Never Say Goodbye (Rebel Walking #6) Read online

  As soon as the lights are cut, I move to the side of the stage and expect her to follow, but she doesn’t. I start to look for her and eventually my eyes adjust enough to see her.

  I watch her move in on him. She’s on a mission to prove a point. Garrett is the drummer for Beckoning Reality. He’s not anyone she should get involved with, but I watch as she strolls up to him. He raises his arms out to greet her, only she doesn’t back out of his hold. When she remains flush against him, he looks at her with surprise and a shit eating grin that I could knock straight off his face.

  I leave the stage area with one thing on my mind—Lilly. Damn, I need a drink. Eaven meets me in the hall with her hand on her hip. I don't need to hear her shit right now. This whole thing is fucked up and the worst part is that I'm letting her get to me. It's not like I want to be exclusive with anyone, but does she really have to rub up on that asshole?

  "Luke, did you really just fuck a skank in the bathroom?" I'm honest. She asks, I have to tell her.

  "Sure did."

  "Was she worth it?" Her pissed off behavior is frustrating me.

  "Really, Ev? It's not anything new that I hook up with a girl before a concert. Why is it a big deal today?"

  "Because you should've seen her face when you closed the door."

  "Yeah, well we aren't exclusive and she knows that. Hell, in fact she's the one that made that statement. Not sure what you want from me. I'm not going to stop living it up because you don't approve, Ev. You'll just have to get over it. Just because everyone else here is married and settled, doesn't mean the rest of us have to act that way."

  I walk away from her before she makes me any madder at myself. How many times can I fuck up? There’s a reason she was off limits, and all of these people being in my business is becoming the obvious main reason. Unfortunately, she’s worth anything they throw at me.

  I think it's time for a night out on the town. I invite all of the guys out to club Kenza in hopes of having a good time and burying the hatchet. Talon and Taron decide to come along with most of the security team. 'Deception' will be playing and I've heard some decent things about them. It's always good to build up a network out on the road anyway. A few of the guys from 'Beckoning Reality' decide to come with us.

  This place is packed and my eyes are quick to find a couple of hot girls wondering around the club. Maybe I can convince them to both take care of me tonight.

  I meet Phoenix real quick. He introduces me to some guy named Reece, who seems like a real asshole.

  "Reece. This is Luke, from 'Rebel Walking'."

  "Luke." The dude doesn't have an ounce of social skills. I let my eyes find the two girls I plan to get to know a little better.

  "You've spotted my fiancée." Phoenix is very quick to notice me eyeing those two.

  "You're not engaged to the both, though. Which one's yours?" I rub my chin and hope he tells me the girl with the lighter hair is up for the taking.

  "The dark haired one. Thalia. The other one is her best friend, Callie... she has a thing for you." Oh, this can't get any better. I need to meet this girl.

  "I think I'll go say hi then. She has gorgeous legs and a tight ass."

  "You have no idea," Reece finally speaks. I have a feeling this guy thinks he has a claim to this Callie girl by his reaction, but I wasn't given the hands off so it's a go.

  I work through the crowd with this girl in my direct line of site. She's cute and I could use a distraction right now.

  I introduce myself to her and work my way into touching her curly hair. "Your hair is so soft. I bet a gorgeous girl like you gets that a lot." What a lame pickup line. I need to bring my game and I'm talking about soft hair. She's very shy, almost too timid for me.

  "Only once before." She seems to struggle with something before she begins to run a finger along my arm.

  "So tell me, Luke.... are you really known as the panty stealer?" She's starting to act slightly braver and it cracks me up to watch when girls fight their inner self to be bold in situations like this. She cocks an eyebrow waiting for my answer.

  "That's actally Taron—or was—but tell me, are you going to let me steal yours?" I return her gesture and slide a finger up her arm sending chills over her skin.

  She leans in close to my chest, ready to whisper in my ear, "To steal mine, I'd have to be wearing them."

  That's it. I pull her close with my hands on her hips.

  "Luke, get your ass over here." Taron is trying to cock block me again.

