Playing it Out, page 2
Signing the arm of the Adrenaline band shirt Lane was wearing, Declan quickly grabbed my hand and began to write on it saying, ”Let's change that."
When his fingers lightly wrapped around my wrist, my first instinct was to jerk my hand from his but something kept me still. When he had finished, he handed the marker back to Lane before grinning down at me. Glancing at my palm, I saw that he had written a phone number down on my palm. I noticed Lane's mouth drop open in shock and felt a similar jolt go through my system. Glancing up from my hand, I met his crystal blue gaze. Suddenly nervous I said the first thought that crossed my mind.
"That was permanent."
Declan
Initially I had been pissed that Jace had made me go out with him before our show tonight. Lately I hated going out altogether. The parties and clubs could be fun but I was over it. Jace, however, was not. Usually he had Wyatt as his wingman but unfortunately for me Wyatt and his twin had decided to spend some time with their mom before the show. Jace and I were more than welcome to join the Cooper’s as my sister was currently, but my bandmate had insisted on going out for a drink. I had drawn the short straw to be his chaperone.
The band’s drummer was currently tucked into a corner with some girl that had been glued to his side since we walked in here. Bored out of my mind, I started playing with my phone cursing when the low battery warning flashed across the screen. Pocketing it I looked around the bar and recognized a few of the arcade games I used to play as a kid but felt little desire to play them now. I wanted to be at the concert. I just wanted to just get the tour over with. I had been feeling restless lately, more anxious than usual and I knew at least my sister Kenzie felt the same way.
We needed a break.
I heard the thunder rumble outside over the music playing in the bar and glanced toward the entrance just as she walked in. The woman hesitated in the doorway momentarily before heading towards the bar, her long legs leading her there quickly. I found myself walking toward her before I was consciously aware I had moved.
I heard her order a drink and told the bartender to make it two while I took in her features. From across the room I'd noticed that she had long brown hair that curled slightly down her back. It made me want to thread my fingers through it to see if it felt as soft as I imagined. Now that I had a closer look, I saw her eyes were the same color of the whiskey she had ordered. A light dusting of freckles covered her nose making me smile. The bartender brought the drinks and asked the girl if she wanted to open a tab for the night.
"That won't be necessary, Tracey, ” I said flicking my eyes towards the bartenders name tag before returning my stare to the woman that was holding my attention. "Put it on my tab." For the first time since I had approached her, the woman met my gaze. Having her intelligent looking eyes rake over me left me feeling oddly vulnerable, as if this girl could see my darkest secrets.
Breaking our eye contact she smiled at the bartender and handed her a card. "Actually, that will be necessary, Stacey,” I grimaced noticing I had gotten the bartenders name wrong. Cutting her eyes to me she spoke in a cool no nonsense tone. "Thanks but no thanks, buddy. Have a good night.” I stared at her feeling a smile creep onto my face. Usually people were desperate to get near me, yet this woman seemed intent on shutting me down.
Something about her told me not to walk away.
"No offense," she continued in a breathy voice that just about did me in. "I just prefer to buy my own drinks." When she shifted her focus straight ahead, I made myself comfortable against the bar as I started to laugh feeling my body shake with it, seeing her grin at me for the first time since I had approached her. It had been a long time since I had laughed like this, or since any woman’s smile held me so captivated.
"Fair enough, but if it's alright with you I'd like to introduce myself before you give me another brush off.” Her expression shifted so that she looked slightly irritated with me, making me readjust my plan at the last minute. "If I tell you my name, will you promise to tell me yours?"
She opened her mouth to answer me but the sound of some girl screeching my name caught my attention. A short woman inserted herself between me and my mystery woman. "So much for that,” I muttered under my breath, smiling when the mystery woman laughed somehow hearing what I had said. She had a great laugh, I thought as I winked in her direction.
"Jared only said Jace was here, not you too!" The woman spoke with a look of giddy excitement on her face.
