Page 22 of Love Thief

I grab the back of her head, holding her against me and groan out, “Fuck, woman. You’re gonna fucking kill me.” I move her head to the other side, and when I can’t take it anymore, I pull her mouth to mine and we sit, making out the rest of the way into Vegas.

Chapter

Eight

EVIE

The hotel is to die for. It’s my first visit to Vegas, and I feel I’ve started at the top. We have an amazing room, well a suite apparently, with what looks like Damien Hirst art all over the place, the largest being sharks suspended in formaldehyde, but I also spot a cabinet filled with pills. It has two enormous bedrooms, incredibly well appointed with king-size beds and sleek, modern furniture.

Kell, dumps our stuff in one, reserving the other for Becky and Levi, who are due to arrive in about an hour. I think Kell thinks they will be the most sedate out of this lot, and he trusts Levi with band secrets more than Kenny. “And at the end of the day,” he reminded me, “Kenny works for me.”

Everyone piles into our suite, spreading out around the seating areas and falling into the couches and swing chairs. Eventually we’ll take advantage of the games room, bar, pool, and terrace, but after that flight I think we’re all a little blitzed. The suite even has a butler. He’s sorting drinks out for everyone, thankfully. I think we can all use a little hydration.

I wander around, skirting bags and discarded carry-ons, hardly daring to touch anything. We have a reservation for dinner as the idea is to be as visible as possible, and now that the drink is wearing off I’m getting a bit anxious about being on display. I feel like a sacrificial lamb to the slaughtering public. I don’t know how these guys cope with the constant scrutiny, judgement and commentary. It’s no wonder Kellen really does give zero fucks about anyone and anything. I think he takes ‘you will never please everyone, so may as well please yourself’ a bit far, but I appreciate the sentiment behind it. It also helps if you don’t need the cash, whatever happens.

I tell the room at large I’m off to get changed, and they mostly ignore me as they’re all drinking again at the bar.

Grace follows me into my room, closes the door, and whisper-hisses, “What the fuck was that Evie? You and Marcus on the plane. You are totally into each other. I was so turned on it was ridiculous. What the hell was in that whiskey?”

“Don’t be blaming the whiskey, Grace Simpson. I saw you with Kenny and Xander,” I say laughing and pointing at her.

“Well, according to Kenny, Xan likes couples. Apparently he’s dated a few over the years, likes to get involved.” She comically rolls her eyes at the ‘involved’ bit.

“Do you, I don’t, what he, really?” I’m so shocked by the revelation. I’ve never seen that side of him. But then, why would he tell me? He’s his own man, always has been. And I know they’re all involved in the rock star lifestyle, and Xander is not a sedate and steady away guy. He is full on, as much if not more than Kellen.

I stand and look at her. ”Have you benefited from his ‘involvement?’” I ask, trying to keep the incredulity out of my voice. She nods and giggles.

“Oh my god, Grace, you are kidding me? When?”

“In London after our nightclub one night stand, a bit at the Chateau… Not for a few weeks, though, full-on. Just talk, bits and bobs, but no full sex.”

She says it so matter of fact. I’ve never seen this side of her either. I’m learning lots of new things tonight and my brain is struggling to process it all. I’m surprised by her, to be honest. Her dating history up to this point has been very unimaginative. All school administration assistants, teachers, and one barista. All boring according to her. Maybe that’s what she meant, that it was just not to this extent. Kell, Xander, and Co could never be called boring. They’re as far from boring as you can get.

“Oh right, well, good on you, Grace. Go for it, girl.”

Still a bit gobsmacked at the information, I turn to dig around in my suitcase, trying to erase the images she’s put out there and distract myself from what it means. What it confirms to me about Xander.

Am I shocked? Not totally, but a bit. He’s a bit of a Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, even if he never shows me that side. But I know it’s there. I saw him at the Chateau, the cottage. Still a bit shocked though. I mean, couples? Really?

I lift out a new black lace backless number, not short, but very stylish and super sexy. “Do you think this is Vegas enough?”

Instead of looking at the dress. Grace asks, “Do you know what you’re doing, Evie? I mean, I did wonder why he brought you? You aren’t really together, are you? Not as a real couple, anyway. Don’t forget, I sorted you out after the Chateau tents, and you were not in a good place. He put you in a terrible place. Is he worth all this?”

Gone is the playful look she had when talking about Kenny and Xan, replaced by something entirely too serious. I just stare at her. I don’t know what to say. Is he? I’ve definitely disconnected my brain of late, going with the flow as much as I can. Maybe in all that I missed what I should be doing for me, so focused on how it benefited everyone else.

I continue to stare at her, tears springing to my eyes, but she doesn’t notice and keeps rambling on. “I know you have James in common, but other than that, you’re really not his type. Way too tame for the likes of him. No compatibility at all.”

I still don’t know what to say to her, but she seems to finally see my distress and changes tact, coming over to me and taking me in her arms. “I didn’t mean to upset you. He’s certainly a beautiful man, and he looks at you like he wants to carry you off and keep you forever tied to his bed. You lucky bitch. But he was like that in France, wasn’t he? All over you before he dumped you for any number of other people who like the same things he does. But he does stare at you like…”

She tails off, pulling back and wiping at my eyes. “Oh God, I’ve ruined this trip for you, haven’t I. I’m so sorry, I should never have opened my mouth to tell you the truth about your one-sided relationship. I’d better change my name to Lauren.” She laughs a little at that, trying to lighten the mood, and I try to join in, try to smile at her.

“It’s fine Grace. It’s not like I don’t know, I suppose.”

“What’s going on?” Kellen walks into the room as Grace has my face in her hands and is wiping at my eyes. I try to turn away slightly, so he doesn’t see my deflated ego. I don’t want him to see me questioning him when I’ve agreed to all this. Agreed to be with him, give him a real chance. I don’t want to show him my doubts.

“Grace is changing her name to Lauren.” I try to laugh, but it comes out stilted and insincere. “She’s improved her interrogation techniques, that’s for sure.” I cringe on the inside. He’ll know. I sound so jaded, resigned. Get a grip, Greystone.

He looks at Grace then back to me, his face a mask of concentration, his eyes calculating my reactions. “Well she better not have. I can’t stand that woman.”

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