still much shorter than me. And I’m only five feet six inches.
The concert must have ended because eventually the room begins to fill up with people who have backstage passes. I see a lot more cameras around tonight, and even though I know we’re in a completely different state, I try to stay away from them.
I stand off to the side and start clicking away on the camera when Zack and the rest of the guys start to enter the room. It’s amazing to me that even behind the camera lens, I can see all the female faces go from apprehension to instant lust the moment they see Zack. A part of me smiles because I know I’m going to be the one that goes back to his tour bus with the band at the end of the night. But then a scary thought enters my mind.
What if they ever bring back some of these women? What if he does? He’s obviously interested in me in some way, he said he’s not interested in groupies anymore, but there’s a lot of skin being flashed around right now and what if our new friendship, or whatever it is we have, moves too slow for him? He’s still single. And surely he still has to be tempted every once in a while. I can’t believe he’s been without female company for too long.
And I almost start panicking, because what if that’s what he wants from me? I haven’t been with anyone, ever, except for Mark. And Zack’s been single for years. Even if I’m ever ready to take that step with someone, could I do it with someone so much more experienced?
I blow out a deep breath and lower my camera while my pulse continues to race at an insanely fast pace. Am I having a heart attack?
I turn away from the crowd and go to the bar at the back of the room. I need a drink. There’s too many thoughts of possible what-ifs going through my head to focus any longer on photographs.
I catch Zack’s glances several times since he’s walked into the room, but I’m still trying not to freak out about Zack and thoughts of sex. I admit I’m totally avoiding him, and whenever I see him take a few steps towards me, I take a few steps into the different direction or pull out my camera and act like I’m taking pictures.
I turn around when I’m bumped from someone behind me and look right at Ethan. There’s something about this guy that has unnerved me, and not in a good way, since I met him at the sound check. Not only is he by far the least friendly of the band, he looks at me like he’s annoyed by my mere presence and I can’t figure out why.
Tonight is no different. He’s practically leering at me with his black eyes that just look dangerous.
“Get some good photos, tonight?”
I doubt he actually cares, but since this is the first time he’s said anything to me besides a grunt in acknowledgement that I’m in the same room with him, I answer. “Some. Maybe. It might take me a few nights to get the hang of everything. You guys did great tonight, though.”
I do a crappy job of trying to keep my tone completely even so I don’t give away that being anywhere close to him makes me nervous. It comes out shaky and foreign sounding to my own ears.
He says nothing for a while, but his eyes don’t leave mine. Slowly, he gazes over my entire body from my head to my toes. I begin feeling much more naked than I actually am in my strapless black mini dress and red patent leather peep toe heels. Ethan’s mouth turns up in a smile that makes me feel slimy and gross. I feel like I need a bath to wash his filthiness off me. I turn my eyes away from him to look around the room trying to find some way to get away from him without being too rude. My eyes catch Zack’s and I see him instantly stiffen when he sees I’m talking to Ethan.
This is the second time I’ve seen him behave like this where Ethan is concerned and I wonder what it is between the two of them that can cause so much tension.
“You’re prettier than the other girls.” Ethan’s thick voice catches my attention.