Feeling cocky, I let myself smirk. “I was always that good.”
Sean's forehead wrinkled. My gut said I'd gone too far, until I noticed he was looking just past me. Turning, I stepped aside and found Drezden within arm's reach. “She is really good,” the singer said. Reaching out, he offered his hand to my brother. “Long time no see.”
“Well,” Sean said, accepting the handshake. “Not exactly. I've seen you a bunch.”
The tightness in Drez's smile unnerved me. “These tours get busy for me, sorry I didn't come over before now.”
I didn't have time to get anxious from their tension. A crowd was forming, Brenda leading Porter and Colt our way. “Great job tonight, guys,” she said. She beamed at me, then spotted my brother. “You especially, Lola. Sean! Hey, good opening act.”
“Thanks.” Thumbing his ear, he looked over us all. “Getting packed back here. Lola, me and the guys are going to be partying at a place down the street. I'll text you if you want to show up for the afterparty, okay?”
I said, “Sure. Sounds good.” I was smiling again. I couldn't keep my exuberance in check. “And thanks, Sean.”
He walked backwards, wiggling his fingers. “For what?”
For being there for me, for pushing me. “Just... everything.” He rolled his eyes before hurrying away.
Brenda grabbed her hips, hair bouncing. “Afterparties, about that. You guys better be ready to climb on the bus tomorrow morning.”
“I'll be fine,” Porter said, elbowing me firmly. “Can't speak for the newbie, though.”
I gave the bigger man a light shove, laughing. “And I told you, this isn't my first afterparty.”
“With us, it is.” The drummer hooked his arm in mine, while Porter pushed me forward. The two of them had no trouble forcing me towards a back exit. “Come on! Our driver will take us to the club, it's supposed to be awesome!”
Drezden was following, a bloodhound who had my scent. “Wait,” I said. I dug my heels in, the floor screeching under me. “Wait, wait! We're not going to the same place as Sean and the rest of his band?”
They let me go, none of them meeting my eyes. All the fun had evaporated. “He might show up,” Porter mumbled. "Who knows?"
“Might?” Wrinkles crawled over the bridge of my nose. “They're not allowed into this club, are they?” I didn't wait for anyone to speak, their eyes were darting around, gliding off of me like I was made of oil. “If he or any of his band show up, they better be let inside.”
A hand clapped onto the top of my head; Drezden. “Calm down. I'll let the security know they can get in. Sound fair, kid?”
Kid. My heart swelled at the name he'd stopped calling me so quickly. I told him not to, that's why. I said I wasn't a damn kid. Pin-pricks crawled up my arms. Then he asked me... he asked me what I was doing to him. Every inch of me heated up, reliving the memory of being in the tub.
Unable to handle his nearness, I pushed away. I kept going, being the first to step out into the open air. The world was full of screams, flashing lights, and men in black holding an army at bay. These were the fans of Four and a Half Headstones.
My fans, I thought in wonderment. Looking over my shoulder, I challenged the rest of the band with my eyes. “You guys said you wanted to show me a 'real' afterparty. Then come on, show me what it means to be a member of Four and a Half Headstones.”
****
Inside the club, there was no air. It was a place built from human heat and purple lights. No one cared; everyone was eager to suffocate if it meant they could be near the stars.
Near us.
Near me.
Thumping music pumped into my muscle fibers. It made me dance, but the alcohol was what made me feel free. No one cared I was underage, they didn't dare turn me away. I'd told the guys I'd been to afterparties before. It galled me how right they'd been, though.
This was nothing like the parties Barbed Fire ended up at.
Packed to capacity, the club was sweltering. Bodies without faces ground against me, turned me to hamburger with their rough motions. Tossing back my third—fourth? —rum and coke, I closed my eyes and rolled into the sea.
Thump. Thump. Thump. The rhythm rocked my heart.
It was fun to have time eaten away like this, I didn't need to think about Drezden and how