Page 6 of We Own Tonight
I stand there and gaze back at him like a fish with my eyes wide and mouth open. He looks away, but it happened. Eli Walsh smiled and winked at me. I justdied.
Chapter Three
Eli
“Good show,”Adam says as he cracks his neck. “I’m getting too old for thisshit.”
“You areold.”
“You’re older than I am,” Adam remindsme.
Even though I’m forty-two, I enjoy the rush of performing. I’d just like it not to be so rough on my aging body. I don’t remember having to take this many painkillers a few years ago, but between the traveling, shit food, and performing—I feel old asfuck.
Even though I love acting much more than I thought I would, I love the fans more. I don’t have this kind of fun when I’m stuck on a set allday.
I look over at my brother, “Randy is older than all of us, so there’sthat.”
“Fuck off,” Randy tosses back. “We’ve got a few weeks before we need to meet up again since the tour is over. I’m going to head home to Savannah. She said the kids are acting up. It’s time for Daddy to come lay the smackdown.”
“Right.” I laugh. Those kids have him wrapped around his finger. “We all know Vannah is who they listento.”
“Don’t piss in myCheerios.”
“We’re heading out to the meet and greet.” Shaun slaps my leg. “Youcoming?”
I gave my manager strict instructions to get that girl back here. I practically drew him a map on how to find her. She better be there or I’m canning his ass. I loved watching her face while I sang to her. She was like a deer in the headlights as I laid it on thick. I almost lost my shit when she yelled out that she loved me. She couldn’t cover her face fastenough.
It wascute.
I likecute.
I also haven’t gotten laid in about a month, so this seems perfect. Especially if she’s good in bed. Plus, since we’re done touring and my mother has been up my ass about spending time with her, I’m sticking around Tampa for a few weeks anyway. It may be nice to have a distraction until I start filming the next season ofA Thin Blue Linein twomonths.
“Let’s go meet the people.” I stand, stretching my arms over my head. What I want to say is, “Let’s go find theblonde.”
We’re contractually obligated to attend a meet and greet at every show. I fucking hate it. It’s always the same shit. We sit back in the lounge and drink while girls tell us the same things over and over. I’m glad they love us. I’m glad they’ve been listening to us since they were thirteen, but I don’t give a shit. It only reminds me how old Iam.
If she’s there, though, I’m going to thoroughly enjoy myself. I’m going to watch those brown eyes fill with pleasure while I make her lose hermind.
“You had Mitch bring the blonde back, huh?” Randy asks as he throws shit in hisbag.
“Yup.”
The guys leave the room while I hang back to talk toRandy.
He chuckles. “You’re going to knock up one of these girlssomeday.”
I roll my eyes. “The fuck I am. I learned that lesson on our first world tour. I’ve been at this for twenty years and haven’t had that happen yet. No mini Elis or Eliettes running aroundhere.”
“That you know of,” Randyretorts.
We could go back and forth, but the one thing is . . . I’m careful. There’s no freaking way I’m getting saddled with some kid from a groupie. I know better. Plus, Mitch is a scary prick. We’re his bread and butter. No way does he want some stupid shit taking away from his chance to make money. I know firsthand how easy he can make thingsdisappear.
“Don’t worry aboutme.”
He stops putting things in the bag and gives me his serious look. “Like that’ll everhappen.”
Randy is two years older, and since our dad skipped out when we were kids and then died two years later, he thinks it’s his job to protectme.
