by Zoey Derrick
I look at him and scowl. He puts up his hands defensively. “I’m not that short.” I hear Addison and Kyle laugh behind me.
“No, you’re not. In fact, you’re not short at all, but you’re shorter than me, so that makes you a short stack.” Peacock laughs. “How are you holding up?” he asks me a little more seriously.
“I’m doing pretty good. You?”
He sighs, “I’m looking forward to a couple days off.”
“I can imagine. Any plans while you’re here?” I ask and Peacock looks toward Mouse and I can see him deflate slightly. I lean into him and whisper, “When the time’s right, he’ll come around.”
His eyes dart to mine. “I’m beginning to think it’s a lost cause.”
“You can’t help who you fall in love with, Eric, trust me,” I say lovingly thinking about Dex. “Sometimes it just takes longer for the other person to realize it.”
“Yeah, maybe. I don’t know, sometimes I think I’m chasing the wrong person. Then he does or says something to me that makes me think otherwise.”
I lean into Peacock’s shoulder. “I know we haven’t really had a chance to talk, but I’m all ears, anytime.”
He chuckles and I can feel it more than hear it. “That is if I can get you away from him.” I feel him shift under me and I look up. Dex is standing there with a playful look on his face.
He leans down toward me as I sit up. “He bats for the other team, glowbug. I’m pretty sure you’re missing some equipment.”
“Hey, they make toys for that,” Kyle says over my shoulder toward Dex and I catch Addison’s beet red expression as the words tumble from Kyle’s mouth. I make a mental note to ask Addison about it, one day. Though I’m assuming he’s referring to a strap-on.
Peacock’s arm comes around my shoulders and he leans into Dex. “I’d take her over your ass any day, Dex.”
We all bust up laughing just as Mills opens the door to the greenroom. Dex looks at Peacock. “So would I, brother.” He winks at Peacock then grabs my wrist, pulling me off of the couch, out of Peacock’s grasp and into his arms. He kisses my forehead before trading places with me and planting his ass on the couch between the guys and he pats his thigh. I hold up a finger and walk over toward the bar. I grab him a beer, open it and grab myself one too. When I turn back around the room is filling with fans, but there is something in the corner that catches my eye but it’s gone before I can actually look at it.
I walk back toward Dex who has eyes only for me, despite the hoard of woman streaming into the greenroom. I go to hand him his beer and he grabs my wrist, pulling me onto his lap. He’s smiling widely at me as he takes a beer from me. “Thank you, princess.” I hold my beer up to him and he clinks his with mine.
“Anytime.” I smile and take a sip.
I stayed on Dex’s lap the whole time we were in the greenroom. He was constantly squeezing my ass or rubbing my back, reminding me that he was there and a couple of times I’d brush my hand along his crotch, seemingly on accident, and his breath would catch with each contact and it would send little tiny shocks of pleasure straight to my sex. Winding me up for what I hoped was going to be a beautiful night between the two of us.
“We’re going to go to Lower Broadway,” Mouse says to the group.
“Hell yeah,” Talon and Kyle say together.
“What do you say, Dex? You two coming too?” Mouse asks.
I look at Dex who looks at me. I smile wide and nod. Dex smiles too. “You got it, brother.”
Shortly after that, we’re packed up and ready to leave the arena. When Dex and I climb into one of the cars he turns to me. “Are you sure you want to go?”
I smile, “I’ve always wanted to go.”
“We’re here a few more days,” he tells me.
“Do you not want to go?” I ask. I’m not upset, just unsure why he’d not want to go.
“No, I do, just making sure you want to go.”
I climb onto his lap and grab his face. “I promise to not get too drunk.” I smile and kiss his lips.
After a beat he replies, “Better not. I’m dying to be inside of you. If you weren’t wearing those pants, I’d be buried in you right now.” He growls at me and I wiggle my hips against the erection that’s straining his jeans. “You’re the devil.” He huffs as his lips land on mine once more and the car drives off toward Lower Broadway and an entire row of bars and country music nightlife. The heart of Nashville.
