Page 23 of Rebel

Did they figure out the truth?

They keep giving me looks, so I down another shot, needing to forget today. I started to relax and get complacent, but that’s my own problem, not theirs. They are just trying to help me. I mean, people would kill to be in my shoes.

I end up dancing most of the night away, not wanting to be around them.

Girls flock to their table. Kolton ignores them completely, Trav smiles and talks but keeps his distance, and Chase eats it up, drinking more and more.

I leave them to it. They are adults, so they can do whatever the fuck they want. I don’t care.

I lose myself in the music, letting it wash my worries away until there’s a tap on my shoulder. I turn to see Trav, his eyes bright, but he appears sober-ish. “Kolt and Chase are hammered. Can you help me get them home?”

I turn to see Kolton sleeping with his head on the sticky table while Chase takes more shots, swaying all the while. “Shit.” I follow Trav, moving to Kolton since Chase is an ass.

“I’ll get Kolt. You get Chase.” Trav pushes me aside. Frowning, I move reluctantly to Chase.

“Time to go.” I hit his side none too gently.

Chase’s blurry eyes meet mine. “Not a chance, pretty thang. I’m having a good time.”

“Uh-huh, come on.” I pull him to the end of the booth, grabbing his jacket and mine. “Home time.”

“Fuck off. I want to party and fuck,” he slurs before burping. “Unless you want to party?”

“As tempting as that is, no thanks, you’re too drunk. Let’s go.” I hoist him up and drape his arm around my shoulders.

When I turn back, Trav has Kolt, and we manage to make our way outside without much fuss. There’s a car waiting, and I shove Chase inside before climbing in. He drapes himself over my lap, resting his head on my knees. I roll my eyes as we head home, but when he turns his head and nuzzles into my chest, I smack his chest and turn him away.

“Stop,” I tell him, “or I’ll dump your ass on the floor.”

“But you’re so warm,” he whines, nuzzling into my body and sighing. I ignore the sharp stab of desire and drop my arms across him since there’s nowhere else to go. He wraps himself around me.

“You smell so good, Beck.”

“You’ll regret this tomorrow,” I tell him, but I brush his hair back from his face, and he blinks one eye open.

“Nope, you’re pretty,” he slurs.

“Uh-huh.” I nod, looking out the window.

“Tell me I’m pretty too,” he whines, biting my side. I inhale and push him away. “Beck.”

“Shit, okay, you’re pretty too,” I mutter.

“I don’t think you mean it.” He sits up and pokes my cheek. “Mean it, Beck.”

Sighing deeply, I turn to look at him. “Chase, you’re very pretty. You’re the prettiest rock star in the entire world. Better?”

He frowns, his brows furrowed, before he grins. “I knew you wanted me.”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Trav mutters. “Can we go any faster?”

Chase leans in, hiccupping. “I’ll tell you a secret, Beck,” he whispers loudly. “I want you too.”

“Is that right?” I smirk. “What other secrets can you tell me?”

“Well, there’s the time when I caught Trav watching you?—”

I groan when my seat jerks.

---