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“Said Princess is incoming,” Draven reminds me. “It’s probably best to fix your face.”
Great, now I’m snarling like a damn dog. Taking a breath, I nod at the bouncer before walking inside the opened door.
“Can I get an ID, girl?” the bouncer asks, making me shake my head. They didn’t bother to check mine or the guys.
Looking over my shoulder, I watch Layla merely smile, handing it over. I guess it’s different for girls. I remember how upset and petulant Lenny was the first time she didn’t get carded at a bar. I thought it was hysterical, but still handed her a travel-sized pack of gummy bears to perk her spirits up.
I used to know my tiny Valkyrie so well, but after five years of no contact with Lennon, I wouldn’t be surprised if she never wants to see me again. All because I don’t know what to do with her little sister, other than stay away from her, and that doesn’t look like a possibility.
Blowing out a breath, I head to the bar to grab a drink too. Layla isn’t supposed to be on for another few minutes, so I’ll let her figure out where to go. Dick move after I signed her up for this without permission, but I see her already making her way up to the girl coordinating this event.
“Hey, what can I get you?” the bartender asks. She's a brassy blonde with big tits in a halter top and practically painted onjeans. I think her name is Holly? By the time we hit this bar during our bar crawl, my memory wasn’t very reliable.
“A beer please, surprise me,” I tell her with a tight smile. I’m not interested in any woman right now who isn’t Layla Campbell, even though I shouldn’t still want her after all of these years. My cock decides to deflate as I watch Holly lick her lips. No thank you. She’s a beautiful woman… for someone else.
“She’s trying a bit too hard, isn’t she, Daddy,” Atlas purrs in my ear as he grabs my ass. We’ve become more comfortable in public over the last five years. We already hurt Layla by surprising her with our secret relationship, there was no reason not to make it official.
“She is,” I sigh. “Holly isn’t my type.”
“Hailey,” Atlas corrects with a chuckle. “Let’s not piss off the woman making our drinks, baby. Now, should we bet on how badly Lay will tank?”
Glancing over at the girl in question, I see her smiling at the coordinator with a nod. Mila isn’t the most friendly person, but I can tell even she is warming up to Layla.
“I have a bad feeling this may blow up in our faces,” I mutter. “She practically grew up at Music Horde Records. Layla is used to being around all types of people. I think she’s even winning over the coordinator of this open mic.”
“No way. Mila’s got steel balls,” Atlas groans.
Tyler walks next to her, scowling to make a path through the crowd. Surprisingly, it seems to work, and Layla strides up to us.
“Nice place,” She smirks. “They have a guitar I can use, so I’ll just go solo.”
“When is the last time you’ve performed alone, chick?” Draven asks, his brow raised as he takes a sip of his drink. Whatever it is, it’ll be strong knowing him.
Leaning against the bar, I drink my beer as I realize what Draven’s nickname is short for: baby chick. Apparently, heappreciates our concern about her age and singing with us, even if he’s an asshole about it.
“Good question,” I agree. “Can you even sing without someone to make sure you sound good?”
My question is greeted with a punch to my gut. Damn, it’s even well placed, making me lose my breath as I also almost lose my grip on my beer.
Tyler glares as he moves back to Layla’s side. “That’s quite enough,” he growls as I remember how to breathe. Atlas merely smirks at the knight in shining armor act from Layla’s damn boyfriend as he pats my shoulder. “I let you get it out of your system. I’m even fine with Layla singing in this shithole because I know she can handle it. I will absolutely not allow you to psych her out before going on that stage. Is that clear?”
“Crystal,” I grunt, wincing as I take another breath. Damn, he can land a punch. Fuck me.
“I don’t think I’ve ever performed alone before,” Layla says with a shrug. “I’ve never had to before. I write song lyrics at home or while jamming with Lennon on FaceTime on the road. Collaborative work has always resonated with me.”
I don’t even know how to respond to such an eloquent response. Damn, maybe she has grown up. I mean, Layla never acted immature even five years ago, which is part of what attracted Atlas and I to her. She was merely inexperienced, which appears to be something she’s been busy working on as well.
“Next up, Layla!” Mila says from the stage with her microphone. “She’s a first-time performer for O’Malleys, but I have a feeling she can handle this crowd just fine. Come on up, girlie.”
Yep, she’s officially gotten onto Mila’s good side. Lay wasn’t even talking to her for very long, for fuck’s sake.
“Break a leg, Little Flower,” Tyler says, kissing her forehead. “You got this.”
Layla looks up at him, giving him a brilliant smile. Damn, she lights up the bar with her brilliance. Why does she have to be so damn beautiful?
“Coming through!” Layla yells, walking between the crowd. They part for her as if by magic, many of them a lot bigger than her. I guess if you act as if you’re full of piss and vinegar, people will believe it.
“She’s so goddamn tiny,” Draven mutters so softly I nearly miss it.
