down. “Sorry. Johnny was pretty pissed, though. I think he would have messed you up if he'd had the chance.”
I hadn't realized I'd begun leaning forward. Half off my seat, I spoke with unbridled curiosity. “So what actually happened to him?”
Drez continued to twirl his beer. “He got dragged off by security.”
“Not before that asshole ripped my gauge, though,” Colt muttered. He pointed to his ear for emphasis.
“Honestly," Drezden said, "I don't know where the fuck he is now. I don't care, either."
“You're not worried he'll come back and cause more trouble?” I asked. "If I'd been kicked out of my band, I think I'd be furious."
The singer lifted his eyes, showing me a hint of the fierce animal living in his head. The beer didn't slow its perfect circles, his voice was a low, dry mutter. “Johnny knows if he ever shows his face to me again, I'll break his fucking jaw.”
And I believed him. Down to my gut, I didn't think he'd made an idle threat.
Porter started to say something. A hard, meaningful glare from Drez stopped whatever it was. I had the terrible idea that they knew something and didn't want to tell me.
“So,” Drez went on. Lifting the beer, ending the endless circles, he took a deep drink. “No. I'm not worried about him.”
My breath came in, sharp and loud. I'd been so wrapped up in Drezden's words and tangible emotions I'd forgotten that I needed oxygen. A thrill went up my spine, tickling the back of my brain and throat. His passion turned my insides to butter. That worried me.
Colt broke the serious mood. “About that food. Should we call Brenda, see where we can stop?”
Yawning, Porter stretched his beefy arms over his head. “As long as it isn't pizza again. I'm so sick of pizza.”
Drezden pushed his phone to his ear. “We need to stop and refuel soon. I'll tell her we want to stretch our legs and get a bite.” His attention shot to me, and instantly, I squeezed my beer too hard. “What do you want to eat? Any preference?”
“Uh,” I managed to say. “I don't really care. I'll eat anything.”
The green in his eyes went wild, a forest that was eager to sweep me up and let me get lost. Whatever flicker of heat between us that was there vanished when he stood, speaking into the phone. “Hey, we're hungry. When's the next stop?” He waited, listening. “No, no more damn pizza. Uh huh. Then pick a place where we can get a private room and not get mobbed. That's what you get paid for.”
Smiling, I imagined the put-together woman arguing with Drez on the end of the line. I was getting the impression she got frustrated with him a lot.
I was starting to know the feeling.
“Yeah, fine. Yes, it's fine! Brenda, just—yeah.” He rolled his gaze to me, thoughtful. “She's fine, we'll be fine. Even better if we can eat something before we all starve. Then you'll have no band at all.” He winked at me, which of all the things so far, set my hair on end the most.
Is he trying to be friendly? Is it an act?
Showing us his back, Drez nodded his head as if Brenda could see. “Alright. Sounds good. See you soon.” Shoving the phone in his pocket, he gave us all a tiny shrug. “Private room at some place called the Griffin Bar and Grill. An hour away or so. Best I could do.”
Colt stood up, making the table and bottles shake. “An actual restaurant? Hell yeah!”
“Brenda didn't like the idea, did she?” Porter rubbed his nose, matching the amusement on Drez's face.
The singer just shrugged again, shooting me a look from the corner of his eye. “She never likes my ideas. Hope you're ready. You're about to get a taste of what it means to be famous.”
If it's anything like being close to you, I thought, smiling like some plastic doll in his direction—a plastic doll full of heat and icy nerves who was barely keeping it together.
Then it just might kill me.
- Chapter Five -
Drezden
This kid.
This fucking kid.
How could one girl throw me for such an endless loop?
First she blew me away with her talent, then her innocent fucking little smiles and genuine reactions to everything around her. Next, she's dropping notes and sweating herself into a mess like it's her first time performing. And we weren't even on a stage with thousands watching us!