damage was to my pride.
That couldn't be fixed with a glass of water.
He sat across from me, squinting so fiercely I couldn't stop myself from squirming. “You're really okay?”
“Yes,” I said softly, eyeing the scrapes on my palms. It was all minor stuff. So why do I feel so awful? Glancing at Drezden, I sipped my water. I was being bullied out there. That must be why I feel so rotten. I was getting assaulted and no one gave a shit.
My fingers squeezed the glass. No, that's not true. Peeking through my eyelashes at Drez, I felt blood surge to my cheeks. Someone did care.
Shaking my head, I looked at the singer, keeping my voice steady. It still sounded like I'd been eating rocks. “Listen, I need to thank you.”
“They'll be fired for this,” he said, showing me his profile; that sharp nose and strong jaw. It was as if he hadn't heard me, he was busy talking to himself. “Bunch of fucking idiots. I've told Brenda, if we're going to hire freelance security, prep them so they don't do shit like this!”
In my chest, my heart slammed against my ribs. “Did you hear—I said thank you. Thank you for saving me out there.”
Turning back, Drez considered me for a long moment. “It was nothing.”
“You could have easily not bothered.”
His palm hit the table, startling me. “Do you honestly think I could have easily ignored what was happening? Fuck, the sound of you throwing up alone was...”
Biting my tongue, the bloom of pain contorted my face.
Drezden's frown created deep rows in his skin. “Stop doing that—hurting yourself. Anyway, forget about what I did. Maybe next time, though, drink a little less.”
Pointedly, I banged the empty glass onto the table. “Thanks! Hey, while we're giving advice, maybe next time don't force me into a drinking contest with you.”
"I didn't force you to do anything," he snorted.
"You were trying to get under my skin all night! Challenging me with your 'tough' beer chugging, forcing me to take that champagne. You're not blameless."
Drez looked away; I regretted my accusation. I was the one telling everyone to stop treating me like I was a fucking child. I was on control of my choices—I'd ordered the damn beer.
I just wanted this night to end.
We sat in tense silence. I would have gone outside if I wasn't worried about facing anyone who'd witnessed me falling apart out there. New guitarist of Headstones vomits on tour! I really prayed no one had gotten a photo. Funny, earlier I was angrier that no one noticed what was happening to me. Now, I want that to be true.
“So,” I started, “You're going to tell Brenda?”
“In the morning. She'll be useless tonight.” Reaching out, he grabbed my forearm. I was too surprised to fight him as he turned my limb over, spotting the blazing crimson scrape and torn fabric. “Shit, let me get something so this doesn't get infected.”
I yanked my arm back, but the damage was done. His touch had my veins pumping. “It's nothing. They're just scrapes.”
“They?” he asked, looking pointedly at my other arm. “You've got more? Come on, come with me to the bathroom.”
I squeezed the edge of the table like it could keep me from having to stand ever again. “Calm down, it's nothing.”
Drezden was not a man to argue with. Reaching out, he tangled his long fingers in the neck of my shirt and pulled. “Get up. Now.”
The cloth stretched, pressing into my skin and coming close to tearing. My gut said to fight, but one look at the heat in his eyes melted my resistance. I was lightheaded when I stood. “There,” I said. “Happy?”
Rolling his eyes, Drez didn't let go. His strength demanded that I follow him as he led me down the aisle like I was on a leash. If the sweater hadn't been ruined by holes already, Drez had now wrecked it by stretching the neck out.
The bathroom was just up the hall from the studio room we'd practiced in. Thinking of our session made me fight him even less; it was a reminder of my failures, of my slow evaporation in Drez's presence.
Who was I anymore?
He pushed me into the bathroom, finally releasing me. “Lift your arms,” he said.
Unsure what else to do, I held up my hands. Grabbing the cuffs, Drezden tore my sweater and my shirt right off of me in one go. My hair fluffed from the motion, brain dazzled by the sudden exposure. In only