AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m good.” She snatches her hand back and hides it in her armpit. “And I’m not drunk.”
“Could have fooled me,” Ethan mutters under his breath.
Shit, where was I? Being frustrated with Ivy for not opening up to me. Wanting to introduce her to Kelsey. I can do both.
I manhandle Kels away from the table toward Ivy. “Kelsey, this is my girlfriend, Ivy.”
She gapes at me. “Your what now?”
“Girlfriend.” I chuckle. But fuck, I’m proud of myself. I’ll be even more chuffed when I crack the code on Ivy’s mental diary.
“It’s nice to meet you, Kelsey.” Ivy straightens to her feet.
“Wow, you boys are just…” Kelsey shakes her head, “…like flies. First Rebel, now you, and…” She glances over at Riot before tossing the rest of her drink down her slender throat with the rose tattoo up one side.
“Yup. All three of us,” I agree.
“Will you get me a refill?” Her eyes widen as she pushes the glass into my hand. “I’m sorry, where are my manners? Ivy, it’s so nice to meet you.”
“You too.” Ivy looks confused.
“I’m L.A. Riot’s band manager. The tall dude I came in with is Neil Travis, their bassist.” She stabs her thumb over her shoulder, pointing toward the patio, where he’s kicked back on the outdoor lounge with his feet on the coffee table and a baggy of bud open on his lap while he rolls himself a fresh ticket to the red-eye express. “Never mind him. He’s great on stage, but the rest of the time he’s either wasted, in trouble, or planning a new way to get in trouble.”
“I would have thought that would be my brother,” I joke as I hand her the fresh liquor.
Kelsey swings her attention to the subject of our conversation and downs that drink like it’s water. “He has his moments.”
And apparently one of those moments didn’t just make her angry, but upset her too? What the hell did you do, baby bro? “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, of course.” She takes in the faces around the table. “I should really go and say hello to Summer.”
“What are you doing here?” Riot joins our small circle, sliding in between Ivy and Kels.
Ivy startles, then scoots out of the way of the hate-fire Kelsey shoots at him. I wrap my arms around her warm body and tug her back to my front. She settles there like it’s home. I want that. For her to feel like I’m home. The way she makes me feel like I can let go and just be when I’m with her.
“I come to every Thanksgiving.” Like it’s obvious, because it is. I don’t think she’s missed one since Thanksgiving consisted of cartons of chocolate milk and thinly sliced turkey and cranberry sandwiches. Holidays look a hell of a lot different these days.
“I thought you said you had a date.” He crosses his arms and stares her down.
“I did.” She mirrors the movement, only she has to crane her neck to look up.
Not that that makes a difference to who will win this staring competition. It’s a good thing they’re close, otherwise they might actually kill each other.
Riot capitulates first. “Didn’t go well,” he guesses.
“Actually.” She smiles as she swipes a strand of short hair behind her ear to reveal a diamond skull stud in her earlobe. “It was great.”
“Great,” Riot echoes. “So why did it finish so early? And why are you babysitting Neil?”
“What’s with the inquisition? My date was fantastic. Neil found his way into a holding cell for punching a photographer and needed to be bailed out. You need to talk to him. He can’t keep doing this.”
“You’re the manager, Kels. Isn’t that your job?” He glowers down at her.
“Isn’t it your band? You wanted him in the band, you deal with him.” Kelsey pivots and marches toward the refreshments. “I need a drink.”
Riot returns to his seat beside Ro. Whatever he and Kelsey are fighting about will be in the past before long. It always is.
I brush the hair away from Ivy’s neck. Skate my lips along her jaw. Nibble at the delicate skin. “Let’s sneak away.”
