With the Band (With the Band #1)

by Natasha Preston

Mark clears his throat. “Although I do enjoy where our conversations go, this perhaps isn’t the right place for it.”

  “Let’s go get a drink,” Will says, “and I can have a chat with Milo.”

  “Fucking hell, I have no diseases!” Milo exclaims, giving Texas a look over his shoulder.

  Now that the movie is over, we’ll have drinks and boring small talk where we’ll congratulate the actors and director on a job well done. Then, it’s the after-party, the real reason people attend things like this.

  “Texas!” Peyton yells from across the room.

  And I’ve lost my girl. They fly toward each other. We weren’t sure if she’d make it and assumed not since we hadn’t seen her come in, but she must’ve been late.

  “Come on, use tongue,” Coop says, watching Tex reunite with her friend.

  They’re hugging, not kissing like he wants.

  “You’re a dick, Coop.”

  “Oh, like you’d hate your girl getting down with another chick.”

  “I’m not you,” I reply. Honestly, the thought of Texas’s lips, or anything else, touching anyone else makes me feel violent. I don’t share her.

  “I need to get fucked up tonight,” I say, nodding toward the bar.

  “All right! Now, you’re talking,” he replies, slapping me on the shoulder and shoving me forward. “You getting Tex drunk, too? She’s a fucking hilarious drunk.”

  I smirk. “Oh, yeah.” Clumsy drunken sex with her is mind-blowing, and I’m definitely up for doing it as often as possible.

  “Can’t believe you’ve settled down, man.”

  “Neither can the old me, but she’s worth it. Doesn’t feel like a sacrifice with her. It feels right.”

  “Dude!” he exclaims, stopping dead and looking around on the floor.

  “What? What’s wrong?” I’m looking, too, but I don’t know why or what for. His phone maybe? “Coop?”

  “Your balls dropped off, man.”

  Oh, for fuck’s sake! I stand up straight and punch his arm. “Wanker.”

  Cooper laughs, rubbing his arm. “Sorry, bud. Thought you’d swallowed a Jane Austen novel there.”

  I’m less annoyed that he’s taking the piss and more proud that he knows who Jane Austen is. “It’ll be you one day, Cooper.”

  “Bollocks,” he replies as we reach the bar. “We’ll have twenty-four shots of Sambuca, eight beers, and a glass of that pissy pink wine. That’s what Peyton drinks, right?”

  “Rosè, yeah. You remember her drink?”

  He shoots me a dark look. “Don’t go getting any ideas. I’m going to bang her again, but it’s purely business.”

  “Business? Are you charging now?”

  “Don’t be a twat. She makes me come times a million, and I know I do the same for her. Why fight that?”

  He turns back to the guy grabbing an obscene amount of shot glasses for a first round. None of us even like Sambuca.

  “Fucking just got the talk from my uncle!” Milo growls, slouching on the bar beside me. “Where’s Tex? She owes me.”

  “With Peyton.”

  “Pey made it?” He laughs. “Coop’s going home with blue balls tonight.”

  “Least I still have some,” he snaps back, nudging me.

  I don’t know how I’ve suddenly been brought into this.

  “Whatever. Milo’s right. Odds of you getting in her pants again are slim. Just look at your behaviour. She doesn’t find that attractive, mate.”

  Coop stares, like he doesn’t understand, and I roll my eyes.

  “He’s not right. The sexy blonde princess doesn’t have to give it up again tonight. There are plenty of others willing. In fact, there are thousands who require no work at all. I click my fingers, and they lift their skirts.”

  “Ah, the easy ones,” Milo sighs as he taps his heart with his fist. “God bless them.”

  To think, a month ago, I was one of them…

  I never thought anything could get better than having a lot of sex without the responsibility of a relationship. I was so wrong that I want to laugh now, but I know it’s something you have to figure out yourself. Milo kind of knows it from Lexi. Cooper? Well, I’ll take great joy in watching him go through falling in love.

