sure plenty of women do. That’s not a reason to hate me.”
“He doesn’t hate you,” Garrett says. “He also doesn’t date women.”
“Oh.” I look over to see Liam and Crew having an intense conversation. “Is he gay?”
Garrett and Brad almost fall out of their chairs laughing.
Liam and Crew join us. “What’s so funny?” Crew asks.
“Bria was asking if you’re gay,” Brad says.
Liam is doubled over, guffawing. Crew and I are the only ones not laughing.
“I’m not gay,” he says sternly. “What the hell made you think I was?”
“They said you don’t date women.”
“He doesn’t date them,” Garrett says. “He fucks them.”
Crew hits him on the back of his head. “I’m standing right here, douchebag.”
I twist my lips. “So you’re no better than Adam Stuart.”
“That’s bullshit,” he says. “I don’t string them along. They all know the score. And quit looking at me like I’m some kind of man-whore. It’s not like I take a girl home every night. Just because I get more action than these cocksuckers doesn’t mean I’m a player.” He tosses back his drink. “I’m not like him.”
“Sorry,” I say. “I shouldn’t have said that, but you’re standoffish with me.” I motion to the stage. “Except when we’re up there.”
“Everyone has to play their part.”
I narrow my eyes. “Well you do it very well.”
Liam nudges Crew. “Go on. Tell her.”
“You do it,” he says.
“She won’t believe it if it comes from me.”
Crew absentmindedly rubs his tattoo. He does that a lot. I’ve never asked him about the knife piercing flowers. Like his notebook, I get the feeling it’s super personal.
He sticks his hands in his pockets. “I guess … welcome to Reckless Alibi.”
I bite my bottom lip to suppress my girly squeal. “Really? You mean it?”
“Yeah,” he says dryly, then mumbles something about déjà vu. “Listen, I’m going home. I’ll catch an Uber.”
“You don’t want to stay and celebrate?” Brad asks.
“Headache.”
“Let him go,” Liam says. “The rest of us can stay.”
Before he leaves, he turns back to the stage and gazes at where we were singing moments ago. Then he catches me staring. He runs a hand through his hair and walks out the door.
“Don’t mind him,” Liam says. “He’ll come around. He knows this is what’s best for us. Give him time to warm up to you.”
“Does he have a problem with women singers?” I ask. “Or just with me specifically?”
Liam stares at the front door. “He … has his issues. He’ll work through them. This is a good thing.” He picks up a shot glass and hands it to me. “To Bria. Welcome to RA!”
I clink my glass against theirs, almost as excited about my future as I am curious about Crew. Issues? What issues? And what do they have to do with me?
Chapter Ten
Crew
Seven years ago
Abby rolls off me and snuggles into my side. “When’s your mom going to be home?”
I glance at the clock as I remove the condom. “Not for another hour.”
“Good.”
“It’s okay, you know. She’s well aware you come over when she’s not here.”
“That doesn’t mean I want her catching us in bed.”
“We’ve been dating almost six months. I’m pretty sure she knows we’re sleeping together.”
She puts her head on my chest. “Why can’t my parents be more like your mom? You know I had to swear to my dad that I would stay a virgin until I got married?”
I tense under her. “Shit, Abbs. He’s gonna kill me.”
She grabs my hand under the covers and holds it over my heart. “He won’t find out. But if he did, he wouldn’t kill you. He does like you in his own reserved way. But I’d be grounded until I was twenty-one for sure.”
“Where did you tell him you were going today?”
“Work. No … Janine’s.”
I hate that she has to lie to her parents.
“Hey, speaking of work, I forgot to tell you Rob got fired yesterday.”
“The creep who was always staring at you?”
“Yup.”
“Thank God. I was wondering when I was going to have to kick his ass.”
She stares at me, her head propped on my chest. “You’d really have done that?”
“Hell yes, I would have. You’re all mine, and any guy who looks at you the way you said he did, deserves a black eye and a swift kick in the nut sack.”
She smiles. “My protector.” She inches her way up to press her lips against mine.
I love the taste of her. My dick springs back to life, but like Abby, I’m not too keen on Mom finding us naked in bed, so