by Salsbury, JB
I gather the sheets to my chest. “Is everything all right?”
He slides on a pair of clean sweatpants and I try not to stare at his dick semi-hard behind the fabric. “I don’t know.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
He pulls a T-shirt over his head and his warm eyes settle on me. I watch frustration melt from his expression. “I could get used to this. Waking up every morning with you in my bed.”
I’m embarrassed to agree out loud, because doing so would expose the power he has to hurt me.
“Rodger’s on his way up.” He eyes me for a few drawn-out seconds. “Stay here. I won’t be long.”
He leaves me behind the closed bedroom door as he meets Rodger in the living room. I use the bathroom, wash my face, brush my teeth, and on the way back to bed, I overhear my name. Their voices are heated as I throw on the closest shirt and my jeans before bursting into the living room.
Rodger’s eyes come to me. “Oh, that’s fucking great.”
Ethan’s on the couch and looks up at me from his phone. He grins, stands, and crosses to me. “I thought I told you to stay in bed.”
“What’s going on?”
He sighs. “I was hoping to avoid this.”
I study Rodger as he rubs his temples, then I bring my gaze back to Ethan. “Avoid what?”
He dips forward and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Avoid you putting on clothes. I should’ve known you wouldn’t stay put.”
Why does Rodger look like his dog just died and Ethan looks smug about it?
“I heard my name.”
“Yeah, well, so did the rest of the world,” Rodger says.
“What does that mean?”
Ethan hands me his phone. “Scroll away.”
I feel his eyes on mine as I read several headlines on celebrity gossip sites about Ethan kissing a woman. There are even photos of us kissing outside the elevators inside the hotel.
“Looks like someone on staff here sold their photos to the press,” Ethan says in a way that sounds like an apology.
“Okay.” I shrug. “No offense, but it’s not like you kissing a woman is newsworthy.”
He nods toward the phone. “Keep reading.”
I skim the text, all of it sounding pretty ridiculous. At least they’re assuming I’m his girlfriend and not some one-night stand. I freeze when I get to my name.
My full name.
“They’re calling us Ethlor. How did they get my name?” I say, my head getting light.
“It’s probably on the reservation. It’ll be okay.” Ethan pulls me into his chest, and I allow him to hold me close as I process. “We planned to go public. Not this public, but maybe it’s best to rip it off like a Band-Aid. The sooner people get used to us being together, the better.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready for this.” I realize only after the words leave my mouth that I shouldn’t have said them out loud.
His muscles tense beneath me. “Too fucking late for that, Tommy.”
He called me Tommy. I close my eyes and breathe. “What I meant is, I don’t want my dad finding out like this.”
He seems to relax a bit.
“I need to tell him before he finds out from someone else.”
“Agreed.” He squeezes me. “I’ll go with you—”
“No.” I pull back to catch his eyes. “I need to do this alone.”
He scowls. “No fucking way. I won’t let him shame you. Or talk you out of being with me.”
“We could always deny it,” Rodger says from across the room. “Say it was a one-night stand—
“Not a fucking chance,” Ethan says.
Rodger shakes his head. “Ethan—”
“No. No way.” Ethan focuses back on me. “We tell your dad together.”
I chew my lip, my stomach turning over. My dad has never been an articulate man and he reacts more than he responds. This could end up with bloody lips and black eyes and I can’t bear to see either of the two men I lo—um… care for get hurt.
“I’m serious, babe.” He kisses me gently. “You’re not alone in this. We’re in this together.”
I nod. He’s right, and if it were him confronting another person about us, I’d be fighting to stand at his side. I let out a long sigh of defeat. “On one condition.”
“Anything.”
I catch the eyes of a clearly irritated Rodger. “You come along and make sure no one gets hurt.”
The security guard frowns. “I can try but—”
“Your job is to protect the talent.”
Ethan chuckles. “Who says I need protection?” Rodger and I both give him a look and he rolls his eyes. “Fine. Whatever. But it won’t come to that. I promise.”
Clearly, he doesn’t know my dad.
Ethan
Between sound check and our stage call, we have time to join the crew in the trough for dinner. Taylor and I decided after her dad eats a meal would be the best time to share the news with him.
I’m in our dressing room, waiting for Taylor to text and let me know her dad is there. My leg bounces eagerly to get this shit over with.
Ben takes the chair across from me, leans his elbows on his thighs, and studies me. “What’s going on?”
“What makes you think something’s going on?” My leg picks up its furious beat while I flip my phone in my hand over and over… okay, maybe I look a little anxious. “Me and Taylor made things official last night—”
“Whoa, hold up.” Ryder’s eyes are wide as he looks at Jesse, who seems just as surprised. “Did I hear that right?”
Jesse’s known me longer than any of these guys and he looks too stunned to speak.
“You and Tommy?” Ben says.
“Yeah. Some fucker from the hotel sold photos of us coming in from a date last night to the gossip sites.”
“Date.” Jesse coughs on a chuckle, but doesn’t look any less surprised.
“So you and Tom, you guys are an official couple?” A smile spreads wide on Ryder’s face.