People were crazy. We couldn't go anywhere or do anything without someone reporting on it. Last week I had seen a tabloid featuring myself losing my temper on an old man. In reality I had offered him a hand as I noticed him losing his balance. When I glanced at the woman at the bar she simply shrugged and smiled into her drink.
"Kids these days."
Chuckling at her sarcastic delivery, I looked back at the woman who had interrupted my pick up attempt. Normally I loved meeting fans but this time I had to remind myself of that when I felt the first twinge of annoyance.
"I take it you're a fan?" I began to quickly scribble my signature on the band shirt the woman was wearing when she thrust a sharpie under my nose.
"Of course I'm a fan. Only an idiot wouldn't be."
Looking at the brunette I couldn't help but ask. "What about you? You a fan too?" She bit her lip and worried it for a moment before answering.
"I've heard a few songs but by Lane's standards I'm an idiot.”
Smirking, I scribbled my signature across the fan's shirt quickly moving to grab the woman at the bars hand. She flinched almost as if she was going to snatch it back but I felt her relax after a few seconds. "Let's change that,” I rarely gave out my real phone number but I didn't hesitate to write it on this girl's palm.
I capped the marker and handed it back to the fan who was still lingering by us. I waited for the woman to say something and wasn't disappointed when she looked me dead in the eye.
"That was permanent."
There was a bustle at the bar's entrance and I glanced over to see my bandmates Lucas and Wyatt stroll inside. Lucas wore his usual serious expression while his twin smiled wickedly at the girls giggling as the twins walked by their table. The brothers saw Jace still in the corner with the redhead and shook their heads disapprovingly before spotting me at the bar.
I had met the twins at a party in high school through mutual friends after our schools had played each other in a football game. We had immediately hit it off and not long after that we formed our band. The twins’ cousin Jace was already on the drums with Lucas and Wyatt covering bass and guitar. All they needed was a front man and I was more than willing to oblige. I had a decent voice back then and figured I might as well make some money for it when the band started booking gigs. Finding the guys and forming the band was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. I found a family with my bandmates and a purpose to my life. The music. The money. And the fans.
I was thirty years-old and my band was doing better than anyone had ever expected. We were just winding down our yearlong sold out tour. After tonight's show we had two more venues to play before taking some time off. Nothing sounded better to me than hanging out at the Cooper’s ranch with my family, though it had initially surprised me when Wyatt suggested we skip our planned tropical destination in lieu of a Midwest summer. Usually we had to drag him back into town by his ear, but lately he seemed almost as ready as I was for the tour to be over.
From almost the day I had met them I had I loved my bandmates like brothers, but that didn't stop me from wanting to smack them for looking at my mystery woman as they worked their way to us through the growing crowd.
"Funny running into you here,” as Wyatt spoke he winked at the lingering fan before throwing an arm around my mystery woman's shoulder. I wanted to shove him off of her but she did that neatly enough on her own, shrugging off his arm while forcing him back a step with a hand to his chest. Holding her glass between them like a shield, the woman rolled her eyes before widening them on at the fan.
"Lane, are you ready to go? I was promised homemade mac and cheese."
“Reece Becker! Could you be anymore rude?” The small woman placed her hands on her hips and glared. “I don't know if you deserve the mac and cheese."
"I played nice! Those were the conditions and I followed them."
The woman looked at Reece through slitted eyes as though she wanted to say a lot more and from the smirk on Reece's face she thought so too. Although homemade mac and cheese sounded amazing, I had a show to play in a few hours and I wanted to spend that time with Reece.
"A challenge," I began to say and felt my pulse start to drum faster as Reece looked away from her friend, her eyes finding mine. In lieu of an answer she cocked a brow in question. The spike in my blood pressure took me a moment too long to recover from as she gestured with her hand for me to finish speaking. "Three games. Best two out of three wins."
