Page 13 of Verses Of Us

“Is that so?” Anthony crossed his arms and pursed his lips. “You can’t both come back here. You understand that, right?”

As if Julie deflated, her shoulders drooped and her smile vanished. “It’s OK, Lexi. You go. I’ll go home.”

“Absolutely not,” Alexis snapped, her anxiety fuelling her. She turned to Anthony. “I came here with my friend and I’m leaving with her, too. So, if Ciarán wants to see me, then she has to come with.”

It was her turn to cross her arms. Biting the inside of her cheek, Alexis tried to meet Anthony’s steely gaze, but worried she’d overreached.

After a long, exasperated sigh, he stepped aside. “Fine. Let’s go.”

With their arms linked tightly, the girls walked through the curtain, following Anthony down a dark tunnel toward the amphitheatre’s recesses, which were lit by bright fluorescents. They passed roadies who disassembled the stage and gear in a concentrated frenzy, then walked down a second hallway and stopped at a door with Ciarán’s name written on it.

Anthony knocked, pushing the door open without waiting for an answer. A dozen heads turned their way. Alexis recognized the band and the backup singers, sitting on couches with drinks in their hands. She froze in the doorway, unsure of what to do next.

“There she is,” a deep, gravelly voice said from across the room.

At the sight of Ciarán, Alexis relaxed. Shirtless, he walked over, holding a beer and with a white towel hanging around his neck. She admired his athletic build and broad shoulders, and the way his toned arms looked lean, but strong. A faint sheen of sweat covered his brow and chest, and his face was flushed. His brown hair stood messily on end, as if he’d run a hand through it and it had stayed that way. The wide grin he sported made his dimples pop, giving him a youthful and charming air.

Something funny happened to her insides and all her senses heightened. Realizing she was staring, she blinked, clearing her throat.

“She insisted the other one come with her,” Anthony informed him, jerking a thumb over his shoulder as if they weren’t standing right beside him.

“Andshemust have a name?” Ciarán aimed his charming smile toward Julie, the latter introducing herself with giddy laughter. She rambled on about the show, giving him a play-by-play of her favourite parts, but Alexis couldn’t focus on anything except for Ciarán and on where she was.

“Everyone, this is Julie,” he said to his entourage. Then he turned back to Alexis, his steady eye contact and parted lips sending heat throughout her body. “And this…” He sighed heavily, the sound absolutely wrecking her composure. “Thisis Alexis.”

A hush spread through the room.

“I’m going to leave you two alone,” Julie whispered.

“What?” Alexis whispered back with her eyes wide.

With a reassuring tap on her friend’s shoulder, Julie winked and walked toward the others, taking a seat next to Gus, the guitar player. With no choice but to accept the fact that they were staying, Anthony left, shutting the door behind him. All the others continued their conversations, leaving Alexis alone… with Ciarán.

Nervous, her eyes flitted to the floor. “Thank you for inviting us.”

“My pleasure.” Ciarán sipped his beer, and they grew silent.

They stood unmoving, her mind a whirlwind. Ciarán’s steady gaze never left her face and, though Alexis tried to focus on the other people, his nearness was too distracting. His arm kept grazing hers and she found his warmth and sweat oddly appealing.

“Did you like the show?” he asked, leaning closer.

“It was great. Amazing.”

Though his lips remained in a tight line, his eyes smiled back. “Glad you enjoyed it. Great shirt, by the way.” He nodded to her chest and she couldn’t help giggle. He lifted his bottle. “Want a drink?”

“Um, water?”

“Sure.” He led her across the room to a table covered with different snacks, some fruit, and a sea of beer bottles, then handed her a bottle of water. Alexis chugged down half of it, trying to quench the dryness that had built up in her throat.

Over her shoulder, she spotted Julie confidently chatting with one of the backup singers and Gus. Alexis clenched her hand into a fist, the other strangling the bottle. Compared to Julie, who looked completely relaxed, she was a bag of nerves.

“Don’t worry about your friend. Gus is a sweetheart,” Ciarán offered, with a reassuring smile, as if assuming her concern was about the company Julie was in.

Alexis cocked her head. “Are you sure about that? I’ve heard you guys sometimes get a little carried away with groupies.”

His face dropped, and he looked down. “You shouldn’t believe everything you read.” He returned his gaze to her, his eyes filled with apprehension. “You’re not a groupie, are you?”

A laugh burst out and she covered her mouth. “I didn’t think so, but standing here kind of makes me one, no?”

---