“Do what?”
“Pretend you’re not head over heels in love with him.”
My eyes darted around and she chuckled. “Relax, we’re all alone. I’m beginnin’ to think it’s me.”
She had a point. We’d been in the club almost an hour and the guys had all deserted us. Even Letty was busy flirting with a guy she knew from another record label. Hudson was making a show of chatting up any girl who looked his way, and Damon had taken off after reading a text on his cell phone. Rafe and Levi were seated over by the bar, talking, pretending not to watch the two of us like hawks.
“It isn’t you.”
Okay, so maybe Hudson didn’t stick around because he couldn’t stand being around Molly, but I had a feeling that I was the reason the Hunter brothers were keeping their distance.
When Rafe had slipped into my dressing room earlier, I had been so close to telling him how I really felt. And I was almost certain he felt the same—it was in the way he held me, how his lips brushed over mine, the way his eyes saw straight into my soul.
I didn’t blame him for keeping a safe distance because I was also struggling to rein in the urge to get up, go over, and finish what we started earlier.
Molly shrugged. “Who the hell cares? We’re in a club in Las Vegas sippin’ drinks that cost more than my yearly allowance. And despite what you might think,” Her expression softened, “I didn’t come for them, I came for you.”
“I love you too.” I squeezed her hand. “And I’m so glad you’re here. Bein’ on tour has been more than I could ever have imagined, but it’s been intense.”
“I can totally imagine. Bein’ stuck in the middle of a Hunter sandwich must be a terrible place to be.” She teased.
“Molly,” I warned. “It isn’t like that.”
“I know. I’ve known you your entire life, Eva, and I’ve never seen you the way you are with Rafe. I only have to say his name and you practically melt into a puddle.”
“But what if it’s doomed?” I peeked over at them. “There’s somethin’ between them, Mol. Something dark. Rafe feels this sense of responsibility to his brother and I think it stems from more than just Levi’s addiction.”
“Sometimes you just have to follow your heart and hope it leads you right. You’re worth the risk, babe, and if he’s worth your love, he’ll see that.”
Throwing my arms around her neck, I crushed Molly into me. “I’ve missed you.”
“If I’d have known there was going to be tears,” Letty said. “I would have thought twice before calling you.”
“No tears.” Molly said easing out of my arms.
“Maybe a few happy ones,” I added, resting my head on her shoulder.
“Who’s the hotty?”
“Someone I need to walk away from. Are you girls ready to hit the dance floor?”
“I’m not sure—”
“Yes, dear God, yes.” Molly jumped up, shimmying down her dress. “Come on, Eva, we have to dance.”
“They have to come too.” I slid my eyes over to where Travis and Grayson stood.
“It’s their job. I’ll pretend they’re not there if you will.” My best friend pouted so I found myself saying, “Fine, lead the way.”
The club was already packed, bodies crammed onto the dance floor underneath the huge kinetic chandelier. It was a far cry from the club in LA, and the even smaller one in Charlotte. The music was loud, thrumming through my chest. I grabbed Molly’s hand as we followed Letty. Travis and Grayson blended in with the crowd but kept a close distance.
“I love this one.” Letty yelled, throwing her arms up and rolling her hips. It was some popular dance hit, full of electro beats and heavy bass. I smiled weakly. This so wasn’t my scene, but I didn’t want to ruin Molly’s big night out.
“You need to loosen up,” she mouthed, dancing circles around me as I side-stepped awkwardly.
“Or she just needs her partner in crime.” Hudson grabbed me and brought his mouth to my ear. “Will you hate me if I get with Molly tonight?”
“You care what I think?” I eased back to lock eyes with him.
“Of course I fucking care. You’re one of us now, Eva. I just hope to God when the truth comes out, there’s an us left to talk about.”
“Hudson, I—”
“Don’t you dare apologize. You can’t help who you fall for, Angel.” His gaze shifted and I wondered if he was looking at Molly.
“She talks a good talk, you know, but this: the dress, her attitude, it’s just her way of keepin’ the upper hand.”
“I know.” He swallowed.
“Just be careful with her heart, Hudson, that’s all I ask.”
“Shit, Eva, you can’t ask that of me. I don’t know how to...”
“Whoa, bitch, you need to back the hell up.”
Our heads whipped over to find Molly facing off with some girl. “Fuck,” Hudson muttered, grabbing my hand and leading me over to my best friend.
“Stay cool, Hud,” Letty whispered. I spotted Travis and Grayson moving closer, Hudson’s bodyguard too.
“I’m cool.” He lifted his shoulders. “What’s happening, Mol?”
The girl gasped, her eyes narrowing. “You really do know him? You?” Jealousy dripped from her words.
“I told you I did.” Molly cocked her hip to the side. “Now move the hell on, you’re ruinin’ my vibe.”
“Hey, Hudson, why don’t you ditch these two country skanks and come party with some real girls?” She stepped closer to them, making a show of flicking her bottled blonde hair off her shoulder. It whipped straight into Molly’s face.
“Oh hell no,” she rolled back her shoulders. “You did not just—”
“Easy now.” Hudson inched in front of Molly, stepping between the two of them. Another girl stepped up beside her friend and smirked.
“Yeah,” she purred. “Ditch the skank, and we can have a private party all of our own.”
“Like that’s ever goin’ to happen,” Molly mumbled.
We were drawing an audience now, people trying to piece together who we were and what was happening. It wouldn’t be long before people realized and started getting out their cell phones.
“Nobody asked you, bitch.” The girl glared at my best friend. “Why don’t you fuck off back to the ass crack of wherever the hell you came from and let Hudson hang with some real girls.”
“We need to leave,” Travis gently took my elbow, “Now.”
“Is that Evangeline Walker?” someone said over the music. “Shit, it is.”
“No fucking way,” the girl choked on the words.
“Now, Eva.”
“Sorry, girls, looks like we’ll be leavin’… with Hudson.” Molly flipped them off, but all hell broke loose as one of them lunged for Molly, grabbing a handful of her hair.
“Get off me, get the hell off of me.” Molly managed to shove her off.
“That’s our cue, baby,” Hudson slipped his arm around Molly’s shoulder and started leading her away.