Chapter 18

Zeke

The boys and I have been setting up all afternoon. Now that we’re finally almost finished, we manage to escape long enough to grab showers and race back.

People have been trickling in for over an hour, the beer’s been flowing, and the DJ’s been shuffling a variety of tracks. Everyone’s on their feet, celebrating, and having a good time.

Everyone but me. I can’t take my eyes off the door. My girl isn’t here, and I’m dying to see her.

She went quiet right after she sent a couple of jaw-dropping texts. It took everything I had to not go and find her.

Even stroking my dick didn’t take the edge off. I was still hard, ready for the moment I would finally get to lay my eyes on her.

I acknowledge a couple of fans who got wind we were announcing something serious tonight and traveled to Austin to find out our big secret.

Jacob opened the bar for this, and money pours in hand over fist. The party is getting crazier the longer it goes on.

Blake is lost in conversation with some brunette. Jay’s talking to the press. I haven’t seen Caleb for a little while, so hopefully, he has some chick in the back. That dude needs to release some frustration before he explodes.

Our manager is standing off to the side, making sure Jay isn’t giving anything away too early. He nods to me. It’s time, time to let everyone know our plans.

To say I’m a little disappointed to be doing it now without seeing Paisley is an understatement. I want her next to me. I need to ask her something important. I send a quick text.

Zeke

Baby girl, where are you?

Instantly she replies.

Paisley

On our way. Took us a little longer to get back than we hoped. Something big must be happening in town with all this traffic ;-)

A small laugh escapes. I’m more than ready for us to make this announcement now.

Frustrated, I force a smile as me and the boys take the stage. Slapping one another on the back, we look out at our adoring crowd.

The buzz that usually fills me is no longer there. The set of green eyes I want focused only on me is missing.

“Good evening, you sexy fuckers.” Blake laughs.

“We want to thank y’all for coming out. We know it was a last-minute shindig,” I add.

“We’ve been doing a lot of talking.” He grins.

“And enjoying some time off,” Jay adds with a wink, and a group of girls at the front of the stage scream.

“But we’ve got a little news we need to share with you.” Caleb points to the crowd. “And to the world watching live.” He motions to the cameras set up in the back of the room.

The air changes around me. It’s as if it’s picked up an electrical charge. Something tells me to look left, and I’m rewarded. There, in the tightest red dress I have ever seen, is my girl.

~Holy fucking shit.~

My eyes widen, and I’d put money on them looking a bit like cartoon saucers, full-on poking out, hearts floating around my head with some “Awooga” horn blasting.

She is gorgeous, and I’m speechless. Her eyes are sparkling, and she’s smiling at me.

I’m standing on a stage in front of a crowd of people staring like an idiot, like some preteen who is clearly about to jizz in his pants.

The boys slap me on my back again, bringing me out of my daze, and my eyes snap back to the crowd. ~Oh shit.~

I can’t talk. If I do…I’m sure I’ll lose the concentration it’s taking to hold myself together.

All I can think of is dragging my girl off and giving her one hell of a body workout, a real me-Tarzan-you-Jane experience. I want to tear her dress away and worship that flawless body.

Fuck, I’m ready to drop to my knees…beg her to do with me as she pleases.

“So without further ado…,” Caleb announces as Blake and Jay jump up and down, smiling like two crazed goons.

“We’re doing a sixty-day farewell tour.” I push it all out in one breath.

Caleb looks at me with one eyebrow cocked. The other two laughs. The crowd keeps shouting. They didn’t understand a word I said. And me? I stare at my girl, whose hand hovers over her mouth. She’s trying to hide a laugh.

“What Zeke is trying to say is…we’re planning a sixty-day tour.”

The crowd roars in excitement, cheering like we’ve solved world peace. Caleb holds up his hands.

“Okay, let me finish.” Caleb laughs as he has to shout into the mic. “This is our final tour, a farewell, so to speak. We’re not splitting up, so don’t panic.

“We just feel it’s time for us to step back a little and let one of the other bands take over for a while. But rest easy. We’ll be back.”

There is a round of boos that says not everyone likes our decision. Well, we have to do what we have to do and right now, we need to get on with life.

