Page 30 of Forever and Ever

He snaps the band of her G-string, and she gives him a wicked smile before walking to the stage with the girl who was riding me a second ago. They join the girl already up there. Twirling. Grinding. It should be doing something to bring life to my dick, but it isn’t.

“Talk.” Rome lifts his drink at me.

I look at Adrian, but he just shakes his head. “Don’t look at me, I just offered to record her album, you’re the one shacking up with her.”

“We aren’t shacking up. She’s a friend.” I take a long drink of water, even though I could really go for a shot right now.

Or five.

Or ten.

Or maybe something heavier.

And that’s your problem.

Rome clasps his fingers behind his head, leaning back and looking at me. He’s covered neck to knuckles in tattoos, and he’s showing them all off tonight in a sleeveless tank. Scarring on his arms peeks through some of them, but I make sure not to stare at it.

Rome’s like a brother to me, and one hundred percent loyal to the band. But he doesn’t like to talk about the skeletons in his closet, so I know better than to broach those subjects with him.

“You know you’ve got to get over her,” Rome says.

“I am over her.”

“Bro.” Adrian shakes his head, and they both laugh.

“All right, how about, I’m working on it,” I say. “Besides, what do you care? It’s not like it stops me from being your wingman. I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Physically, yeah.” Rome’s eyes follow the girls on the stage, before flicking back to me as he drains his drink. “But not up here.”

He taps his finger on his temple, and Adrian nods in agreement.

“You know I love Merry,” Rome says. “But she’s not the settle down and pop out babies kinda girl, Noah. And I see that look on your face, even when you’re fucking around and acting like you don’t give a shit. You’d drop it all in a heartbeat for her. But she’s never going to give that to you.”

My throat tightens because I know everything he’s saying is true. If only my twisted fucking heart would listen to my head.

“Plus, she’s been off lately,” Adrian says, leaning forward in his seat and propping his chin up on his knuckles. “I think there’s more going on there.”

“What?” And how have I not noticed?

Adrian shrugs a shoulder. “Hard to say. She’s been disconnected. Still gets her job done fine, but Merry’s usually a firecracker. And lately…” Adrian sighs, leaning back. “She’s just been acting different.”

My mind goes to the last night on tour when she left the party early. And not just early, but alone. And how nervous she was when she arrived at my house earlier. How didn’t I see that something else might be going on?

“Maybe she’s just nervous about recording?” I’m not sure if I believe it or just want it to be the case.

“Maybe.” Adrian’s eyebrows furrow. “Who knows, maybe El is getting in my head with all her conspiracy theories. This is why I live alone, less drama. But even if it’s nothing, that doesn’t change who Merry is. Rome is right. Merry isn’t that chick you settle down with. And after we record this demo, the world’s gonna eat her up, and she’ll be gone. The girl’s got talent.”

Merry doesn’t sing around me often, but I’ve heard her once or twice. And even if I spent the entire time teasing her, poking her, or being anything but serious, I can’t disagree that her voice is next-level amazing.

Pretty soon, the whole world is going to know it. She’ll record this demo, get swept up by a studio, go on tour, record her own albums.

She’ll be theirs, just like I am.

“Speaking of bitches crashing on couches, what’s up with you and El?” Rome nudges Adrian on the shoulder.

Adrian shoots him a hard glare. “First of all, not a bitch. Second, nothing is going on.”

“Fucking shit.” Rome throws his head back and laughs. “You guys are such pussies, I miss Sebastian.”

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