stars sleep with everyone.”
“So he’ll wear a condom,” she says.
I cringe. “Gross.”
“Oh, come on, El. Don’t be so uptight.”
The band comes back, and Krista goes wild. When it appears they’re winding down, she does the unthinkable. She gets up on the table and dances—until a very large man comes over and pulls her down. Then he puts her over his shoulder and starts for the door. He turns. “If you want to get your friend home safely, I suggest you follow me.”
Embarrassed, I take Jenn by the elbow and we follow.
Outside, someone is setting up a roped-off area by a second door. Krista eyes it. “I’ll bet that’s where the band will come out. You guys, we have to stay. If we wait here, we’ll be in front. They’ll see us. Please. Oh, God. Does my hair look okay? Brutus back there messed it up when he went all Tarzan on me.”
Jenn and I peer at each other. Krista has gone off the deep end. She’s had more to drink than the two of us put together. I shrug. “Fine by me,” Jenn says.
Krista takes off to position herself in what she deems to be the best spot. Other people see us and gather around, speculating on when they will come out. Someone exits the main door, and I can no longer hear the band play.
“Shouldn’t be long now,” I say. “Sounds like they’re done.”
“Unless they stay for drinks,” Jenn adds. “We could be here for hours.”
“Wonderful.”
My feet start hurting from standing in one place. More and more people gather behind us. A few times, I have to ask the drunk women behind me to please stop crowding us. One of them is telling me off when the door opens. Screams and cheers erupt as the members of Reckless Alibi step out on the sidewalk. There is a huge man in front of them and a few others in the rear with SECURITY printed across their T-shirts.
Autographs are signed. Pictures are taken. Krista is about to come out of her skin waiting for them to get to us. “We should have stood right by the door. What if they stop signing before they reach us?”
“I’m sure they’ll be happy to autograph your boobs,” I say.
Suddenly I’m pushed from behind. I fall through the ropes, my heel catching on the pavement. As if in slow motion, I see Jenn reaching for me. I try to take her hand but miss. Then everything goes black.
Chapter Three
Liam
The ropes are breeched, and the first thing I see is Crew protectively putting his arms around Bria. Thor lunges forward to keep bystanders from trampling over the girl who fell down.
I see silver sparkles. Shit. The girl from inside. I rush over and pick her up. She looks at me in a daze as I carry her to the limo. Once inside I flip on the light. Blood trickles down her temple and a large goose egg is forming.
Crew, Bria, Garrett and Brad slip in behind us.
“What happened?” the girl slurs. I can’t tell if she’s drunk or stunned from the fall.
“Looks like you were pushed from behind. You fell on the pavement and were about to get trampled to death.” I’m more than a little concerned at the sight of her head. “I’m afraid you may have a very bad headache tomorrow, but right now I’m taking you to the hospital.”
She touches her head then stares at the blood on her fingers. She seems embarrassed. To be hurt? To be in my lap? “Uh, I’m fine. I should go. Krista and Jenn are probably wondering where I am.” She tries to sit up but cringes in pain.
“Don’t move.” I crack the window. “Tom, can you please find two women, Krista and Jenn, and tell them we’re taking …” I glance at the woman in my lap.
“Ella,” she says, looking mortified.
“Tell them Ella is going to the hospital. She’s got a possible head injury. Give her friends your contact info so they can call later.”
“I’m on it,” he says, turning away.
I close the window as fans swarm the limo and try to peek inside. “Take us to the nearest emergency room,” I tell the driver.
She touches her head again, but I remove her hand. “You shouldn’t. Your hands could be dirty.” Bria gives me some wadded-up tissues, and I press them gently to her temple. Ella tries to wiggle off my lap. “Stay still. You could have a concussion.”
Her eyes close. “This is not happening.”
It’s hard