Hating the Rich Bastard
Page 16
He laughs back and I can tell he’s much more at ease.
I don’t really blame him, considering the shit he’s been going through today. I could see the way those pictures were starting to get to him. He was playing it cool, shrugging it off, acting like it was no big deal.
But it was eating at him, bothering him. Chase is too kind to say anything, but I could see it.
Sitting here though, it’s night and day. This bar’s a music bar, and the people in here are mostly musicians or at least music fans. They get it, they understand the sort of shit Chase goes through.
They’re basically not assholes.
“How’d you find this place?” he asks, sipping his drink.
“It’s a really local spot,” I say. “It’s kind of a musician thing.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Really? All these guys?”
“Studio guys,” I tell him, glancing around the room. “Mostly gig players.”
“Huh. Real musicians.”
I laugh a little. “You’re in a famous rock band, I’m pretty sure you’re the real musician.”
He goes quiet for a second. That’s another trait I remember. When he’s thinking about something, he doesn’t just speak his mind right away. He’s measured, smart, calm. I always really liked that about him, and wished I could emulate it more.
Mostly, I’m a loudmouth. I say whatever I want to say, whenever I want to say it. It’s gotten me in trouble more than once.
“I just play bass,” he says finally. “Nothing impressive even. These guys in here, grinding it out, playing their best all the time… they’re the real musicians. I’m just a performer.”
I frown a little bit. “I’ve heard your stuff. You’re not just a performer.”
He laughs a little ruefully. “Thanks. I guess I’m just feeling down on myself today.” He hesitates.
“I heard,” I say softly.
He sighs, deflating a little bit. “Fucking embarrassing.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. Everyone knows it’s bullshit.”
He lets out a breath like he’s been holding it this whole time. I feel for him, I really do. I know how the press can be for people like him.
“I usually keep out of trouble, you know?” he says, then looks at me and smirks. “Well, maybe you don’t. I’m sure you’re always in trouble.”
I grin and shrug. “You know me.”
“I sure do. You were kind of a bully back in the day.”
I gasp and laugh. “A bully?”
“Absolutely. You’d flip on a dime.”
“Are you saying I have a bad temper?”
“No, you just have a big mouth.” He grins at me and I nudge him with my shoulder.
“Whatever, man. You’re just mad everyone thinks you like to get pissed on.”
He hesitates again and shakes his head, smiling. “Asshole. See what I mean?”
I smile innocently and sip my drink. “Part of me thought you might be luring me into a little golden shower trap.”
“Stop,” he says, grinning. “It’s so disgusting.”
“I don’t kink shame.”
“I bet you don’t.” He sips his drink again. “You haven’t changed a bit, you know?”
“Oh, I’ve changed,” I say, more softly now. “We’re just picking up where we left off.”
We both go quiet at that. I think about everything that’s happened since I last saw him, and I bet he’s doing the same.
He takes a breath and lets it out. “Okay, fuck this sad shit,” he says, turning to me. “Let’s talk about why I wanted to see you.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Wait, you really do have a reason?” I suddenly feel nervous. “I thought this was just a little friendly get-together.”
“It is,” he says. “But I also have an ulterior motive.”
I groan a little bit. “Chase, there’s no way I’m going to spank you.”
He leans toward me, a little twinkle in his eye. “No, but I might spank you.”
I stare at him for a second, stunned into silence for the first time in my life.
He has no clue how long I’ve wanted to hear him say that.
Well, not that exactly, but that sentiment. I’ve been fantasizing about Chase for years, even back when we were friends. It’s almost jarring to hear it come from him so casually.
We used to be so careful. Never wanted to cross that line.
“Listen for a second, okay?” he continues. “I think we can help each other.”
“I don’t know how you spanking me is going to help.”
“That would just be for fun.” He sips his drink, leaning closer to me. “I’m glad you brought up my little problem, though. I have an idea how I can fix it.”
“You do?” I say, feeling nervous. He’s looking at me with those eyes and I can feel myself suddenly willing to do something I probably shouldn’t.
“I have an image problem,” he says softly. “There’s a perception of me out there, a total bullshit perception. But what if I changed it?”
“I’m not going to call up some magazine and tell them some bullshit about how great you are in bed.”
His smirk is so frightfully delicious. “It wouldn’t be a lie, but that’s not what I mean.”
“What could I even do for you, then?”
He leans closer. My heart’s beating so fast, I can barely breathe. A million thoughts are racing through my head right now.
“Marry me, Delia.”
I drink in the words and I think I might pass out.
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Also by B. B. Hamel
All books are standalone, full length novels!
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Hating the Rock Star
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His Amazing Baby
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Small Town Daddy
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Virgin’s Daddy
Man of the House
Second Chance
Best Friends with Benefits
Second Chance Husband
Hating the Rock Star
My Brother’s Bad Best Friend
Barone Mafia Family
Step Bride – Book 1
Bastard’s Baby – Book 2
Kissing the Killer – Book 3
Packing Heat – Book 4
Bow Down – Book 5
Big Daddies
Big Stranger’s Baby
Big Mountain Daddy
Single Dad Billionaire
Virgin Bride
Dark and Filthy
Summer Loving
Intense
Bend
Ruined
Bind
BDSM Bad Boys
Daddy Dom
Daddy’s Baby
Reverse Harem
My Five Daddies
My Brother’s Five Friends
Five Mountain Daddies
Alphaholes
Baby Maker
Lovemaker
Filthy Beast
Hard Bastard
Steamy Sports
Long
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Go Hard
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Royal Rock
Prince Player
Prince Billionaire
Sexy SEALs
Second Chance SEAL
One Night SEAL
Raging Hard
SEALed Bride
Bastard SEAL
Stepbrothers
Rock Hard
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Smash
Based
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Undersold
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Honored
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Full Collections
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About the Author
I’m from a little suburb just north of Philadelphia. I love black labs, stupid jokes, and dirty, filthy stories. As an Indie author, your support means everything. Thank you so much for reading!
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Copyright © 2018 by B. B. Hamel
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