the table. “I’ll have my guys open the doors and start letting them in, if that’s okay.”
Robbie puts his back to the wall at Jacob’s end and crosses his massive arms over his chest. “Ready.”
As soon as the door opens, the volume level in the building shoots up. Girls squeal Jacob’s name and flock to him first. A few skip his line and move down to Garrett. Even more rush straight for me.
I’m handed a variety of items to sign. Robbie walks back and forth, keeping the line moving quickly. The owner moves to the front of the store to work the cash register.
A few hours fly by almost as quickly as time flies when we’re on stage.
I’m about to ask Mallory if she needs me to get her anything to drink when another fan steps up to the table.
“Hi, Chaser.” The smoky voice has a tinge of familiarity to it. I glance up and study the girl in front of us. Teased, curly blonde hair. Pretty face. Bright red lips. “Long time.”
I groan before catching myself and force a bland smile. “Uh, hey.”
Awkward moments are bound to pop up when you’ve fucked groupies from coast to coast. It’s some sort of miracle this hasn’t happened a lot sooner.
That Mallory’s at my side jacks up the awkwardness to an almost painful degree.
“Carrie, yeah?” Fuck, I hope I’m right. I’d rather not be the asshole who forgot a one-night stand’s name in addition to subjecting Mallory to this awkward moment.
“You remember!” She beams at me. “How are you? I wanted to catch you guys last time you played in Union but I couldn’t get a ride.”
“Bummer.”
She leans over the table, all but shoving her tits in my face. I sit back and sling my arm around Mallory’s stiff shoulders.
“Did you want me to sign something?” I drop my gaze to the copy of Metal Edge in her hands.
“Oh. Yes.” Her gaze darts to Mallory and then back to me. “I didn’t realize…” She shoves the magazine at me and I flip through it until I find a photo of the band. Must be from my brief cokehead era. Vacant eyes. Strained smile. Jacob looks like he nodded off in an alleyway and we carried him into the studio and propped him up for the camera. Hell, there’s a good chance it actually happened that way. Fuck if I remember. I sure as hell didn’t agree to the hideous hot pink background we’re staged in front of. The empty bottles of Jack Daniels scattered at our feet give the photo an extra-special sleazy touch.
I scrawl my signature over my dopey face and hand the magazine back. “Thanks.”
Carrie lingers for a few extra seconds.
Please don’t hand me your phone number. Or anything else.
Finally, she slides over to Alvin.
“Old friend?” The tart snap to Mallory’s tone bothers me more than anything else that just happened in the last thirty seconds.
“Ancient.” I glance over but she’s watching Carrie twirl her hair and push her boobs in Alvin’s face.
Mallory shakes her head and shifts her body toward me. She runs her hand over my leg. A reassuring gesture even if she’s not able to express it with words.
“Don’t know how you put up with me,” I mutter.
“Honestly, I’m shocked it hasn’t happened sooner.”
I choke and sputter but thank fuck I stop myself from agreeing.
A few more girls—none that I have intimate knowledge of, thank you, Jesus—approach. They either stone-cold ignore Mallory or give her the stink-eye the whole time they’re chatting me up.
Mallory pretends not to notice, quietly handing me Sharpies or whatever else I need to keep the line moving.
When there’s a break, she grasps her purse in her lap in a white-knuckled death grip. “I should’ve stayed at the hotel. Everyone probably thinks I’m some bitch here to monitor your every move.”
“Hey.” I curl my arm around her and pull her closer. “No one thinks that and if they do, they can fuck off. I want you here. I need you here with me. That’s all that matters.” I jerk my chin at the store owner who hasn’t taken his eyes off Mallory all day. “Besides, who would old ham hands over there have to lust after if you hadn’t come with us?”
“Stop. He’s so nice.” She taps the box of posters he miraculously found in the back room.
“Yeah, crazy how he just had these lying around.” I roll my eyes.
Instead of answering, she tips her head, indicating another fan is lined up for