  "Taron, cut the shit. I'll be there in a minute." I turn my attention back to Callie, "You staying around? We can get some drinks later, here at the club."

  "Okay. I'd like that," she says through a smile.

  "I'll be back real soon." Backing away from her, I almost fall on my ass by tripping on some fucking cord that isn't properly laid.

  We move to a table and start to order a round of drinks. The guys start to give me hell about trying to hook up with Callie so quickly.

  "You guys remember how it is. It doesn't take long to get one to drop their panties for ya when you look like this."

  The twins don't seem as impressed with that statement as the guys from 'Beckoning Reality' do. I know I could have some new partners in crime if I ever need any with these guys.

  After a few drinks, I notice her again. I move in for some more conversation, but find her very willing to do more. She pulls me into the hallway, and I'm not feeling like telling her ‘no’ at this moment, so I run with it.

  I start to slide my hands up her soft legs and under that short skirt. She shifts so that my leg fits between hers and she starts to grind against the denim covering my leg. She lays her head back after a few rotations of her hip, exhaling with an appreciative breathy sound. I lean in to kiss her neck just as the brute barrels in to throw her over his shoulder and take her away like a fucking caveman.

  "Stay away from her," is all I can make out of his pissed off grumble before he takes her out of sight. She doesn't seem willing to go with him, but I can tell they have something festering between them. It makes me wonder if she was doing all of that out of spite. I'm not worried, though. No harm done in a little innocent playing around.

  The night gets pretty crazy and I decide to stay out after Talon and Taron leave. The Beckoning guys continue drinking with me and we walk back to their bus.

  When we first get there, they start to harass Garrett through the closed door about whoever his nightly bag is. I really hope it's not Lilly, but I have a gut feeling it is.

  They give me the couch to crash on, but for some odd reason I can't sleep for shit.

  Chapter Seven

  Lilly

  Luke disappeared after the show. I'm spending my evening on the arm of Garrett as he greets some of his fans. Most of them want my autograph, too, and he doesn't seem to be bothered with it. When his fans dissolve, he pulls me in close to his side.

  "Are you using me, little darlin'?" The shock on my face as he accuses me of what I'm most likely doing has to amuse him. His laughter fills the area and I bow my head in shame.

  "Don't worry about it. It's really not a burden to have you rubbing all over me to prove a point. I think I could get used to it, if you want to make a habit of it."

  "Garrett, it's not like that. I'm just hanging out with you tonight and having some fun. Can't a girl have a little fun?"

  "Most girls can. Can you?"

  "You have no idea." I lead him down the hall, trying to consider the best place to prove my point. He pulls back, stopping our progress all together.

  "If I get to have a piece of you, it's not going to be in some fucking bathroom. Come to my bus and I'll let you show me this good time you're talking about."

  He leads me to the bus and I follow him to the back where the small bedroom is. I don't even want to know how many skanks he's bagged on that bed. He tosses his jacket on the floor and prowls toward me like a hungry animal ready to mutilate its prey. I cringe at his approach and he comes
to a dead stop.

  "I knew you weren't really in to me."

  "When you look at me like that, it’s weird. What do you expect?"

  "That's my sexy look."

  "You should keep working on that."

  "Haha. Aren't you the funny one? I have no problem picking up babes every night."

  "I'm sure they are begging to climb into your bed of love."

  "Actually, most of the time we don't even make it onto the bus." He moves to sit on the edge of the bed and I sit next to him.

  "I know you have girls begging to get with you. I'm just not that girl. I know you'd be a riot in the sack. I just need a minute to think about some things." Why am I letting Luke ruin any fun I could have? He had no problem hooking up with a chick and practically flaunted it in my face in the process. I deserve to have some fun, too.

  I knew this morning, when he was about to leave my room, that nothing would ever be the same again. So much for a casual hook up. Someone forgot to tell my heart not to get attached, but it's been caught for months. Luke is easy to fall for. Is it bad that I'm thinking about Luke when I'm here with Garrett?

  "So, how hard is it to get back on the road after all of that time off?" His question pulls me out of my thoughts about Luke.

