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Dana nudged me. “That’s what dating is for. Unless, of course, you’re saving yourself for the playboy?”
I grabbed my water. “Crisis likes to flirt. He isn’t into me like that.”
“Bullshit. And you’re hot for him.”
My gaze darted to hers. Could she see it, too?
“You eating the rest of those?” Dana asked, letting it go.
I pushed my plate of fries toward her and then she asked me about my new job at Georgie’s coffee shop, Perk Avenue, and the conversation steered away from Crisis.
My phone vibrated an hour later as I walked across campus to my last class.
So who’s the guy?
What guy?
LOL. Cute. You know exactly who I’m talking about. He had his hand on your back.
He noticed that?
Shouldn’t you be playing guitar or something?
Logan and Kite are arguing over lyrics. You going to date him?
No, I was considering casual sex.
I was kidding around because he’d really thrown me off today and deserved it. But the truth was, I was considering Crisis for casual sex. My phone started playing, “I’m too sexy,” Crisis’ idea of funny.
I hadn’t even said hello when he said, “You serious? Or fucking with me?”
I was a little caught off-guard by his sudden phone call and the rough tone in his voice.
“You going to fuck that guy? Date him? What?”
“Crisis, I don’t ask you about the girls who leave the condo in the morning.”
“Then ask me,” he shouted. He never shouted. “I want you to ask me because I’d tell you they aren’t mine.” I heard him take a deep breath. “I’m responsible for you and—”
I cut him off. “I don’t want or need anyone being responsible for me.” He felt responsible for me? God, that just stomped on any lingering desire I had. “I’ve had no one give a shit about me since I was sixteen. I don’t need anyone now.”
The phone muffled as if he was walking. “That’s complete bullshit, Haven. We all need someone and whether you want it or not, you’re part of the band, the family and we’re responsible for one another. You know why? Because we care about one another.”
My hand shook and tremors volleyed through me. “I don’t want a family. I didn’t sign up for a family.” My only family had ever been Ream and he’d been torn away from me. Was that how Crisis saw me, just family? Like Kat or Emily? Had he been flirting with me today because of Lac? Because he felt responsible for me?
“Too fuckin’ bad. You got one,” he shot back then the line went dead.
I stared at my phone. What the hell just happened? Crisis was laid back and playful. I’d never heard him yell except when he stubbed his toe or something stupid like that. But, Crisis had been furious.
Well, at least he wouldn’t go to karaoke.
BY THE TIME we finished at the studio in Logan’s house, it was after nine. Kite delayed us leaving with the bullshit over the lyrics not sounding right and despite the final decision he and Logan made, neither of them were happy with the outcome of the song. It was supposed to be a bit of a ballad, and they were right, it was missing something.
I hadn’t talked to Haven since I hung up on her. Fuck, I hung up on her. What was I thinking? When I went to call her back five minutes after I’d cooled down, Logan and Kite had agreed and we were back to work.
It took forty-five minutes to drive back to the city. I jumped in the shower, changed and was ready to go in ten minutes.
Kite on the other hand dragged his ass. He wasn’t impressed with going and wanted to go to Avalanche, Kat’s brother’s bar where we used to jam all the time. I made him a deal though, next time he wanted to go out, to wherever, I was there. No bitching.
Kite called down to Roman, one of Luke’s guys telling him what we were doing and he brought a car around and took us to the bar.
Kite grabbed my arm before I opened the door to the private room the group was in upstairs. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
I shrugged his hand away. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Haven. Don’t screw it up for her. Maybe she likes this guy. And yeah, I heard you on the phone in the studio. You’re lucky Ream didn’t.” I made a gruff sound in the back of my throat and Kite’s brows rose. “You want to go there? I live with you. Known you since you were sixteen, lived on a tour bus with you. You can play it any way you like, but you like her more than you should.”
My hand tightened on the doorknob. “What? There’s a limit? Fuckin’ news to me.”
Kite hit me in the chest lightly. “That girl has some serious demons and the last thing she needs is your cock anywhere near her.”
I slammed both my hands into Kite and he fell back a step. “I’d never do that. She’s not some pussy. Jesus, Kite. She’s my friend. Ream’s sister and, yeah, she has fuckin’ serious demons and no way in hell am I letting some lacrosse captain fuck with her.”
Kite shook his head back and forth, grinning. “I knew it.”
“What?”
He started laughing.
“What, asshole?”
“You have it bad for her. She’s the one.” What the hell was he talking about? And did he seriously just play me? “I’m so going to enjoy this.” He shoved me out of the way and opened the door.
I trailed in after him, my eyes landing on Haven sitting on the L-shaped couch next to Mr. Lacrosse who had his arm across the back of it. He was leaning into her whispering something and the left corner of her mouth twitched upward in a smile. Well, as much as a smile as Haven gave. Except with me.
I could get a laugh, Mr. fuckin’ Lacrosse.
Tanya and the guy, Kevin, sang and bobbed up and down when we entered. It was kind of funny and not half bad. I walked over to Haven and kissed the top of her head.
