Her eyes were closed and her hands were above her head as she danced.A few people tried to touch her, but she just brushed them away and continued dancing on her own.
Remi was a little mesmerized by it.The swing of her hips and the way she was so self-contained.It made something in him ache with desire and longing, but he didn’t know for what.He definitely didn’t want to go down there and dance with her, press his body against hers and feel the way she moved.
More hands found her, grabbed at her.Remi clenched his fists.Couldn’t they just leave her be?She obviously wanted to dance by herself.Why were they so goddamn pushy?He wanted to stomp down there himself.Stand as bodyguard.He wouldn’t touch her, wouldn’t even look; he’d just glare at anyone who came close.She deserved a break.She deserved to feel good.She—
“She’s fine,” Jillian said, her hands cupping his fists, and he loosened his fingers, trying to get ahold of himself.
He shook his head and snapped out of the daze.What was he thinking?Skye was fine.She was a demon.She could light every single one of those dickbags on fire if she wanted.She didn’t deserve to feel good.She was ruining his life.
Remi refocused on the beautiful woman beside him.He needed a distraction.He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Give me a tour of this big, fancy house that isn’t yours.”
She giggled and took his hand.“Okay.”
Liam had already disappeared, and Jillian actually did show him around, which was a little disappointing since he’d meant it more in the show-me-all-the-places-we-can-fuck kind of way.
She introduced him to people, and he tried to smile and chat, but it was all a little uncomfortable.Everyone already knew him or knewofhim.They were either shy and starstruck or acted like they were his best friend.A restlessness crept up, along with the same darkness that had been shadowing him earlier.
Jillian must have sensed it.She slipped something into his hand as she excused herself to deal with some girl who was puking in the corner.“On the house,” she whispered.
He squeezed the plastic baggie of powder and stuffed it in his pocket as he smiled, the darkness already receding with the promise of relief in sight.
He looked around, searching for his bandmates.Doing drugs with friends was fun.Doing drugs by yourself was when you had a problem.He spotted West leaning against the counter in the kitchen and talking to some guy who was fingering the mesh of West’s shirt.
Remi stared until West looked up, and then ran a finger under his nose while tilting his head to gesture toward the bathroom.
West nodded and leaned forward to whisper something to the guy he was talking to.The guy pouted as West walked away.Remi followed him into the bathroom.
“There’s going to be rumors that we’re fucking,” West said.“With the way we’re always in the bathroom together.”
Remi laughed.It was typical for the four of them to start the night together, but Liam and Ollie usually disappeared without a trace until the next morning.
“That’ll be good for our image,” Remi said as he portioned out lines on the bathroom sink.“I’m sure there’s already fanfiction about our tour bus just being a giant fuck fest.”
West rolled his eyes.“Probably.”He leaned forward and snorted a line, his voice nasally as he said, “Little do they know.The three of you are too disgusting to get a boner around.”
Remi laughed, then did two lines in a row.
“You know who I think would be more than happy to find out our tour bus was a giant fuck fest?”West said.
“Who?”Remi’s thoughts floated to Skye, and he stiffened.He didn’t want to share Skye with anyone.Even his bandmates.
Wait.No, he didn’t want Skye at all.
“Laurie,” West said.
The bass from the music shook the bathroom walls, almost in the same rhythm as the pounding in Remi’s temples.
He curled his lip.“Fuck Laurie.He didn’t come, did he?”
West nodded.“Yep.Zara, too.They’re outside by the pool with Skye.”
Remi clenched his jaw.“You’re into Laurie.Ollie and Liam want to fuck Zara…” He shook his head.Demons were invading his band.
“You’re one to talk,” West said, shoving his shoulder.“But you don’t have to worry about me.I’ve had enough assholes in my life.I’m sticking to men who won’t fuck with my head.”
Remi pursed his lips and pretended he didn’t know the asshole West was referencing, pretended he wasn’t related to the guy.“Amen.”
