Page 27 of Ticket to the Stars: Part One

Okay, I knew we were off-limits to each other, but damn. That kind of hurt, how quick he was to yank that hand off me, like he thought I was disgusting or something.

“It’s fine,” I muttered, trying to hide how hurt I was. God, this was stupid.

Priest’s chest hummed, as if he didn’t know what to believe. But in the end, he didn’t say anything more. Since his back was to the stage, he moved to claim Deacon’s abandoned seat so he could watch his girlfriends for the night sing.

Ugh. Why did I feel like this was going to be a long night?

Chapter Thirteen – Priest

Not to be a pussy, but when Angel walked out of the bathroom and didn’t glance up at the stage once, it kind of hurt. That had to be why, toward the end of my duet with Hailee, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

It looked like she got into a fight with Deacon, because Deacon got up and stormed over to the bar to sit by himself—and that left her alone with Bishop, who, I saw, had his hand on her. Normally, I wouldn’t care, but something I couldn’t describe made me prickle.

That’s why, once our song was done, I told the girls they could take the stage together. I wanted to go over there and see what was going on, and I made sure to point out the fact that Bishop had his hand on her waist almost immediately.

I took Deacon’s empty seat so I could sit a little closer to Angel. I’d never known Bishop to be a guy who put the moves on anyone, but maybe there was something about Angel that made him want to.

Maybe he liked her. He wasn’t someone who ever went against what Ramona said. He wasn’t a rule-breaker. But Angel was pretty, and there was something about her big, blue eyes that made you forget about everything else.

After the whole thing with his hand on her waist, Bishop was watching the stage, acting like he was unaware Angel was beside him and I was on her left.

Angel leaned closer to me and whispered, “I think they like you.” She meant the two girls on the stage, and the way she whispered it in hushed tones made me wonder if she thought it was a secret or something.

Oh, sweet summer child.

“What can I say?” I asked with a grin. “There’s something magnetic about me.” An understatement. I could practically make a chick wet by giving her a smoldering look. It really didn’t take much on my part.

Hell, those girls would probably be down for a quickie in the restroom. I’d bet anything they’d willingly drop to their knees for me—even together. If it was another night, I’d be down for a threesome with those two lovely ladies.

But it wasn’t another night, and I was feeling some type of way after seeing Angel ignore me on the stage, not to mention Bishop’s hand on her.

Don’t ask me, okay? I didn’t know.

“Have you ever had a girlfriend?” Angel asked.

“Long-term? Nah.”

She cocked her head at me, and some of her white hair fell away from her face. “Why not?”

I was not expecting this line of questioning from her, which was the only reason it took me a moment to say, “Uh, I don’t know. I guess I never saw the point. When we’re touring, we go from city to city. We’re gone a lot. And then when we’re recording, we’re in the studio all hours of the day and night.”

I was making it sound like it was about the time, or lack of it, but honestly… that wasn’t it. I never saw myself as the kind of guy who could get nailed down by one chick. I’d never had a desire to have a long-running relationship.

Plus, sex was fun. So fun that if I had to choose between sex and food, I’d choose sex. Nothing in this world could beat a good fuck.

“Why so curious about me, hmm?” I asked, cocking a single brow at her.

“I’m trying to understand you,” Angel told me. “I think I get it. You don’t want to be tied down. You can travel the world, and what if you meet someone you really want to be with, even if it’s just for one night? You don’t want the guilt or the weight of an actual relationship to weigh you down.” The way she said it, like she was an authority on me after such a short time of knowing me… well, I wanted to say it made me upset, but really, she’d hit it spot-on.

Angel went on, “I could never be like that. If I was with someone, I’d want to be with them, one hundred percent, and I’d want to know that they were giving me everything, too.” She sighed after that, and then she went to sip from her glass.

Bishop must’ve been listening, because he leaned on the table and asked, “So, I take it that means you don’t currently have a boyfriend?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but no. I’ve actually never—” Angel stopped at that, her eyes widening. She looked from me to Bishop as a sheepish smile crossed her face. “Forget it. Please, forget I said that.” She let out a cute nervous chuckle.

Bishop’s gaze widened, and he looked at me, wordlessly asking if I caught it. And I did. Oh, boy, I definitely did. It sure sounded like she was about to say she’d never had a boyfriend before.

Let’s just say that was a bit of information I was delighted to hear—just don’t ask me why. I wouldn’t have an answer for you.

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