Page 79 of Never Lasting (Never Blue)

Jude

We madeit through the summer unscathed.

Tali and I were stronger, but I’d changed. It was even harder for me to go back to my job, to watch bands up on stage when I’d been the one on stage all summer.

A fire had been stoked inside me. I wasn’t willing to let fate or luck dictate my future. With Tali’s help, Never Again had a full line up of gigs over the next few months. My fucking amazing girlfriend got on the phone with every venue within five-hundred miles, talking us up and pimping us out. She sent demos to radio stations and record labels. Getting our band known had become her full-time job.

I loved her for so many reasons, but the way she supported my music—no, supported wasn’t even the right word. She worked right alongside me to fulfill my every dream. She had a full schedule of classes, plus her internship at a recording studio, and Gamelan ensemble, but she still worked tirelessly for me.

I grew up around selfish people. My mom decided she was finished being a parent when my dad left her. My dad never saw me as more than an extension of himself, and when that didn’t pan out the way he wanted, he got rid of me for a newer, shinier model.

Accepting Tali’s selflessness wasn’t hard, though. I never questioned it, because I knew her. I saw her. I’d met her family, saw where she came from. Being good, being giving, was second nature to her.

Tonight, we were playing at a bar in town. It was Halloween, so they’d blocked off the entire parking lot out back to give more room for all the slutty nurses and frat boys in togas to party.

Sitting backstage with my guitar in my lap and a beer in hand, a blonde chick sat down on the cracked leather couch across from me. I’d seen her from the corner of my eye, but figured she was with one of the guys, so I hadn’t given her a second glance.

“Hey,” she whispered.

Shit. I didn’t want to do this.

“You’re the lead singer, right?” She was putting on a ridiculous, sultry voice.

“Not interested.” I didn’t look up.

She laughed, the sound sending heat to the base of my spine. My eyes flicked to hers, finding the chocolate browns I woke up to each morning.

“Stripes?”

She stood up, turning in a slow circle so I could get a good look at her. And damn, did she look good. She had on a short, blonde wig, a tight baby-doll tee with a picture of the band, Blondie, printed on the front, a wide, studded leather belt, and the smallest shorts I’d ever seen. Her legs were covered in fishnets and her arms were covered in spiky bracelets.

“What do you think?” Her lips were bright red, and her black-lined eyes peeked out from under heavy, blonde bangs.

“I didn’t recognize you,” I said stupidly.

“I wasn’t expecting that.” She moved toward me, swaying her hips. She came to a stop in front of me, her booted toes hitting mine. “But do you have any idea how much it turned me on for you to reject me?”

I sat my guitar aside and gripped her hips, pulling her down to straddle my lap. “I didn’t know it was you.”

She brushed her cherry lips against mine. “I know. I look dead hot, and you wouldn’t even give me the time of day.” She pumped her fist. “Go you!”

I laughed at how adorable she was. I lived for her fist pumps. “I’m gonna guess you’re Debbie Harry.”

“Ding, ding.” She held out her shirt. “I know it’s a little meta to wear a picture of Debbie as part of my costume, but I don’t care. I love Blondie and had to represent.”

My hands traveled up her sides, squeezing her tits, then back down to her hips. “Don’t think I’m going to be able to get through a whole show with you looking like this.”

She pressed her core against me. “Want me to take the edge off?”

Groaning, I let my head fall back. “God, baby, I wish. I gotta get on stage in a few minutes.”

Her brow arched in challenge. “Do you think it’ll take me more than a few minutes?”

Then, my gorgeous girlfriend made her way down my body, kneeling between my legs. She winked at me before freeing my cock. “Time me.”

And damn if she didn’t make good on her promise.

I hit the stage,loose and happy. The crowd seemed to be feeling the same, though I doubted they’d gotten the kind of treatment Tali had given me backstage. No, their upbeat was more likely attributed to booze and a little chemical enhancement.

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