We stand together, our arms wrapped around each other’s shoulders. I feel like a weight has been lifted off me. This is the right decision.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Paisley. Her smile is wider than ever before. ~Time to make that girl mine.~

“All right! Now, let’s make this a night to remember. We’ll let you know when tickets go on sale,” I shout into the crowd. I’ve had enough. I now wanna get my arms around Paisley.

“Shots on the house!” Blake and Jay shout out together, high-fiving each other. They’ve done their crazy twin thing.

With final waves and cheers, we leave the stage and the DJ takes over. Bodies start moving, shots are passed, and I make my way off stage.

A body slams into me, and a pair of arms wrap around my neck. Lips collide with my own. Then the next moment, she’s yanked off, and a squeal pierces my eardrums.

Paisley is standing over some girl, ready for the starting bell to announce round two. London is beside her, shaking her head.

“Keep your skanky, fucking mitts off my man,” Paisley screams at the chick on the floor.

I admire her ass in the dress she’s wearing, she’s a walking wet dream. “Baby girl.” My voice is husky.

Her eyes snap to mine. She smiles and the tension visibly leaves her body.

I hold out my hand and wait for her to grab it, then pull her against me. I nudge her head to rest on my shoulder. “You okay?” I whisper into the top of her head.

She nods before leaving a chaste kiss on my cheek, and I feel a rush.

My attention shifts to the two guys helping Tania off the floor. Anger radiates off her in waves, and an angry red welt in the shape of Paisley’s hand has risen on her cheek.

“Tania?”

“What the hell, Zeke? I thought we had an arrangement. You. Are. Mine. When you’re in town. It’s how it has always has been.”

“I told you. We’re through.”

“She’s nothing but a tramp.” Paisley storms around, ready to take this to the next violent level. She stumbles when her gaze lands on the two guys beside Tania.

“Oh, my God, Pails,” London whispers.

“We Will Rock You” by Queen starts playing. Blake and Jay continue having fun on stage, as usual, and I try to work out what is going on. Why does Paisley look like she’s seen a ghost?

“Good to see you again, kitten.” The guy on the left licks his lips, eyefucking every inch of her.

I clench my hands, ready to pound my fist so far down his throat it will come out of his ass.

“I have to say…you look a lot better now.” He licks his lips again, taking her all in. “As a matter of fact, you look downright edible. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”

“Sorry, pal. She doesn’t date pieces of shit.” My breathing is heavy and the raging bull within is more than ready to charge and take the asshole down. Everything around us becomes insignificant.

I spot London out of the corner of my eye. She’s running off…possibly to find help. But I don’t need it.

Nobody is having fun with Paisley but me, and I’m one second away from making that perfectly clear to the goons in front of us. She’s stolen my heart, and as soon as I deal with this shit, I’m telling her that.

“Well, ~pal,~ I suggest you stay out of this. It has nothing to do with you.” He spits at my feet and reaches for Paisley’s arm.

I push her behind me.

His eyes snap to mine. The fire in mine probably gives away how wild I feel right now.

“If it has something to do with my girl…it has ~everything~ to do with me.”

My tension fades when Caleb slaps a hand on my shoulder. I risk a look at Paisley. Tears stream down her face. Her fear evident as she grips my shirt like a lifeline.

“Dude, why are you partying without us?” Blake shouts as he and Jay appear on the other side of me. Blake pushes London behind him.

“This wouldn’t have happened if you had just kept me!” Tania screams. I wonder what she’s up to.

“Enough,” the guy says in a tone no sane person would question. “Kitten, come with me now. Otherwise, there’s gonna be a whole lot of trouble. You know I don’t mess around… Remember Daddy? I don’t have a problem adding to the body count.”

He laughs, and I slam my fist into his face, knocking his ass straight to the floor. Nothing but a dark oblivion surrounds me as each punch meets its mark.

Something is happening around me, but I’m lost…lost in the desire to keep my girl safe, to fight any fucker who thinks it’s okay to threaten her.

I’m sending a message. To get to her, they’ll have to go through me. And I ain’t backing down.