“Better a pervert than a tease,” I told her.
She kissed my neck and pulled the check out of my pocket, unfolding it. I adjusted my dick, trying to get comfortable as she studied the check, reading it carefully. It was a personal check, signed by me and written out for four thousand dollars. It wasn’t made out to her, though, or to anyone.
She looked up at me. “What is this?”
“It’s donation money. For whatever charity or cause or whatever makes you happy. You make it out to whoever and send it off. I thought it would make you feel good, since you don’t seem to like gifts for yourself.”
“Wow.”
“Feel good?”
“Uh, you could say that. It’s just… it’s a lot of money, Ashley…”
“I had the ring you gave me appraised,” I informed her. “Since I’m keeping it, this makes us about even. If you want, you can write the check out to yourself.”
Her mouth dropped open.
Then she looked down at my hands, on her waist… where I wore the antique platinum ring she gave me, with the onyx in it, on my left middle finger.
“Ashley…” Her eyes found mine again and she blinked too fast, like she was holding back tears.
“Hard to pick a gift for the girl who doesn’t want gifts,” I said.
“Thank you. Really.” She reached up and kissed me again.
“Happy birthday, beautiful.”
“You’re just the best.” She folded the check, carefully. “And it’s going to the women’s shelter near my place.”
“Good.”
I watched her slide the check under her dress, into her bra, jiggling her tits a bit as she tucked it in and kind of shimmied her dress back into place. Then she smiled at the look on my face. “What?”
“Nothing. That was hot. How long do we have to stay at this thing…?”
“All night.” She wrapped her arms around me. “Will you come dance with me?”
“Later,” I promised, squeezing her gently. “Right now, let’s go get you a drink.”
She giggled. “I already had a drink.”
“You’ve had several, by the look of things. But let’s get you another.” I took her hand and led her to the bar. She called to Taylor to come with us, and a few of her girls followed along.
I bought them all a round of whatever shots they’d been doing, some nasty butterscotch-tasting shit.
Though it tasted better in Danica’s mouth when I kissed her afterward.
“You want a cider or something?” I asked her.
“I want what you’re having,” she said, so I ordered us a couple of beers. “I’m so glad you could come,” she told me. She was wrapped all around me and my hands were on her ass… and it took all the strength I had not to slide my fingers up under her tight little dress and do the same thing I’d done to her that first time I saw her in a bar.
“Are you kidding?” I said. “I wouldn’t miss it, babe. You only turn twenty-eight once, right?”
She pouted. I’d never seen her pout like that before. It was fucking adorable, and I caught her bottom lip in my teeth, then sucked on it.
“I feel old,” she complained.
I snickered. “You’ll always be younger than me, so don’t worry about it.”
At that, a smile broke out on her face. “That’s true.”
“I gotta say… I’m pretty impressed you chose this bar for your birthday. Even if they’re playing a Bieber remix right now.”
She gasped. “How’d you know this is Justin?”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
She laughed, and spun my black cap around backward, gazing happily at my face.
A guy could really get lost in that look.
“So, you’ve been here before?” I asked her.
“Yeah. Thursdays, mostly. They have a new wave night, first Thursday of every month. Eighties pop all night long, baby.”
“I know. It’s the only night I never come.”
She laughed. “Do you come here a lot?”
“Pretty often. It’s one of the few rock dives left around here. I’ve seen a lot of great bands play here over the years.”
Our beers came, and I passed one to Danica and clinked my bottle to hers before we both took a swig. I liked that she’d drink cheap beer with me. The Back Door was the kind of place you came to listen to loud music, get cheap drinks spilled on you and get drunk, not to sip fine liqueurs.
I liked that Danica looked like she did, in her girly dress and sexy shoes, and she was still down with all of that.
“So, Xander’s coming…?” she said. “And did you invite any other friends?”
“I brought Summer,” I said.
Danica’s blue eyes went wide. “DJ Summer is here?”