Chapter 2
Reece
"What's the incentive?" I craned my neck to find the bartender chatting with the two new additions to our little group. A part of me didn't think Declan was seriously interested in me but the look on his face had my mouth going dry. I needed another drink but Stacey was too wrapped up in the twins’ baby blues to be distracted away.
I couldn't say I blamed her.
Lucas and Wyatt Cooper were a sight to behold but they weren't the ones causing butterflies to go to town in my stomach. That was all Declan Kane.
"If you win, your friend Lane and I will reluctantly accept your decision to eat macaroni instead of hanging out with a rock band closing out their sold out tour. If I win, you're coming to the show with us tonight. Lane, too."
I didn't have to look at Lane to know what was going through the other woman's mind. We had known each other for as long as I could remember. Jon, Lane and I had been inseparable since the first grade when Denis Wheler had called Jon a sissy for crying, resulting in me kicking him in the ‘no no square’ while Lane recited him the riot act about gender equality.
I had been more than thrilled when they'd started dating though it had taken Lane a long time to get her head out of her ass where Jon was concerned. Now I am godmother to their two children, the younger of which was named Declan. Lane swore up and down it was for her great-grandfather but Jon and I both knew she was full of shit. She was going to kill me if I messed this up for her, which I had already tried to do when I asked if she was ready to leave just as two other band members of Adrenaline were arriving.
Declan Kane was on the cover of magazines and lived on a stage. I was half convinced this wasn't really happening. I had expected to be somewhat awestruck if I had gotten to meet the band but my nerves had nothing to do with his success and everything to do with the way his blue eyes and chiseled features seemed to turn me inside out.
Drumming my hands on the bar I finally caught the bartender's attention and announced in a loud voice: ”I think we need shots. Tequila. We need tequila shots." Glancing around the floor I noted that a majority of the machines were open. Lane was going to owe me big time. “Alright Declan Kane. Since this is my home turf, I'll let you pick two of the games we play while I reserve the right to pick the third."
"So you're in?" The hopeful way he asked it made me think for a moment that he actually cared rather than saw me as an amusing way to waste time before returning to the spotlight. He had a face that was built for it, not to mention his rock hard body. I felt my eyes lingering for a moment too long and cleared my throat trying not to blush.
The bartender placed five shots on the bar top putting a bowl of limes in the middle. With more bravado than I felt, I licked my hand and added salt before shooting the shot and biting the lime. Standing up from the bar I stretched my arms behind my head and cracked my neck and knuckles before meeting Declan's gaze. I felt myself stiffen at the look in his eyes but then he smiled and I relaxed again.
"Game on."
I heard the twins start to chuckle over something Declan muttered to them before he offered me his hand. I hesitated for a moment before Lane purposefully bumped into me causing me to crash into his very firm chest. The guy smelled amazing. I had to consciously stop myself from leaning forward to sniff at his neck.
Catching my arms to steady me, Declan smirked at Lane who had the nerve to laugh. "I'm thinking we start with something simple like pinball?" Nodding in agreement I made my way to the monster-themed pinball machine I had always favored.
"Ladies first," Declan invited smiling wide. I thought about taking the first turn but figured it would be easier to lose if he played before me and I could see how well he did. I had no idea how good at games this guy was and I didn't want my friend to miss her dream concert for any reason. Stepping to the side, I tugged on Declan's arm until he was in front of the game trying to ignore how good he felt beneath my hands. Before he could say anything I pressed the start button and started the game.
Throughout his turn Declan remained silent and calm which stood in stark contrast to my constant cursing and jerky movements. My friends had pointed out more than once that a hand console game didn't require bodily movements, but I couldn't help it.
I was so focused on the game that I had failed to notice the small audience that was watching the competition. At some point the fourth member of Adrenaline had arrived with a girl molded to his side staring up at him adoringly. Lane and Wyatt were commenting on the play-by-play of the game, subsequently annoying the shit out of me while Lucas sipped his water with a bored look on his face.
