“Hey, dickwad…” I smacked the back of his head.
“Ow.”
“Knock it the fuck off.”
“I’m not doing anything,” he whined defensively. “I’m just looking. No law against that.”
“No… but there is a law against throwing you out that window… and I’m dangerously close.”
“Is this how it’s going to be all weekend?” He raised the tinted glass while throwing me a dirty look. “You acting like a dad?”
“I agree with him,” Harrison said, putting his two cents in. “Just because you’re practically married doesn’t mean we are,” said the other moron with a girlfriend.
“And I plan to hook up with a Cali girl,” Joey said proudly. Of the four of us, he was the only one single. “It’s my one and only goal.”
These idiots. Fuck that. I had every intention of having a good time this weekend. Apparently, my idea of fun wasn’t on the same page as theirs.
“Whatever. Y’all can suck my dick. Do what you want.” Through with them, I shoved my earbuds into my ears and keyed up my favorite playlist, making it good and loud to ensure I tuned them all out. I could see them all laughing, but it worked when twenty minutes later we pulled up to the hotel and I hadn’t heard a word they’d said.
After we checked in, no sooner had I placed my bag on the luggage rack than Chase had already rummaged through his, pulled something out of it, and disappeared into the bathroom. I swear it wasn’t three minutes later that he appeared.
When my gaze took in his swimsuit, an old Devil’s Lair T-shirt, and flip-flops, he grinned. “I’m ready… just waiting on you.”
Groaning, I ducked into the bathroom to take a piss… and to escape his annoying self. Why did I have a feeling sharing a room with him this weekend would be his demise?
Thoughts of killing him only intensified when a short, hard knock sounded before I had a chance to pull my cock out of my jeans. “Let’s go, man. I didn’t come out here to see the inside of a room.”
“You need to calm the fuck down,” I barked, swinging open the bathroom door. He had the nerve to frown at me. “What’s the rush?”
“We’re in fucking California. First, I want to eat a big-ass burger with the works at the pool, and then I want to scope out the chicks. Why is that such a crime?”
“It’s the head between your legs that will make it a crime. What the hell has gotten into you?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit. Are you planning on cheating?” The way his eyes shifted away from mine confirmed my suspicions. “Chase. You need to cut this shit out.” I took his silence as a sign of guilt. “I thought you were kidding. You’re truly looking to hook up with someone, aren’t you?”
His response: “Just meet us at the pool.” Before I could say anything else, he took off through the door, letting it slam shut behind him with a loud bang.
“What the fuck?” I stalked back into the bathroom to do what he had interrupted. Afterward, I kicked off my boots and lay on the bed, deciding that I wasn’t his babysitter. Yet, with that admission came the reality that if he were to do something stupid, then it would somehow fall on me with Kim.
Exhaustion hit as I called Alivia, and then all was forgotten when her sweet voice answered. “Hey.”
“Hey, baby. Whatcha doin’?”
“Just getting ready for dinner. Kim’s in the shower. Where are you?”
“In my room enjoying the silence.”
“Chase is bouncing off the walls?”
“Just a tad. I wish you were here. We’d be utilizing this great big bed I’m lying on alone.”
“That’s a mean thing to say when I’m thousands of miles away.”
I chuckled at the angry tone in her voice. “Missing me, are you?”
“Very much. Kim’s in a mood.”
“Why?” I asked, hoping it wasn’t because she missed Chase.
Alivia paused before saying, “Long story.” That was code for I was sworn to secrecy. “But she’s driving me crazy.”
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, so is Chase.” Unlike her, I wasn’t sworn to secrecy and gave a detailed recap of his ridiculous behavior. During it all, she muttered a few choice curses aimed at our friend. “So now he’s at the pool, probably making a fool out of himself.” My statement was met with silence. “You there?”
“Yeah. Is that why you’re alone in your room?”
“Is what why?”
“To avoid temptation?”
“No… to avoid him.” What the hell? “Where is this coming from, Liv?”
“Nothing, forget what I said. I was an idiot. You have fun…”
“You do trust me, right, Liv?”
“Yes… I trust you completely. It’s me.” Kim’s voice in the background announced the bathroom was free. “I have to get into the shower. I love you.”
“I love you too.” When the line went quiet, my thoughts went loud. That comment had Kim’s influence written all over it. Granted, she had a right to distrust her boyfriend, as Chase was proving, but Alivia did not. To be sure she had my voice in her head, in hopes it would cancel any toxic accusations from Kim, I texted a simple but poignant claim: You are all I ever want, Liv.
A heart emoji came as a response right before a text came from Chase: Where the fuck are you? Get down here. It’s important.
Coming!
I took my time changing and making my way to where I found my friends surrounded by a gaggle of girls at one corner of the pool.
“There he is!” Chase announced when he noticed my approach. “My shirt sparked up a conversation with these lovely girls…” After placing a hand on the shoulder of the brunette sitting beside him, he then said, “Lauren here loves your father.”
I was going to fucking kill him. “Does she now?” Sitting as far away from them as I could get, I aimed my glare at Chase. “Do me a favor: keep it down.”
“Oh, they all know the drill,” he claimed. “But guess what? Lauren’s father owns Doors.” The blank stare caused him to rush on. “It’s a very popular bar in Hollywood, and she’s getting us in tonight to play. No Rulz… playing here in LA.” This coming from a guy who could give a shit about the band. Suddenly, playing in public appealed to him? “The best part? Lauren’s uncle is a casting director.” And there it is.
The entire situation had disaster written all over it. While I thought of a way to decline without three guys freaking, Lauren connected her pale eyes with mine and said, “This could open all kinds of doors for you… pun intended.”
It took effort not to laugh.
“You’re wasting your time with him,” Joey said. “He’s practically married.”
Her gaze shifted down my body and back up. “I don’t see a ring.” Clearly, she expected something to come of this. I could handle Lauren, or any other girl looking to hook up with a rock star’s son. Two hours into this damn trip, it was Chase I was worried about handling.