  We down a couple of shots when Tex and Peyton join us. Coop immediately makes a play for the girl who I have a feeling is going to screw him up in the best way. Milo and Texas are deep into an argument about the validity of The Lord of the Rings. It’s an age-old fight where Milo defends his favourite books and films, and Texas—also liking them—questions every point to piss him off.

  She shrugs. “They should’ve just gone the other way around.”

  Milo’s mouth is hanging open. “You’ve said some stupid shit on this topic before, Knight, but that—”

  I tone them out and laugh at Tex trying to keep a straight face. Her lips twitch from the effort.

  A shadow casts over my drink, and I look over at a very pretty woman I’m sure I’m supposed to know.

  She leans her hip against the cool glass and rests her arm on top. “Hi, I’m Danniella.”

  Danniella who?

  I nod. “Kitt. Nice to meet you.”

  “I saw you in Paris. You’re phenomenal.”

  “Always good to hear. Thanks.”

  She sips her wine and smiles. “What are you doing after?”

  My spine stiffens. She’s fucking coming on to me in front of my girlfriend. To my right, I can feel I now have Tex’s attention.

  “I’ll be going to my girlfriend’s.”

  Her eyes flick to Texas, and she blushes. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. You two are definitely a couple then? I thought, since you didn’t mention it, you didn’t really want her. I mean, why not confirm it if you thought she was worth it?”

  I’m burning. My fists clench.

  Don’t hit a woman. You can never hit a woman.

  Tex smiles, but there is nothing friendly in it. “Danniella. Fuck off.”

  “Stupid whore,” Peyton mutters. “Who is she anyway?”

  “She blogs or something like that. She’s been linked to every male celeb who will sleep with her,” Tex explains.

  Makes sense. She reeks of desperation. I turn my back, effectively blocking the bitch from our group, and take a breath. My eyes lock with Tex, and she shrugs, like it was nothing. She downs a shot and immediately picks up her discussion with Milo.

  I’ve never been prouder of her. But there’s something in her eyes that I don’t like. Doubt. Even if it’s passing and she’s no longer worried about us, she still thought it.

  I pull her to the side when I get a minute.

  “What?” She laughs nervously.

  “Danniella…when she said I didn’t confirm the rumours because I didn’t think you were worth it, you believed her.”

  “No, I didn’t, Kitt. Look, a part of me was angry because you didn’t.”

  “You told me not to.”

  “I know that.”

  “So, how can you be angry, Tex?”

  “Because I wanted you to want to tell everyone.”

  “I did want to!”

  “I know, but you didn’t.”

  Oh my God. “I didn’t because you said not to. It was your choice.”

  “I know that, too.”

  My head is about to explode. “So…you’re angry because I didn’t tell even though you told me not to. Should I have gone ahead and made the announcement?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Fucking hell, Texas. I need another drink.”

  She presses her chest against mine, and I almost forget the argument.

  “I’m sorry. It’s unreasonable.”

  “Oh, is it?” I say sarcastically.

  She glares. “You did the right thing. It’s what I wanted, what we wanted. I wish we didn’t have to hide away. But that doesn’t matter now because we’re together, and we’re forever.”

  “Yeah, unless you keep on with that unreasonable mind
fuck shit, and my head blows off.”

  She laughs and shrugs a shoulder. “You love it.”

  “I love you. And all your crazy.”

  TEXAS

  SATURDAY, JUNE 13

  LONDON, ENGLAND

  Peyton, Kitt, Cooper, and I are sitting at one of the tables, drinking far too much. Since Dad left, I’ve upped my intake by about a thousand percent. Tomorrow is going to be hell.

  “Stop it, dickhead!” I whisper, shoving Cooper’s hand away from Peyton’s arse.

  She’s deep in conversation with Kitt about the tour, and behind her back, a pervert named Jack Cooper is trying to touch her up.

  He points to me with a cheeky grin and says, “You need to lighten up, sweet cheeks.”

  “You’re such a twat, Coop,” I reply, laughing at how dazed he looks.

  The guy has probably had close to twenty drinks so far tonight. His blue eyes, which are a few shades lighter than Peyton’s, are glazed, and when he looks at me, it seems like it takes him a while to register who I am.

  “You love me, Tex, so don’t even try to deny it.”

