Page 27 of Bitter Beats

The thought makes me laugh, and I move toward the cocaine, bending down and snorting two lines. I sniff, brushing my thumb across the tip of my nose. My eyes water, and I blink quick.

Damn. I grin. “That’s good shit.”

“Pure as fuck,” the British dude agrees.

I nod, pulling my phone out of my back pocket as it buzzes.

Jameson: Yo, you good?

Jameson: Where you at?

Jameson: Derek said he hasn’t been able to get a hold of you either…

I roll my eyes. I hate when my brother acts like my fucking dad. Well, he’s a hell of a lot better than Big Jim but whatever. Before I slip my phone back into my pocket, another message comes through.

Mckenna: I’m sorry.

I pause, tilting my head as if it will help me better understand her message.

She’s sorry for?—

“Mav!” a guy I don’t know calls out.

I lift a hand in greeting, and shake my head to clear my thoughts.

I’m not thinking about my family tonight.

Or Mckenna. Mckenna and her bony shoulders, sad eyes, and secret job.

Nope. Not going there.

Tonight, I’m having fun. I’m doing me. I’m…

“Hey,” I announce to a group of women walking toward me. The effects of the coke are hitting, elevating everything around me. My shitty mood from earlier is gone, and in its place, excitement hums. Fucking euphoria.

“There he is!” Flip points at me.

My smile widens, and I hold my arms out for two of the beautiful women. “Ready to have some fun?”

One of them palms my chest, hooking her fingers around the open collar and tugging lightly. “Been ready, baby.”

I chuckle as the music pulses around us, a lively beat I move in tune with.

Light reflects and scatters as I twirl one of the women, a sexy brunette, around. She’s laughing, her teeth perfectly white, her eyes mysteriously dark.

“You’re fucking beautiful,” I whisper in her ear.

She giggles and nips at my chin, eliciting a groan from me.

My hands palm her waist, gripping her tightly as I bring my mouth to hers. I kiss her hard, my hand twisting the ends of her hair as I back us into a corner.

She pulls back, her eyes wide, her chest panting. “But you’re, you’re Maverick Tate.”

I toss my head back and laugh. “And soon, you can say you fucked him, huh?” I taunt, wanting her to know that she’s also getting something out of this exchange. “I’ll make you come so hard, you’ll see fucking stars,” I promise, knowing I’m good for it.

If there’s one thing, besides drumming, I excel at, it’s sex. Maybe that’s why my brother is flipping me so much shit? Jameson’s been pussy-whipped forever. On some level, he must yearn for the carefree, no-strings hookups I revel in.

For a moment, two years ago, I thought he had a shot. He and Amelia were on a break, and he started dating the smart, thoughtful, not to mention gorgeous, model, Marisa Mella. But that crashed and burned and when it did…Amelia re-entered the chat.

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