Page 61 of All Tied Down

“I’m not trying to date him,” he deadpans, making me roll my eyes and twirl the straw in my drink. “Trust me; you’re all I can handle.”

“You’re still pursuing the connection. Getting to know him and seeing if he’d be a good fit.” I don’t know a whole lot about the music industry, but I know an absurd amount when it comes to networking.

“I literally just listened to him play for the first time tonight.”

“And I don’t think you needed more than one song to know he fits with your”—I motion toward Garrett with my hand searching for the word—“vibe. And besides, he’s looked over here at least three times already.”

“He has?”

“Seriously? How does Theo let you out on your own?” I tease, but I’m not totally kidding. I don’t think I’ve ever been so comfortable in public that I can just exist in the space without a care in the world.

But that’s this place for Garrett.

A pang of jealousy zips through my veins, and I hate that I’m letting my emotions get the best of me. That’s two days in a row.

And I can’t have that.

Connections are fine but emotions are messy.

Garrett and I have out-of-this-world chemistry, but it doesn’t need to be anything more than two compatible people enjoying the perks of their mutually beneficial arrangement.

“I’ll think about talking to him, all right?” he replies, his eyes moving from the band back to me as the next song starts to play. It’s sexy, the words and melody the best kind of seduction as everyone starts to sway.

I know Garrett can feel it too, his dark eyes flashing with desire as they drop to my lips.

“Wanna dance, Rockstar?” I know he can’t hear me but that doesn’t matter, because his gaze is focused on my tongue peeking out to wet my lips.

“Let’s make it fast, Miss Andrews. I’m hanging on by a thread.”

“Sounds kinky.”

“Just you wait.”

24

GARRETT

Ten missed calls.

I can only imagine they’re as colorful as the texts littering my inbox.

DARREN: I can’t fucking believe you man

DARREN: I needed you tonight

DARREN: You’re just gonna act like I haven’t given up everything for the band?!

DARREN: Your name might be on it but you’re nothing fucking special

DARREN: You left me to hang because you’re shacking up with some gold-digging whore

DARREN: See what happens when you fuck with me

DARREN: This friendship is fucking over

Rage burns inside me like a flash fire engulfing every cell in my body. There’s a half dozen more messages after that with roughly the same tone.

I want to beat the shit out of him.