  “Doesn’t change the fact that you’re a twat now, does it?”

  Cooper adorably pouts his lip, and that right there is why he rarely gets into trouble for all the rubbish he causes. He has so much charm that it should be illegal.

  “Are you going to put in a good word for me since you’ve been nasty tonight?” he asks, nodding his chin toward Peyton.

  She hears and looks over, lifting a blonde eyebrow. “Every person on this planet could put a good word in, and I still wouldn’t touch you again. Not even with Tex’s.”

  I’m very pleased she wouldn’t touch him with mine.

  “Unlucky for you, Coop,” Kitt says, hitting him around the back of his head.

  Kitt wraps his arm around my waist and tugs me a little closer. We can do this now. I don’t have to let go of him as we walk out the door.

  “One day, love,” Coop says, blowing Peyton a kiss.

  Usually, I’d side with my bestie, but I’m one hundred percent behind Cooper on this—not because I think they should have sex again, but because I know it’s inevitable. The tension and atmosphere between them is like it was when Kitt and I started to grow closer.

  Laying my head on Kitt’s shoulder, I ask, “Where’d Milo go?”

  His chest shakes with the laughter. “Took a girl to the gents’.”

  I turn my nose up. “That’s disgusting.”

  “You’re not up for it?” Kitt asks. “Because I am.”

  “You want to have sex in a dirty bathroom?”

  He shrugs and gives me a lopsided smile. “What can I say, Tex? I’m a rock star.”

  “Well, no.”

  Milo is such a classy bloke. But then, I had sex against a tour bus—and got caught. So, who am I to judge?

  Kitt laughs. “He’s going to knock someone up before long. I think he has even had more sex than Cooper.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Coop says, looking deeply hurt. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves there. I am the king.”

  “And to think, for a second there, I considered sleeping with you again,” Peyton muttered.

  Coop’s head snaps back in her direction so fast that I hear his neck crack. “You’ve considered it for longer than a second. Pey, you can deny it until the day you die, but you know we’re dynamite together.”

  She crosses her arms. “Doesn’t mean I have to repeat it.”

  “You two are cute,” I say.

  Coop flashes me his signature grin. “Thank you, Texas.”

  “Hey, motherfuckers! We’re taking the party to Whitney Blake’s,” Milo says, almost stumbling into the table.

  There are no questions because we all want to see inside Whitney Blake’s house. She’s a mega rich actress and model, like way richer than my dad. She could probably buy my dad.

  Kitt grabs my hand as we make our way outside. I wasn’t prepared though. Cameras flash in our faces. Ted steps closer. The noise is deafening, and I wince.

  People scream questions at us that I can only just make out.

  “Kitt, did you know?”

  “Texas, how did you react to the allegations?”

  “Kitt, can we have an interview?”

  Kitt’s arm tightens around me.

  What’s that about?

  Kitt frowns but keeps us moving forward.

  “Keep walking. Almost there,” Ted says. His voice is tight, and his eyes are everywhere. He doesn’t like this.

  There are so many people that the short walk to the car seems like miles.

  Peyton, Milo, and Cooper are close behind. Hank and Lars surround them.

  The back door to the limo is wrenched open, and both Ted and Kitt are ushering me inside. Only when we’re all in safely do my shoulders sag.

  I lay my head against Kitt’s shoulder. “That was crazy.”

  “I know, babe. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “You okay, Tex?” Peyton asks.

  She’s sitting at the end with Cooper. His arm is around her, and she’s leaning against him, like she trusts him to protect her. He might be a joker and a whore, but I trust him with my life, so she’s right to do the same.

  Milo lets out a string of swearwords as we pull into Whitney’s drive. I think it’s too big to be classed as a drive. This is a car park. Her house is massive and made of thick dark stone that gives it a gothic look.

  I want to buy it.

  Ted is happier now that we’re on private property. It makes his job a lot easier, and he’ll be able to relax. Steel gates keep out unwanted attention.

  The car stops right in front of the door, and we pile out. The entrance is huge. A chunky double door opens as we approach, and two men dressed entirely in black welcome us with a smile. In silence, they both gesture with their hands toward a door.