I chuckled. “Yeah. You can just call her Summer, though.”
“Ohmygod.” She glanced down at herself. “Am I dressed right?”
“For what?”
“Um, hello. For meeting the party queen. And, you know…” She gazed up at me. “Your gorgeous ex-girlfriend.”
I put my beer down on the bar and slipped my arms around her waist. “You look fit to meet any queen,” I told her. Then I kissed her softly. “You’re a straight-up goddess, Danica Vola.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing her whole body into mine. “You are so getting laid tonight, with talk like that.”
“I hope so.”
She kissed me again. “Seriously, though. I want to meet her. Before I get all drunk and sloppy.” She grinned at me, a semi-sloppy grin, and I chuckled.
“Okay, babe.” I squeezed her, then released her. “Let me go find her. I’ll bring her over here.”
“Okay. Just don’t be gone too long…”
“Never,” I said, and gave her another deep, slow kiss before tearing myself away. As I did, she gave my ass a slap.
“I’ll miss this ass…” she purred.
Yeah, I really liked drunken birthday girl Danica.
I groaned and headed off to find Summer, leaving Danica with her girls—who were ordering more drinks—at the bar.
I found Summer easily enough. All you had to do was look for the swirling vortex of fangirls, which only grew as the night went on. They dripped off her like pretty accessories. Summer’s girl posse was her entertainment, her companionship, her security. I’d had giant security dudes on tour who were less effective in keeping the riffraff away.
Usually, in the center of the vortex, you’d find Summer getting cozy with a few fanboys. This time, when I shouldered through the bodies, I found her lounging on one of the Back Door’s few old couches between a boy and a girl.
I didn’t know either of them. But when I approached, she waved the guy off and patted the seat next to her, for me to sit down.
“Have you met Courteney yet?” she asked me as I sat, indicating the young chick sitting next to her. She had long blonde hair, and while she was definitely pretty, she was way less sparkly than Summer’s usual arm ornaments, in her gray hoodie, jeans and flip-flops.
“I haven’t.”
Summer took the girl’s hand and drew it over her lap, placing it in mine. “This is Courteney Clarke,” she told me, pointedly, like the name was supposed to mean something to me.
It didn’t.
“Cool.” I shook the girl’s hand, wondering who she was. Summer wouldn’t make a point of introducing her to me—first and last name—unless there was a reason. “Ashley.”
“I know who you are,” she said, but she didn’t seem hot or cold about it, just kinda neutral.
“They need a better DJ in this place,” Summer complained, “if they’re gonna do the dance night thing.”
“They need you,” Courteney said.
“They wish,” Summer said. “They can’t afford me, sweetie. But I can steer them in the right direction. I’ll talk to Bear about it.”
I snickered. “Consider whoever you recommend hired.”
“You think?” she said, kinda
batting her eyelashes. They had sparkly little rhinestone things on the ends of them; she was all blinged out in silver-and-black tonight.
“I think Bear will take any scrap you toss his way.”
Summer grinned. “Speaking of incredible DJ’s…” She passed a fresh drink over to Courteney, then leaned into me, so we were now in a private conversation. “We really haven’t had a chance to circle about our vortex playlists.”
“Yeah. I’ve been kinda busy…”
“Uh-huh. Danica, no doubt?”
Yeah, Danica. Honestly, I wouldn’t have let Summer get away with talking business tonight at all, if I hadn’t already spent so much time with Danica this week that I’d barely had time to talk to her. The most I’d seen her was last night at dinner with Brody, and we didn’t really get a chance to talk about our playlists.
“I’ve listened to your playlist about a thousand times,” I assured her. “It’s good.”
“Almost as good as yours,” she said, all sarcasm. “Are you really that underwhelmed?”
“It’s the best playlist I’ve ever heard. That better?”
“Much. So tell me what you really think. About both of them, as a whole.”
I shrugged. “I think it’s a killer mix of influences. We’re coming from different places, but there’s definite overlap. Musically, I’m all energy and attitude, you’re all heat and heart.”
