“Nola,” I say as her hand slips between us. “I’m trying to be serious here and make plans with you. I want to take you out.”
“After.” Her word is soft, and her eyes are closed. She’s rubbing against me, giving us both a bit of much-needed friction. One swift move and I’m buried deep inside of her.
“After this?” I give her what she wants, falling completely under her spell. She arches against me, her nails piercing into my skin as she calls out my name. It’s what we both need, but I want more. I want it all and have absolutely no idea how to get it.
“Move in with me,” I blurt out in between thrusts. She stills, and I slow down. I look into her eyes and spill everything. “I’m falling so fast, so hard, Nola. I’m head over heels in love with you. Move in with me.”
Her hand comes to the back of my head and pulls me down until I’m hovering over her lips. “I love you too,” she whispers and starts moving against me. She doesn’t answer me about moving in, but I figure it’s a done deal. Since the night of Sinful Distraction’s gig at the Roxy, she hasn’t left my side. I can’t imagine spending a night without her.
“How much do you know about her?” Elle’s sitting on the dressing room table, something she’s done since we were kids, swinging her legs back and forth. Like a love-struck puppy, I stayed after dropping Nola off for work, thinking I’d get some lyrics down on paper but found myself staring at my girlfriend and counting the long hours until she finishes her shift.
After dodging Elle’s calls all afternoon, I should’ve known she would show up at the Bean Song. When she sat down across from me, I could see it in her eyes that she wanted to talk, but it wasn’t going to happen here. Thankfully, the makeshift dressing/green room was still empty.
“What does it matter?”
“It matters because we’re onto something good here with Sinful Distraction, and I don’t need some groupie getting knocked up or worse.”
“She’s not a groupie, Elle. She didn’t even know who I was when she started working here.”
“Not so, big brother. Don’t you remember what she said last weekend at the beach? She thought she knew your imaginary sister, Sofia. So clearly she ‘knows you.’” Elle uses air quotes to emphasize her words. I hate that she’s like this, skeptical all the time. I know it’s because of the things we’ve dealt with growing up. From the overly aggressive paparazzi to our dad’s psycho manager trying to destroy our lives.
I go to her and pull her into a hug. “I love you but trust me.”
“I love you too, but no. You’re thinking with your…” She cocks her eyebrow at me and smirks. “Plus, your heart. You have a really good heart, Quinn, and I don’t want to see it trampled on.”
“Nola said earlier that you don’t like her. I tried to tell her it’s just your sunny disposition, but maybe she’s right.”
Elle hops down off the table and starts to pace. She’s dressed like a business manager tonight, which means she’s probably invited some record label executives to come and listen. Honestly, having them here doesn’t make much sense since I perform solo, unless…
“Did you ask the band to join me tonight?”
She looks at me sheepishly.
I throw my hands up in the air. “This is supposed to be my night.”
“You’re part of something bigger now, Quinn. Embrace it.”
“It’s not about embracing the band, Elle. I’m in. I show up to rehearsal, don’t I?”
“So, what’s the issue?”
“The issue is this is where I can be me. Where I can relax and just play music without any added pressure of whether or not they like the song.”
Elle stands in front of me. She takes hold of my shirt, pulling on the collar. “When will you see that you’re wasting your talent here? Zeke should be paying you thousands a night for sitting on his stage, and yet you let him get away with giving you a hundred plus tips. You’re freaking Harrison James’s son, and you’re busking for dollars.”
“Not exactly, I don’t perform on the street corner or in subway stations.”
She throws her hands up and I laugh. I love goading her. She takes life too seriously sometimes, which I know has a lot to do with Peyton’s accident. In a way, we all changed a little bit after we thought we were going to lose her.
“Listen.” I turn her around so she’s facing me. “You were right about the band. It’s going to be a good thing, but until it takes off, I’d really like to continue my Friday nights here, by myself.”
“You can’t, Quinn.”
“Why not?”
“Because, I can’t book the band for paying gigs when you’re willing to sit and play for free. Zeke doesn’t have a cover charge and he’s not paying you. Venues know that. And you know word spreads like wildfire here. Sinful Distraction has a real chance at being something big and I don’t want to ruin it because you feel like you owe Zeke something.”
I’m growing more frustrated by the minute. “Do you remember when I said I didn’t want to be in your band?”