“Yes—why are you laughing?” I ask Jesse, whose shoulders are bouncing. “Is it so hard to believe I found someone special?”
“Yes.” Jesse answers matter-of-factly. “You can’t possibly have real feelings for this chick.”
“Excuse the fuck out of me, asshole, but I could’ve said the same of you when you showed up with a fucking fiancée!”
He scowls. “That was different.”
“How?”
Ben holds up his hand to silence his little brother. “We’re happy for you. But why do you look like you’re about to crawl out of your skin?”
“We’re talking to her dad, you know, Prophet?” I check my phone again. No text yet. “He’s got some hang-ups with musicians. She wants to tell him before he finds out from someone else and she’s worried he’ll have a violent reaction.”
“You know,” Ben says, “back in the day, a man would have to get permission from a woman’s father just to ask her on a date.”
I glare at the man. “This isn’t 103 BC.”
“Something tells me it’s too late for you to ask permission anyway.” Ben lifts a brow, and whatever he sees in my expression makes disappointment darken his eyes. “Well, you could at least let him know your intentions, and while you’re at it, ask him directly why he doesn’t like musicians.”
“He doesn’t like musicians dating his daughter, and I think we all know why.” We have a well-earned reputation with women. How do I convince this man that my feelings for Taylor are different and go way beyond fucking?
“Everyone has a past. It’s up to Taylor to decide the relevance of yours.”
“If she knew…” I shake my head, unable to say what I’m thinking. The drugs, the women, the waking up with no clue who or how many… thinking about it now makes me nauseated.
“Tell her,” Ben says. “She might surprise you.”
“And if she doesn’t? If she can’t get past what I’ve done, then what?”
&nb
sp; He frowns. “Then you have your answer.”
“Maybe I don’t want my answer.” I put my head in my hands and pull at my hair.
Ben squeezes my shoulder. “If you haven’t forgiven yourself, you can’t expect her to.”
“Forgive myself for what?” I glare at him. “Being young, rich, and horny as fuck?”
“For giving yourself away to anyone who’d have you rather than considering the one person waiting for you who deserves you.”
Taylor doesn’t deserve me. She deserves much better. And I hope like hell she never figures that out.
Jesse clears his throat. “Bottom line, bro? What’s done is done. It’ll either work out with you two or it won’t. Can’t rewrite history.”
He’s right. But for once, I wish I could go back in time and change everything.
My phone vibrates in my palm—a text from Taylor.
“I gotta go.” I stand and head for the door only to see Ryder, Ben, and Jes following me. “You guys don’t have to—”
“Of course we do,” Ben says.
“I wouldn’t miss this for anything,” Ryder says through a too-big smile.
Jesse remains silent but smirks as if to echo Ryder’s thoughts.
When we get to the trough, Rodger is there, his expression grim. He lifts his chin and sidles up next to me. I spot Taylor and her dad at a table on the far end of the room. They’re alone except for one other crewmember—the chick, Dixie. I grab a bottle of water and make my way to the table. Jesse, Ryder, and Ben hang back, taking seats at a table close enough to watch.
Taylor’s wearing her baseball cap backward, and when her eyes settle on mine, I see a flicker of panic in their depths. I wink, hoping to relax her, then turn my attention to her dad, who’s eyeing me cautiously. I pull out a chair and sit across from him while Rodger hangs back.
“Prophet,” I say.
He glares at me. “Something I can help you with?”
I smile at Taylor then lean my forearms on the table. “No, but I was hoping I could talk to you about Taylor.”
She gives her dad a shaky smile. “Dad, Ethan and I are dating.”
His jaw clenches and he tilts his head, glaring daggers. “Is that so.”
“I’ve heard you have a problem with your daughter dating musicians—”
“She doesn’t date. And she doesn’t do anything with musicians.”
I beg to differ, sir. I bite my lip to keep from smiling, knowing the smartass comment bubbling up my throat would only escalate the situation.
Taylor puts her hand on her dad’s forearm. “Ethan isn’t like that. He’s been nothing but respectful and sweet and I…” Her eyes shift between her dad and me while I’m left hanging for her next words. “I really like him.”
For the first time since I sat down, Prophet’s eyes grow big as he stares at his daughter.
“I know, never fall for a rock star, but Ethan is different.” Her words are rushed as if Prophet’s a bomb about to go off and the more words she can speak, the less likely he is to blow.
“They’re all different, Tom! That’s how they get you. You know this! He’ll tire of you by the time we get to the next city, where he’ll seduce another naïve girl into his bed!”
I hold up my hand. “I’m sitting right here—”
“What is wrong with you?” he asks her. “Did you not see enough of this shit growing up? Your mother’s mistakes should’ve been all the lesson you needed.”
Her glare hardens as tight as her father’s. The family resemblance is shocking. “I have seen it all, so of course I know better, which should just go to prove that what Ethan and I have is different. It’s special—”
“Special, my ass!” The man slams his palms on the table and stands to his full height, his eyes on me.
Rodger closes in, and I feel the presence of my band at my back.
“I warned you to stay the fuck away from my daughter.” Prophet’s voice is low and trembles with fury.
