Page 84 of Worth the Trouble

“Charming as always,” I tease. “When do you go on?”

He looks over his shoulder at the stage, where movement is happening. “Soon.”

When he turns back to me, his eyes move over my shoulder, and he holds up one hand with two fingers. I look to see a bartender pouring shots before sliding them over the bar top to Rome. Apparently, all it takes to get a drink in this place is to be a rock star.

Rome hands me one of the shots.

“To your show.” I hold it up between us.

He bites his lower lip, looking me over, before our gazes once more connect. “To you being here.”

He clinks his glass with mine before downing it. I do the same, but I feel it burn through my stomach, through my flesh, through my heart. I feel it burn me from the inside out because the man staring at me makes me raw and vulnerable.

Setting the shot glass on the bar behind me, I try to take a step back to find the air I can’t seem to around him. He doesn’t notice, or maybe just lets me, stepping back himself and placing his glass on the bar as well.

His stare cuts to the left, and he shakes his head before dipping his face near my ear. “Sorry about this in advance.”

I pull back to look at him, but before I can ask what he’s talking about, we’re surrounded by people. Eloise, Adrian, Sebastian, and Cassie surround us.

“Who let you in here?” Rome says, taking a step toward them.

He slaps a hand on Adrian’s shoulder before Sebastian pulls him in for a one-armed hug. Over Rome’s shoulder, Sebastian’s eyes are on me like they were the day I met him at Rome’s house. I can tell he’s protective of the members of the band, and I’m not sure what he’s deciding as he looks me over, but he seems apprehensive.

“Hey, Lili.” He nods at me as he and Rome pull apart.

Rome steps back, and I expect him to play nonchalant about who I am to him, like we did when we hung out with his band at his house, but he surprises me by throwing an arm around me and pulling me to his side.

But as quickly as he does, Cassie pops up beside Sebastian and reaches for my hand to pull me into a hug. I’m not used to warm greetings in the cold world of dance, but it makes me feel welcome in a way I don’t usually, and I appreciate it.

“You made it.” She steps back and smiles at me.

Her hair is up with the pink ends falling around her messy bun, making it look more bubblegum than blonde.

“Barely. Long day,” I say as she steps back, and Sebastian tugs her to him. “But I’m glad I did.”

“Well, I’m glad you did too.” Cassie looks up at Sebastian. “On that note, we’re going to grab drinks and find a spot by the stage before the set starts. You coming, El?”

Eloise nods, but Sebastian frowns at Cassie. He doesn’t seem thrilled about letting her leave his side. Cassie must notice as well because she pops up on her toes to give him a kiss that distracts him.

Rome brushes my ponytail off my shoulder and leans down to my ear. “Have fun with the ladies, sweetheart. Because tonight, you’re all mine.”

He grips my chin between his thumb and index finger, turning my face to his so he can take me in a kiss. There’s no apology in the possession of it. He parts my lips and claims my mouth with his tongue like we aren’t standing in a circle of his friends. It’s inappropriate and stirs the tension between my legs. And while I know Rome is sexual and not afraid of public displays of affection, it feels like something else as he melts into this moment with me.

When he finally lets go and steps back, I’m tempted to wrap my arms around him and say that I’m not done yet, but Cassie tugs my hand, and I disappear with her and Eloise to the other end of the bar.

We slide into a spot that a group of women just vacated, and Eloise props her elbows up on the bar to lean over and catch the bartender’s attention. As with Rome, she has no trouble getting it, and she orders us all drinks. The shot is still swimming in my head, so I’m not sure more liquor is a good idea, but I don’t argue and decide to live in the moment.

Once Eloise places her order, she spins around and leans her back against the bar to face me, mirroring Cassie, who hasn’t taken her eyes off me.

Standing here in this bar, I realize Cassie’s like me in that she’s a stark contrast to this scene. All bubblegum pink and smiles. If I thought I was out of place, she’s more so, but she doesn’t seem uncomfortable about it.

“So, you and Rome?” Cassie smiles, and there’s a definite question in the way she says it.

I rub my hands over my arms, not sure how to respond. It’s not that I don’t feel like there is aRome and me, but I just don’t know how to define us. We’re not in a relationship. We’re not going anywhere past my time in Denver. We’re temporary, and that twists a knife somewhere in my gut.

“We’re having fun.” After all, it’s true. “He’s a good guy.”

Eloise smiles brighter at the statement. “I love that he lets you see that about him.”

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