When we arrive in the area, the night is hopping with people. It’s a Friday night, would you expect anything less? “Whatever you do, do not leave my side; accept no drinks from anyone but me or one of our guys.”
His tone is concerned. This isn’t the first time we’ve been out together since hooking up, but this is the first time I’ve ever gotten a lecture. I try to figure out what’s changed. “I won’t.”
“Promise me?”
I look at him with my eyebrows scrunched together. “I promise. Dex, what’s wrong?”
He gives me a sad smile. “Nothing, I just don’t want to see anything happen to you.”
I cup his cheek. “I’m a big girl.”
“So was Addison,” he says softly but with concern.
I cock my head at him. “Is that really what this is about?”
“Forget it, just please, don’t…”
“No, Dex. We talk, remember? Is Addison’s attack in Dallas what you’re worried about?”
He shrugs.
I try to let it go and continue walking with the rest of the group until he grabs my wrist and pulls me back into him. He tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “I’d lose my mind if anything ever happened to you,” he whispers. I can barely hear him over the noise of the crowd around us.
“Okay, Dex. I promise.” I give him a smile, at least the best I can manage. His sudden concern and protectiveness is a little strange, but I am certain there is a reason behind it. He kisses me softly and quickly and we’re off again, following behind the rest of the guys.
Lower Broadway is like little Vegas, with lights, bars, streets and sidewalks lined with people, cars trying to make their way through the masses. Drunk people attempting to walk through the crowd. It’s almost comical and by the time we reach a bar, I’ve forgotten about Dex’s strange mood shift and I’m ready to have some fun. There’s a band performing on the stage, and they’re pretty good. They’re singing a Blake Shelton song and I start to dance between Dex’s thighs once he’s seated at a high-top table. They managed to pull together three of them, giving everyone a place to sit, well, everyone but the bodyguards who’ve scattered themselves around the room.
I catch Dex out of the corner of my eyes as I’m dancing between his legs and he has a wicked little smirk on his face. “What?” I say with a wide smile.
“You’re so fucking cute when you dance.” I giggle and go back to dancing as the band finishes up the song.
Within twenty minutes we’ve managed to flag down a waitress and place a drink order and lucky for the guys, the kitchen is still open. Though they serve mostly appetizer type foods, their menu is pretty extensive and they’ve ordered just about one of everything.
The band on stage takes a break and we all start talking about the tour, life, Addison and how she’s been feeling, all that good stuff. Tonight is the first night I’m actually noticing that she’s having a great time, really into the evening which tells me that some of her energy might finally be coming back.
When the band returns to the stage, the lead singer does some talking. “We’re gonna slow it down a little,” he says into the microphone and I hear the familiar strings of Lee Brice’s Hard to Love. I grab Dex’s hand.
“Come on, bubba,” I tell him and pull him off of his chair.
“Where we going?”
“Dance with me.”
“Oh no…there’s a reason my sexy ass sits behind the drums.”
“Bullshit, come on.” I laugh and drag him with me.
“I mean it,
I really can’t dance.”
I smile. “Then just hold me.”
He smiles in return and wraps his arms around me as we move slowly to the music being played.
The moment is sweet and for the first time in I don’t know how long, I finally feel like I belong somewhere and that place is right here in Dex’s arms. I’ve never felt like I do when I’m near him regardless of who I’ve been with. No one has ever put as much effort or concern into my well-being the way that Dex did tonight.
“Thank you,” I say as I look up at him.
“For what?”
“For protecting me.”
He smiles and kisses my forehead. “That’s what I’m here for, glowbug.”
“No one’s ever done that before,” I tell him.
“Well then, I’m glad I’m here to do it now.” His arms squeeze me tighter as we slowly dance to the music.
When the song is over I tell him, “Thank you for dancing with me.”
He smiles. “Thank you for dragging me out here.”
“Who’s ready for a little dancing?” the singer says into the microphone.