I sigh and stand, facing off with him. “I can’t do that.”
His hands fist at his sides.
“I care about your daughter. More than I thought possible. I won’t walk away from her unless she tells me to go.”
He turns wild eyes on Taylor, who is now standing as well. “You’ll never speak to this piece of shit again.”
“You can’t tell me who I can date!”
“Then choose.”
Her brows pinch together. “What?”
“I will not stand by and watch this prick chew you up and spit you out. Him or me. Your choice.”
Her jaw falls open and fire burns in her cheeks. “You can’t be serious.”
“Elijah,” Dixie whispers, “don’t do this.”
“Pick!”
Taylor’s lips thin into an angry line. “You’re my only family.”
“That’s right. So you pick, family or him.” He points a meaty finger in my direction.
“Babe, you don’t have to choose,” I say, hoping her dad just needs some time to get used to the idea of us and he’ll be more accepting later. “We’ll figure something out—”
“Him!” She circles around the table, throws her arms around my neck, and plants a firm kiss on my lips. “I choose him!”
There are a few gasps heard around the room, but they all disappear when I hold my woman in my arms. I wrap my hands around her waist and pull her flush against me.
“Don’t come crying to me when he breaks your fucking heart!” Prophet stomps off, throwing open the door that crashes closed so hard the walls practically shake.
She puts her forehead to my chest, her breath shaky as she seems to get hold of her emotions. “He’s a fucking Neanderthal.”
I hug her and rub her back. “He’ll come around. Give him some time to cool off.”
“You don’t know my dad.”
“I know you.” I lift her chin to get her eyes. “Not a single man in his right mind could walk away from you forever.”
The corner of her mouth tilts up.
I swing my gaze around the room, noting the dozens of eyes watching us. Some with shock, others with contempt, Paul’s with seething jealousy. I raise a brow in his direction.
“What now?” she says.
“I guess I’m your family now, baby.” I kiss her softly, my body hardening at her closeness and vulnerability. I’ve never been responsible for another human being before. My life has always been about one person—me. But taking care of Taylor feels right, fills me with purpose outside of my music. “Stay with me?”
She checks her watch. “I can hang out for a little bit I guess—”
“Not now. Tonight, and every night after. I told you once I had you I’d never be able to let you go. I meant it.”
“I guess when I can, I will.”
“You guess?” I nuzzle her neck, suck on the soft skin of her throat, and kiss her again. “I hope you’re ready, Taylor Marsten, because I’m going to be the best fucking boyfriend you’ve ever had.”
“Not hard.” She smiles. “You’re the only fucking boyfriend I’ve ever had.”
“But you admit I am your boyfriend.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yes. Are you always going to need this much validation?”
“I’m a little insecure when it comes to you.”
“Why?” She leans away from me. “You’re the most arrogant—”
“Hey!”
“Confident.”
“That’s better.”
“Person I know.”
I shrug. “When it comes to you, I’m in unfamiliar territory.”
“We’re in this together.”
I kiss her long and deep until my palms itch to get her naked. A throat clears and a big palm squeezes my shoulder. I pull back to see Jesse smiling between us.
“Those pranks weren’t pranks at all. They were foreplay.” He gives me a playful shove. “Happy for you.”
“Thanks, man.”
And just like that, Ethlor is a
thing.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Taylor
Days and nights have blurred together since our big coming out in Charlotte. Back-to-back shows—Nashville, Birmingham, New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio. I wake up every morning on the bus, not knowing what city I’m in.
Ethan and I haven’t been able to spend much time together. Sure, it’s easier now that we’re out as a couple. We’ve managed a few hours here and there in his dressing room and become very familiar with some of the arena bathrooms, but we haven’t made love again since the first time. I’ve begged, but Ethan refuses to “fuck me like some groupie against a bathroom wall.”
The sting of his rejection dissolves when he kisses me, touches me, and tells me how much I mean to him. Then I’ll stumble to my bunk at three o’clock in the morning, dead on my feet, and find a dozen roses, an extra blanket because the weather shifts, or a giant stuffed animal waiting for me. We text as much as we can when I’m not trying to snag a few hours’ sleep, and it’s then I start to believe he’s really given up his player lifestyle for me.
“Where are we?” I’m settling my ball cap over my bed head while getting ready to catch cases before the sun comes up.
Dixie pulls a long drag from her cigarette, her eyes puffy. “Seattle. I think.”
I look around the loading dock, pretending something I see might confirm her guess when really I’m searching for Ethan’s bus.
The talent always arrives well before the crew. I spot Ethan’s blacked-out bus and think of Ethan asleep in his bunk, and my heart warms knowing he’s close. I’m jerked out of my thoughts when Prophet walks by without a single glance my way.
“He’s still giving you the silent treatment, huh?” Dixie says through a cloud of smoke.
“No, he barks at me through the walkie all day.”
She shakes her head. “Stubborn ol’ fart.”
“Paul’s not talking to me either.” I warm my hands on my cup of coffee. “The other day, I asked him a question about the rigging and he refused to even look at me, much less answer me.”