“That’s true.”
“You’re the hottest party everyone wishes they could get into, and I’m the asshole crashing the door.”
She laughed.
“Let’s put that shit together and make something incredible.”
“Let’s,” she said. “Please.”
“So, why are we waiting until next June to audition Matt?” I asked her, because I’d been thinking about it a lot.
Since we saw Matt in England, Summer had been keeping in touch with him. In hopes of locking him down, she’d asked him if he’d meet up with us when he came off the road with Dirty next summer, essentially inviting him to audition. I’d never loved that idea.
“I’ve shared a stage with the guy,” I said, “and so have you. We know how he plays, how talented he is. We know his style. We don’t know him well, but everyone we trust who does know him vouches for him. So let’s get his vortex playlist, and next time he’s home, let’s get together and just jam on a few songs.”
“I love it.” Summer was already on her phone, messaging him, apparently. “I’m asking him for a playlist. And I’ll find out when he’s coming back.”
“As far as I know they’re all coming back for Brody’s wedding in August. That’s only six weeks away. Assuming Matt’s here and he has the time, let’s get together and make this happen.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Yeah, me too. I wanted to get this ball rolling.
But equal to that… I wanted to make sure things were cool between Matt and me, and that probably wasn’t gonna happen until I saw him again face-to-face.
“Who knows,” I said. “Maybe we’ll even have Xander by then and he can join us.”
“You think so?”
“Wonders never cease,” I said, and Summer snickered. “He’s coming tonight,” I added. “I’ll work on him.”
“Please do,” she said, tucking her phone away. “So, where’s the birthday girl? You spoiling her sufficiently?”
“Trying to,” I said.
I didn’t bother mentioning that I didn’t get Danica an actual gift, or that she had a family birthday dinner last night I wasn’t invited to. Technically, I was actually uninvited.
I was still trying not to be bothered by the fact that she’d asked me not to come.
I figured none of that would sound so good if I tried to explain it to a friend. So I just said, “She’s up at the bar in back, waiting to meet you.”
“Well, lead the way,” Summer said.
As we got to our feet, she hooked her arm through Courteney’s. They followed me through the crowd, trailing a few other girls. When we reached the bar, Danica and her girlfriends were right where I’d left them, chatting away.
I nudged Danica and she turned to me with a smile—but her eyes really lit up when she saw Summer.
“Holy shit,” she kinda gushed. “You’re DJ Summer.”
Summer smiled.
“Sorry. I mean… Summer.” She glanced at me, like, Oops.
“Summer, this is Danica,” I said, placing my hand on the small of Danica’s back. “She’s a fan,” I added, giving Danica a little smirk.
She elbowed me lightly and rolled her eyes.
“Lovely to meet you,” Summer said. “And happy birthday.” And when she offered Danica her hand, Danica hugged her instead.
“Thank you,” she said. “You’re amazingly talented.”
“I am?” Summer cocked an eyebrow at me as they pulled apart.
“I’ve been to your shows,” Danica explained.
“I like her,” Summer informed me.
“You like everybody,” Courteney said. She was standing by, sipping her drink.
“That is most definitely untrue,” Summer said. “Cheers to you.” She tapped her drink to Danica’s. “Come dance with me later. I’ll be over there, on the big couch.” She gestured in that direction. “Find me when you get bored. And you.” She pointed at me. “Show her a good time. I have people to entertain.” She gave me a meaningful look as she looped her arm through Courteney’s again. Which meant I was gonna have to find out who this girl was. Later.
Then she kissed me on the cheek, kissed Danica on the cheek, and sashayed off into the crowd with Courteney, and her other girls in tow.
Danica turned to me. “I think I love her.”
I smiled a little and shook my head. Maybe that was drunk talk, but I’d honestly love it if Danica and Summer got along.
“She likes you, too.”