I look at Dex and slip off my heels. I point toward the stage. “You see that spot over there?” He follows my finger and nods, as I bend down and grab my shoes. “Remember my cowboy boots?” He nods, confused. “Take these and go watch.” I point again to the empty spot. He raises an eyebrow but takes my shoes. I grab the hair tie off of my wrist and pull my hair up just as the drumbeat picks up for Blake Shelton’s Footloose. Oh man, I’m in trouble. I haven’t done this in a long time. I shake it off and start clapping with the rest of the crowd that has surrounded me. There are cheers and excitement and Dex’s eyes light up.
As soon as the music starts, I’m off with a vine to the right.
Country music has never been high on my list of music choices to listen to but watching Raine out there dancing away to Footloose is like a whole other world and one that I’ve apparently been missing. I see now why she handed me her shoes. There is no way she could have done what she’s doing in these things. I notice, past Raine, all the guys at the table, including Addison, are climbing their chairs, trying to catch a glimpse of what’s happening. I point at Raine and their jaws drop watching her dance back and forth around the floor. Then she’s turned around, facing in their direction. I can tell she’s slightly embarrassed because she puts her head into her hand, but doesn’t miss a beat.
Fuck, this is probably one of the sexiest things I’ve ever witnessed.
She continues dancing, spinning and facing multiple directions. One thing I do find kind of funny is that everyone on the floor with her is either in boots, tennis shoes or cowboy boots and jeans. My girl is the only one wearing a corset and leather pants with glowing blue eyes and brightly colored hair. But out there, it doesn’t matter.
When the song ends, the guys start cheering and hollering in her direction and I’m clapping awkwardly while holding her heels by the straps.
She giggles as she comes over to me. “That was very impressive,” I tell her and she lights up at my compliment.
“Thank you.” I hand over her shoes and she drops them to the floor and I offer her my hand so she can put them back on. Once she’s done she stands up and wraps her arms around my neck. She’s still breathing heavy as I wrap my arms around her and I can’t help the butt cheek squeeze. “You’re bad,” she tells me in my ear and I lift her off of her feet and carry her back toward the table.
When we get there I set her down and the guys are all laughing and telling her how awesome she was. Addison insists that Raine needs to teach her how to do that. “In a few months.” I watch as she winks at Addison and I sit back down. Raine comes to stand between my legs again and I rub her back.
When our food finally arrives, Raine grabs a chair and we all dig in. The conversation, though yelling is involved, flows like it always has and I have to admit, this is probably one of the best nights out we’ve had in a while.
That is until the lead singer of the band comes back onto the microphone. “In honor of the Bridgestone Arena concert tonight.” All seven of us freeze. Mid-chew, mid-bite, mid-sentence.
“Shit,” Talon says as the band starts to play ‘Your Eyes’.
“Do we leave?” Mouse asks.
“Fuck that… let’s see if they’re any good,” Kyle says.
“I agree. Then we can shock the living shit out of them,” I say.
“Unless they already know you’re here,” Raine says.
“I don’t think they’d play it if they knew we were here,” Talon says back and I can feel the bodyguards getting a little closer. Talon pushes them back. Not to draw attention to the fact that the band whose song they’re covering is sitting right in the bar.
When the lead singer starts to sing we all kind of look at each other and shrug. It’s not awful, but it’s certainly not us.
“I have an idea,” Raine says and everyone kind of leans in.
She sets out telling the guys her idea and we all think she’s insane, but agree. She quickly disappears back to where it was that I was waiting for her. Talon, Peacock, Mouse, Addison and myself all stand up. Kyle heads off to the other side of the stage. We’re videotaping this shit.
The five of us make our way through the crowd surrounding the dance floor. We spread out as to not draw attention to the mob making its way toward the stage.
I find Talon and Mouse, who then finds Peacock, and we all nod. Stepping onto the dance floor at the same time, walking slowly but deliberately toward the stage, attempting to time it properly with the end of the song. Which we manage to do.
I watch through the screen of my phone as Dex, Talon, Mouse, Peacock and Addison make their way through the crowd on the dance floor. I’m desperately trying to stifle giggles but it’s hard. They look like walking trouble. But they time it perfectly. Just as the band rounds out the song, the five of them come to stand in front of the stage.
