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I head upstairs to join the party and when I reach the top I see a few different groupies milling around. I think I’m going to pass tonight. I’d rather just hang out and get trashed with my friends. I don’t want Poppy’s friend assuming the worst of me before she even knows me, walking in with a groupie on my arm. It’s bad enough I almost fucked one before coming up here.
I reach the door of our party and a security guard outside nods at me. I’m actually shocked at the amount of people in here. I thought it was just going to be us, but hell this is a pleasant surprise. I glance around to see where Nate and Poppy are, but I don’t see them. I don’t see Ethen or Ralph for that matter either. I make my way through the dimly-lit VIP area with music surrounding me. I glance around searching for any signs of my friends, but am left wondering where they could be. Did they leave? I stop and see a few managers from other bands we’ve met on the road and talk to them for a bit before I continue my search.
I spot them all sitting around a table and I head that way. When I reach the table the conversation keeps going, but Poppy shoots me a death look. Yikes. “Nice of you to join us,” she says.
I try to make light of the situation and laugh it off. “I like to be fashionably late. So where is your friend?” I ask, looking around the table and only seeing my friends.
“She left. She was disgusted by your lack of interest in her,” she says, crossing her arms and looking away.
“Holy shit. Seriously, Poppy, I didn’t mean anything by it. I stopped at the bar to grab a shot. I didn’t even think I was gone that long. Where is she now? I’ll go personally and apologize,” I say, feeling like the biggest piece of shit.
Everyone busts out laughing and Poppy looks at me before tossing her head back joining in. “I’m fucking with you. She went to the bathroom.”
I grab a Heineken that is on the table and drink down half of it. “That’s fucked up, Poppy. You made me feel like shit.”
“Well maybe that should make you rethink things,” she says with a grin and I just shake my head. “Oh here she is. Brooklyn this is Fitz. Fitz, this is my girl, Brooklyn.”
I turn around and I swear to God for the first time in my life, the wind is knocked out of me. She is fucking sexy as hell. She’s got an unbelievable body and those green eyes look like they could burn into my soul. I feel like my mouth is as wide as my eyes as I take her in. Her toned legs bring her closer to me, allowing me to notice her plump lips. My body is frozen in place when she smiles at me. I try to get a hold of my emotions, or hormones not sure which one as I hold out my big hand, encasing hers. My heart is pounding in my chest as I shake it and I try to gather some words to say to her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Brooklyn. Poppy didn’t tell me how beautiful you are,” I say, speaking the truth to a woman for probably the first time since I was a kid.
Her entire face blushes at my compliment and it makes me wonder if it’s because Fitz of Renegade said that or if she just doesn’t hear it nearly enough. With her tiny hand in mine and I want to pull her to me. I want to wrap my arms around her and hold her close. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too and please call me Brooke,” she says in a voice that is so quiet I almost need to lean down to hear her.
“No, your name is Brooklyn,” Poppy yells and still holding onto Brooklyn’s hand I turn my head to look at Poppy. “Her name is Brooklyn.”
I turn my attention back to Brooklyn or Brooke and say, “What do you want me to call you?”
She chews her plush bottom lip, almost like a nervous habit, before she looks up to me. “I guess Brooklyn.”
I nod my head and realize I’ve still got ahold of her hand. I let go and crack a smile. “What can I get you to drink, Brooklyn?”
She once again blushes, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “I’ve got water, but thank you so much.”
Water? Who the hell drinks water at a party? She sits down and I pull a chair over and sit next to Ralph since there is not room next to her. I can’t take my eyes off her and the only thing she is doing is playing with her fingers and looking down at the table. She’s nervous, I can tell. Has me curious if she acted this way before I got here. I want to kick my own ass for not following them up here in the first place. Everyone starts talking and the only time she joins in is when a question is asked directly to her.
“So Brooklyn, what do you think of New York so far?” I ask. At this point, I just want to get her to talk. I’ve never seen someone so shy and nervous before. It brings out this need to want to protect her, which is crazy since I know nothing about her.
She looks at me for a second before looking back at the table. “I haven’t seen much, but what I have seen was beautiful.”
So she likes the city, good to know. “Anything special you want to see while you’re here?” I look at Ethen as he gets up. I motion for him to grab me a beer and turn my attention back to Brooklyn.
“I guess I want to see everything,” she says and lightly laughs. Damn what I wouldn’t give to hear that sound again.
Ethen comes back with a tray full of shot glasses with brown alcohol and some beers. He passes them out to everyone and gives a wicked grin. These must be strong. “I’d like to make a toast. I fucking love you guys and Brooklyn, welcome to the crew.”
“To old friends and new friends,” Nate says and we all tip our shots back.
I look over at Brooklyn and she still has her full shot in front of her. “What’s wrong Brooklyn? You don’t like a Kick In The Balls?” I ask and she chews that lip and lowers her head more.
“She doesn’t like drinking. We need to fix that. Come on Brooklyn, do your first shot,” Poppy yells from Nates lap.
“Holy shit. You’ve never done a shot before? Oh my God, how old are you?” Ethen asks before he sips his beer.
“I’m twenty-five,” she replies with hurt in her voice.
“Damn girl, we need to loosen you up. It’s easy, just put the shot glass to your lips and throw it back. You’ll love it and want me, shit I mean more,” Ethen says, laughing at his Freudian slip.
“Girl, come on. I told you earlier, there is a party girl in there. Let’s find her,” Poppy says.
“I’d rather not. Not right now anyway,” Brooklyn says and I don’t know if everyone is drunk and can’t see it or just doesn’t care, but the fear and embarrassment on her face makes me want to kick their asses.