I started to wrap my arm around her, but then I spotted Xander and a couple of his buddies working their way through the crowd. I leaned into her, nuzzling her ear. “Sorry, babe. Xander’s here now. I’ll be right back.”
“Aren’t you popular.” She turned to kiss my bottom lip and gave it a little bite.
Fuck. I was definitely gonna have to screw the shit out of her later—birthday style. Couldn’t believe I’d only been fucking her for two days, officially.
Just had to convince her to ditch this party at some point, so I could take her home before she got too wasted.
I squeezed her ass, then made my way over to Xander.
We did a bro-to-bro hand-clap thing; we weren’t exactly on hugging terms these days. He introduced me to his friends, who then headed over to talk to Snake, probably about slipping down the back stairs to Misty’s.
“Glad you could come,” I told him, once we were alone. I wasn’t gonna kiss too much ass, but it couldn’t hurt to let the guy know he was appreciated. Summer was expecting me to woo him, and I wasn’t exactly known for my wooing skills, but I’d do my best.
“Who’s the babe in the pink dress?” he asked, nodding toward Danica and scoping her out. “And what’re you doing over here with me? You do realize she’s waiting for a cock ride…?”
“Don’t even think it.”
“Already did,” he said. “But let me rephrase. That girl’s waiting for a ride on your cock.”
“That’s Danica. You met her at the Artemis. It’s her birthday. I’m here with her and her friends.”
“Shit, the twins? Is that Nikki chick here? Because that got freaky, fast. And not in a good way.”
“No idea.” I grinned as I watched him look around, clearly hoping not to run into Daniella’s friend.
Then his eyes fixed on something behind me and he lifted his chin. “And who’s the doucheface?”
I looked, and Danica’s ex-boyfriend, Carter, had moved into the spot I’d vacated next to her. Swept right in while my back was turned. It was him, for sure. Same designer-shirt-and-douchy-hairstyle combo as last time I sa
w him.
The fuck was he doing here?
I watched, and… yup. I definitely hated that smarmy, self-satisfied smile of his. Especially when it was directed at my girl.
“‘Doucheface’ is about right,” I told Xander. “See, you and me… we vibe. We’re destined to be in a band together.”
He chuckled. “I thought you didn’t believe in destiny.”
“Huh?”
“I dunno. You were rambling on about destiny and fate and all kinds of shit at your breakup party.”
“Yeah, well. Maybe I do believe in destiny. I mean… I don’t know.” I sipped my beer.
Truth was, looking at Danica made it easy to want to believe in shit like destiny.
I just still wasn’t sure if I’d ever earn enough good karma to deserve her.
“So?” Xander prompted. “Doucheface?”
“That’s her ex.”
“Huh. He’s very… shiny,” said the guy with the slicked-back hair and diamond stud earrings. He also had a tight, sleeveless shirt stretched over his fantastic chest, nipples poking right through. Dude was a slice, and he knew it. “So why’s birthday girl hanging with her ex over there, when you’re over here?”
Great question.
“You gonna stand for that?” he poked, his eyes sparking as if to say, I’d love to see how you deal with this.
Xander always did love stirring up shit.
Wasn’t happening, though. No one was stirring up shit on Danica’s birthday.
“Look,” I told him, “this thing is new, and it’s fucking awesome. Her best friend’s here, and all I ask is you don’t fuck her and forget her, ’cause that shit’s gonna come back on me.”
He grinned. “Hey, you invited me. I can be a gentleman. I mean, I’m not saying I won’t fuck her. How hot is she? Hot, I’m guessing, or you wouldn’t be warning me in advance.”
I kinda rolled my eyes. “Let’s get you a drink.” I clapped him on the shoulder, squeezing just a little too hard, and he chuckled. Then I led the way back to the bar.
Taylor saw us coming and moved out of the way so I could slip in next to Danica. I was quickly coming to like Danica’s best friend.
All the more reason to make sure none of my friends fucked her over.
Hot Mess: A Players Rockstar Romance (Players #1) Page 44