“Holy shit,” the lead singer says into the microphone and some of the audience laughs, the other half look around confused. The guys in the band all laugh. I switch from the guys who are standing there with their arms crossed, attempting to look pissed off, but they’re holding back their laughter, to the guys on stage. I watch as the lead singer stumbles to find the right words. “I…crap, we um, we didn’t know you guys were here,” he finally manages to sputter out.
You could hear a pin drop in the crowd.
Finally the guys all burst out laughing. Talon approaches the stage and reaches up to take the singer’s hand. “Nice job, man,” he tells the singer as their palms meet.
“Ladies and gentlemen, 69 Bottles,” he says into the microphone and finally the reality of what’s happened registers on the crowd and they erupt into cheers. Some people are confused, which doesn’t surprise me. “Gentlemen, want to join us on stage?”
“Nah, man, we’ve done our work for tonight,” Talon tells them.
The singer moves the microphone so I can’t hear what he’s saying. Then I see Talon nod and the band on stage climbs down. They shake hands and what-not.
“Raine,” Dex says, ushering me over. “They want pictures.”
“Of course.”
Once they’re done taking pictures with the band, they go back to playing and 69 Bottles slowly makes their way back to the tables, stopping for pictures with fans. When we get back to the tables, our bill is there and I snatch it off of the table, slipping my card inside before anyone can protest. “Seriously, woman, that’s not your job,” Dex whispers in my ear.
“No, but this way you guys can get out of here. I’ll be right behind you.”
“I’m not leaving you,” he tells me, his conviction is sweet.
“Leave Casey, just go. Get out of here. We will be right behind you.” I turn and lift up on my toes, kissing his cheek. “Just go. Otherwise we’ll never get out of here.”
“Casey,” Dex barks and Casey comes over, Mills on his heels.
“Case
y, stay with me. Mills, get them out of here before we cause a bigger scene. No doubt social media is blowing up.”
Mills nods and gathers up the guys and Addison.
I kiss Dex one more time. “Go. Please.”
He gives me a sad smile, but follows my command and leaves with the guys. I take the folio to the bar to pay it faster. Once the tab is settled, all three hundred dollars of it, Casey and I leave the bar.
“Where are they?” I ask as we step onto the street.
“Headed for the cars. They need to move away from this area otherwise people will find them. In fact, I’d recommend calling an end to the night, but that’s not my call.”
“I agree,” I tell Casey as we walk quickly back to the cars. They’re all standing around outside and Dex lights up when he sees Casey and me approaching.
“Let’s call it a night,” I tell Dex. Then I look past his shoulder to the rest of our group. “I know you guys want to stay, but-” My phone interrupts and chimes once, twice, then a third time. I pull it out, looking at the alerts.
“That’s our cue to go, guys,” Addison says.
There is some moaning and groaning from the guys. “Look, it’s out that you’re in the Lower Broadway area, that means that people will be bar hopping just trying to find you. We can find another part of town or call it a night. Either way, it’s up to you guys, but I imagine that if you stay, your night is going to be met with fans and madness.”
The guys groan again and everyone starts to climb back into the cars. “Let’s go to the hotel,” Talon tells Mills who nods in agreement.
“I’m sorry,” I tell Dex as we climb in. “Outing yourselves to the band was my idea.”
He kisses my forehead once we’re inside. “True, but it was fun as fuck. Besides, the guys all went along with it, so don’t feel bad.”
“Well, I do.”
He gently pulls the hair tie from my hair and he watches as my hair cascades down my back and over my shoulders. His eyes light up with desire. “Don’t, glowbug. Yes, it’s annoying that we can’t go out without massive crowds, but tonight was a rare night where an outing wasn’t planned, so we were able to eat and enjoy our evening.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder as the caravan takes off. “Besides, Nashville is a celebrity hub. I’m surprised we weren’t recognized before we outed ourselves. There are celebrity watchers at just about every bar here.”