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But if that’s true, then why did she say she might’ve given me her number that first time I tried talking to her?
You’re walking a dangerous line, buddy. Maddox Barkley doesn’t fall for chicks.
That’s enough to rattle me, and I shake my head, refocusing on the music. No. No way. I’m not falling for her. I haven’t even had a date with her. I’m just … Damn it, I need to get my head back in the game. The rock star game. The party-all-night, drink-my-face-off, and find-some-hot-models-to-have-fun-with game.
That’s what’s up.
Bobbing my head to the rhythm, I keep the music going and redirect all my energy to having a great set. The lights flash, the bass is loud, and everyone dancing in front of me is having an excellent time. I try to focus on the music and only the music. As the time to my first set starts to come to a close, I see Leah and Roxy, Skye’s friends and bandmates, enter the club, and I nod over to them. When my session is finally over, I head backstage and grab a water bottle, downing it quickly, then head up to the second floor to hang out for a bit before my next session. Motioning to the bartender, I ask for a round at the table and plop down next to EJ.
“Sounding good down there, Maddox,” Roxy calls out to me.
Roxy and Leah are both cool girls. Their band, The Electrocutes, played the same music festival we did this past summer. Leah’s their guitarist and lead singer, while Roxy is the drummer. Roxy had a boyfriend a while back, but they fizzled out, and now I feel like I have a kinship with her, since she likes to party herself.
“Thanks. You find yourself any strays yet?” I tease.
“I just got here,” she comes back at me. “Give me a little time.”
A waitress stops by and sets down a tray of Crown Royal shots, my usual liquor of choice. Giving her a thankful smile, I nod, then look back at Roxy. “Girl, we’re drummers. Five minutes and you should have three numbers already.”
“Okay,” Leah scoffs, pushing me as she sits on my other side. “I think that bass you’re playing down there may have damaged your brain.”
“Naw, that’s from all the whisky,” I joke. “You know what, why haven’t we ever hooked up?”
“Maddox!” Skye yells at me, reaching over EJ to slap my chest. “No! You do not hit on my band.”
“I’m not hitting on anyone, it’s an honest question.”
Leah eyes me suspiciously with a small smirk across her lips. They all quiet down, waiting for a response, and I lift my brow, eager to see what she says. “Oh, I don’t know,” she answers. “Probably because I have standards.”
“A-oh!” EJ yells out, pushing me, and eliciting shouts from everyone else.
With the laughter circling around us, I finish another water bottle, and then reach over for a shot of whisky. “Okay, let’s do this, guys.”
EJ groans, but leans over and grabs two shot glasses, giving one to Skye. The girls grab one of their own, and I lift my glass up. “To good friends, family, and living the life of rock stars,” I call out.
Everyone downs their drink, and just before I take my own, I see the guy with glasses that Cece was talking to last week step onto the floor. I might not remember who he is, but I see Cece is walking next to him. Her eyes meet mine, and I nod, motioning the shot glass to her. She smiles.
It’s that damn smile that’s confusing the hell out of me. If she didn’t like me, she would ignore me, right? But she’s not ignoring me. Sure, she’s not talking my ear off, but she’s paying attention. And then she smiles. It’s not a “Hey, how are you?” smile. It can’t be. It’s something else.
Taking the shot, EJ leans over to me. “Baby Mavin,” he whispers with a snicker.
“Shut up.” Derrik must’ve told him about my screwup.
Cece points to a table, and the guy walks back to it, with a few other people, but she stays by the bar. I shouldn’t be paying this much attention to her. I damn sure shouldn’t be flat-out staring at her and those curves that are unavoidable in the black dress she’s wearing. But I am.
“Is that a new target, Maddox?” Skye jokes.
“Oh, no,” EJ tells her. “That’s his boss. And believe it or not, she seems to be the first girl I’ve ever heard of who’s resistant to his charm.”
“Charm?” Leah starts laughing. “Oh, is that what you call it, Maddox?”
I hear them all, along with the accompanying laughs, but my eyes are still locked on Cece. My brain is in overdrive, trying to think of something—anything—I can say or do to break through to her. To find that tiny piece of a real conversation we had that last time we were face-to-face. But I’ve got nothing. I can’t believe it. I’ve hit on girls using every lame pickup, cocky look, and stupid joke there’s ever been for a guy to use on a girl, and I’ve got zilch.
She turns back around, and I tense up. Damn it, I actually tense up as her eyes meet mine, and she walks over to us. I glance over at EJ, and he stares back at me, confused.
You’re done. I can’t help you anymore. Rest in peace, Maddox freakin’ Barkley.
“Hey, guys,” Cece calls out to us. She offers me the faintest of smiles, but then looks at EJ with an honest one. I’m jealous. Son of a motherless goat, I’m actually jealous of the real smile she gives him. “I’ve seen Derrick Tyler hanging out a few times, but it seems we’ve become the unofficial hangout for the Kings of Karmichael.”