"Shit bags!" I yelled slamming my hand down on the glass in frustration as a stray ball got past me. I had decided I couldn't let Declan win by too much. It just wasn't in me and he had done better than I had expected on his turn. When I saw my score increase just enough, I let myself relax and managed to show off for a few minutes before I quit. "What's the next game?"
"I don't know if my ears can take another game," Declan said shaking his head at me in mock disappointment. “Such language.”
Laughing, Lane swung her arm around my shoulders and squeezed. I could tell from the glassy look in her eye my friend was on her way to being well and truly toasted.
"That's nothing. One time in high school her mom literally washed her mouth out with soap. It was hysterical."
Glaring at her I let out a sound of frustration. “Lane, I didn't deserve that and you know it! I'm still not sure why I was the only one who was punished!” Even years later that still stung. “You and Jon were there, too!"
"Yeah but we didn't rip a girl’s extensions out while calling her a piece of shit that came out of a fucking pig’s asshole. Which still makes zero sense by the way."
"I saw that bitch Lila put the moves on Jon on your birthday and you were just going to let it go! That was not something I was comfortable with."
"You ripped some girl's extensions out? Damn that's rough,” Wyatt’s glee-filled eyes stood out in stark contrast to his words.
"Then we flew to California and had a spring break," Lane toasted me with her beer before pressing the glass to her lips. I could tell my friend was having the time of her life as we hung out with the band. Although they were famous rock stars, they were really easy to talk to and despite my initial protests I was having a good time.
"Wait, are you talking about Lila Palmer?" Jace’s asked, his hazel eyes growing wide. I heard the slight accent to the drummer’s voice and remembered Lane telling me he had lived in Australia until his parents had died when he was thirteen. The big man's mouth was planted in a firm line as he frowned at me over his drink. I didn't follow the band as closely as Lane did but I was aware Jace Craw was the muscle of the group. Even though we were relaxed in a bar, he had an energy about him that made me think that brute force was never far from the surface.
I nodded once feeling unnerved for the first time that night. I forgot that the twins and their cousin went to the same high school as Jon, Lane and I. Although by the time we were freshmen they were already one foot out the door with rumors of a record deal. My nervous stomach settled when he started laughing, the dark look in his hazel eyes lifting slightly.
"What's the joke?" Declan questioned staring at Jace in amusement. The way his face lit up when he smiled explained why so many people lusted after him. He was adorable and sexy all at the same time. The kind of combination women had trouble letting go of.
“That was the girl I was dating before we signed on with Troy. She tried to cheat on me with Wyatt who shrugged her off before ratting her out. A few weeks later she called me crying about some girl beating her up because she had dated me. I didn't believe any of it but apparently someone did kick her ass,” he shrugged. “I'm kind of disappointed it wasn't in my name though."
Laughing with him I squeezed his arm reassuringly. "If I ever kick her ass again, I'll throw in a hit for your honor."
Jace pushed his long hair off of his shoulders and nodded solemnly, ”That's all I ask."
Declan grabbed my hand again and I felt warm all over. Intertwining our fingers he gave a gentle tug moving us away from the group just as a woman with short blond hair threw herself at him. I jerked in surprise and tried to disentangle my hand from his, causing him to grip me tighter. I met his panicked gaze and realized he wasn't having as much fun as one would imagine a guy having when a gorgeous woman threw herself into his arms.
"Oh my God! Declan Kane! I love you so much! I would do anything to be with you! Anything!"
Locking eyes with me, I clearly saw Declan's cry for help as the woman pressed her lips to his neck. More than that though, I couldn't believe this woman. She had to have seen us standing together and she was offering herself to him anyways. I began tapping her on the shoulder until she shot me an aggravated glare, simply holding my ground when she sneered at me. “What, bitch?”
"Excuse me, but he's already taken."
Looking me up and down, the woman obviously found me lacking despite the fact that Declan's hand remained linked to mine.
