“You really found your stride after the break,” she says.
“Is that your way of telling me I sucked during the first set?”
She leans close. “You never suck.”
I try not to look at her. I reach for another drink.
A few women approach us. One of them leans down, flashing her cleavage. “Mind if we join you?”
Garrett hops up, offering Big Boobs his chair as he pulls over a few others.
“Hi, ladies,” Liam says, making room for them.
I move my chair closer to Bria’s.
“You guys were really good up there,” the brunette says. “I’m Lisa, and this is Alyssa and Tara.”
Lisa seems enamored with Garrett and his tattoos.
Alyssa and Tara are focused on me. “Can I buy you a drink?” Tara says, looking directly at me.
I raise my glass. “I’m good, but thanks for the offer.”
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” she asks, running a finger from her chin down to the top of her low-cut shirt.
Her friend elbows her. “I think they’re together.”
Tara looks between me and Bria. I drape my arm around Bria’s shoulders.
“Just my luck,” Tara says. She turns her attention to Liam. “What about you? Are you single?”
He gives me a withering look. “Why do I always end up with your sloppy seconds?”
Alyssa and Tara lean into him. “There’s nothing sloppy about us,” Alyssa says. “Take us in back, and we’ll show you.”
Liam downs a shot. “Lead the way.”
Bria looks shocked. “Is he really going to have sex with them? Both of them? Here?”
“Stranger things have happened,” Brad says.
Brad and I have a long conversation about Liam’s sexual antics. I realize I’m ignoring Bria. I hope she doesn’t notice. I sneak a look at her, wondering if the more I drink, the less her hair will bother me.
She eyes the many shot glasses in front of me. “If you’re just going to sit here and get drunk, I’m leaving.”
“It’s dark outside. You’re not leaving.”
“I am leaving, Crew. There’s really no point in my being here anyway.” She wiggles out from under my arm and stands.
“I’ll walk you home then.”
“No thank you.”
“Bria, it’s late.”
“I’m perfectly capable of finding my way home. I’m not the one who’s been drinking.”
Brad stands. “I’ll make sure she gets home.”
“I do not need an escort,” she insists.
Two girls cross to our table. I roll my eyes, not wanting to deal with more fans, but instead of talking to me or the guys, one of them hugs Bria. I go on full alert, and I’m about to pull them apart when Bria squeals, “You came! I wasn’t sure you’d make it.”
“We saw your last four or five songs. Brutus at the door wouldn’t let us in until some people left.”
Bria turns to us. “Did you hear that? We had the place packed!”
“Sweet!” Garrett says, taking a break from sucking face with Lisa.
“These are my friends, Katherine and Lola.”
I hold out my hand. “I’m Crew, and that’s Brad and Garrett. Liam should be back soon.”
“Crew,” Lola says. “Right. We know all about you.”
They do? Bria’s expression gives nothing away, except she’s still mad at me.
“I was getting ready to leave,” Bria tells them.
“You’re not going home, are you?” Katherine says. “We haven’t hung out in ages. Come clubbing with us.”
“Yes, Bria, go clubbing,” I say with a tight jaw. “Oh, wait, we’re already in a club.”
She hooks elbows with them. “We’re leaving. See you at rehearsal.”
“Guess you don’t need to walk her home,” I say spitefully, pulling out Brad’s chair for him.
Brad looks at me sideways. “You don’t want her going out with her friends? Or you don’t want her going with them when she’s pissed at you?”
I down another shot.
“What’s wrong with your girlfriend?” Lisa asks.
“She’s not my …” —I run a hand through my hair— “Forget it.”
I take another shot and get up to use the bathroom. Alyssa and Tara storm past me, going the other way.
“Your friend is a pervert,” Tara says. “What kind of creep doesn’t want a girl to touch his dick?”
Alyssa brushes against me. “I’ll bet you’re not a pervert, and your girlfriend will never know.”
I push her away. “I’d know.”
She huffs her displeasure and they leave, presumably to find their next conquest.
Liam comes through a door in back, sees me, and tries to act all cool. “Got a cigarette?”
“You don’t smoke.”
He gestures vaguely. “Yeah, but after that. Wow.”
“You’re such a liar, dude. I just ran into them. They said you were a perv.”