  Coop walks ahead with Peyton on his arm.

  “Er, anyone else find this creepy?” I ask, gripping Kitt’s hand. I’m still in heels, so I really can’t be running if this is about to turn into a horror film.

  “Yep,” Milo replies. “Awesome, right?”

  Oh, great. The door leads to stairs going down.

  My eyes flash to Kitt, and he smirks. He’s not at all worried. Music and laughter is coming from down there. Do we really have to be in the cellar?

  My heels click on the limestone steps. I don’t like this. The stairs curl around, and when we reach the bottom, I don’t know why I was worried.

  The cellar is large, and the floor and walls are entirely stone. But that’s where the creep factor ends. Carved solid oak has been used to create a bar and rustic seating areas. The DJ is at the far end, and staff is hurrying to lay food out on a long table at the side.

  “I’m so glad you made it,” Whitney says, hugging Milo and basically pressing her boobs on him.

  She’s old enough to be his bloody mother.

  “Wouldn’t have missed it,” Milo replies.

  “Texas, it’s so good to see you. It’s been a long time.”

  She hugs me, and I dig around in my mind to remember when we’ve met.

  “Sorry, I don’t remember.”

  Pulling away, she laughs and blushes lightly. “You were four, so you probably wouldn’t. How is your dad?”

  Oh my fucking God, she had sex with my dad! I swallow bile. Do not throw up on her. “He’s great. Thank you.”

  “I see the tour is going well. Think you can sneak me into the O2?”

  Kitt nods. “I’ll make sure it’s done.”

  “That would be fabulous.”

  You are not shagging my dad again.

  “Anyway, please enjoy. Texas, we have to catch up soon.”

  I smile. “Definitely.”

  Whitney floats away to the next group who’ve arrived. Jesus, she’s so elegant that she doesn’t even walk.

  “I’m disturbed,” I murmur.

  Milo’s mouth is open.
<
br />   Kitt kisses my temple. “Sorry, baby, but your dad is a legend!”

  “I need a drink.”

  “I need to work on someone else. I’m not fucking someone your dad’s had,” Milo says before walking off.

  Kitt’s eyes follow him, and I’m starting to get suspicious of that. It’s like he knows something that the rest of us don’t. What’s up with Milo?

  Coop finds a table, and we’re offered drinks. Whitney has everything—literally. Cooper spent five minutes listing every alcoholic beverage he could, and they have it all.

  “What the…” My jaw hits the table.

  Kitt’s eyes follow mine. In the centre of the makeshift dance floor are five people dancing with costume deer heads and what I hope are fake daggers.

  No, I’m not high.

  Seriously, if I were a total bitch and wanted to be ostracised forever, I’d get pics of this and upload them to Facebook. I’m pretty sure Milo is one of the deer. I recognise his arms, but with no tattoos, it’s hard to tell.

  Kitt laughs. “Hands down, the best party.”

  Kitt and I have done far too many shots, and I can barely see straight. I don’t know how he does it, but he never gets as drunk as the rest of us even though he drinks more.

  “Where did Coop and Pey go now?” I ask.

  They were on the dance floor—with their normal heads—a few minutes ago. I’m supposed to stop her from giving in and sleeping with him again.

  Kitt laughs. “They went into one of those rooms upstairs.”

  “Oh, great. The one job I had tonight…”

  “That’s not the one job you had,” he whispers in my ear, dragging his hand along my thigh.

  The feel of his skin on mine steals my breath.

  Yeah, screw Peyton. If you can’t stop yourself from sleeping with someone, then you obviously don’t want to resist them.

  My phone vibrates on the table, and Kitt sighs. “All night, that’s been going off.”

  I shrug. “It’s your fault, rock star.”

  “Ah, here they are,” he says, nodding to a rumpled-looking Peyton and pristine Cooper.

  What did he do to her?

  He’s overjoyed and cocky, and she’s frowning because she was supposed to resist.

  I get up, grab my phone, and head over to her. “Drink, Pey?”

  She glares. “No talking. I want a double.”