  "Oh. It's not too bad. We've been preparing and working hard on the new album, so it really wasn't time off."

  "I actually thought of bringing you into some of our concerts. We could've used another kick-ass guitarist on stage."

  "That would've been strange. I can't imagine playing without my guys."

  "You should do a crossover at one of the concerts. You and I could duel it out rock and roll style."

  "What, you on the drums and me on guitar?"

  "Hell no. I'd match you on guitar. You think you could match me on the drums?"

  "That's something I know I couldn't come close to doing, but name the time and place and I'll show you up on my strings."

  "Okay. The next concert. We'll do it in the middle of Beckoning's show." I look up to see the smirk on his face.

  "You seem awful smug about this."

  "Nah. I just want you on my stage, since I can't have you in my bed."

  "I didn't say no. I just said I need some time."

  "Fair enough."

  We talk for hours about nothing and everything. I learn a lot about what makes those wheels turn in his head. He listens to me as I talk about my childhood all the way up until today. I don't even bother to look at my cell phone, knowing it'll have messages and missed calls out the ass. We don't leave until tomorrow night, so there is no reason I have to check in with the guys.

  I end up falling asleep on his bed. He doesn't push me into anything, and it's nice to know he's completely different than I have him pegged. Waking up in the night, I reach for my phone to see what I've missed. Everyone has called me, except the one person I had hoped would. Not even a message from him. This bothers me.

  I scoot over in the bed until my back hits solid, naked muscle. Well, at least his torso is naked. I'm actually surprised with Garrett that he's not fully undressed. He wraps his arms around me and we spoon until I fall back to sleep.

  We wake to the sound of drunken laughter and loud talking. The rest of his crew stumbles onto the bus and I say a silent prayer that none of them try to come in here and get repulsive.

  "Hey, Riggins.... you gonna share again tonight?"

  "Fuck off." His voice echoes through my ears because of how close we are. I'm glad I didn't have to deal with all of the other guys tonight. Him protecting me shows a softer side to Riggins than I'm used to.

  "You asleep?" This time his voice is a grumbly whisper.

  "No."

  "I'm horny as fuck with you up against me, so don't move anymore unless you want me to roll you over and show you what I want."

  In this moment, it doesn't sound so bad to let him show me a good time. He's extremely hot and just my type. I choose not to move a muscle, knowing that I'm not truly here with Garrett in my mind.

  I finally doze back off in hopes of getting some actual sleep this time.

  Garrett's alarm interrupts my sleeping. He reaches for it, shuts it off, and begins stretching. I sit up and do the same.

  "I better get back to my guys." I look through my messages and missed calls and there's still nothing from him. Is it too much to ask that he be concerned about me? Even as a friend he should be checking on me.

  "Yeah. I'm sure they're missing you by now."

  "They'll get over it." He watches me move from the bed to slip my shoes on.

  "Let me walk you out, I think your bus is nearby.” He grabs my hand and pulls me up against his body. Our mouths touch and I wait for him to do something. He doesn't.

  "Next time this will go a little differently." I nod, knowing exactly what he means. He turns to walk us out of the room. The bus is littered with bodies of sleeping drunks. I step over a few arms and legs to get to the door before I see him sitting on the couch. I can't explain the look on his face. Is he mad, or sad? Or maybe disgusted?

  Garrett pulls me close and places a goodbye kiss on my lips. I'm pretty sure it’s for show. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to feel the tension in the room.

  We step out of the bus and Garrett leads me in the direction of our home on wheels. I did nothing wrong, yet this feels like a walk of shame if I ever felt one. The way Luke looked at me just now is stuck in my head. Why should he care what I'm doing?

  Luke

  What a fucking fiasco. I knew she was with him. I'm not sure why she felt the need to run to that asshole’s bed. I may be with a lot of different girls, but at least I know how to show them respect. He's a fucker, and I wouldn't want my worst stalking fan to hook up with him. I have to get through to her.

  Jumping up from this alcohol infested couch, I move for the door. Garrett opens it just as I reach for the latch.

  "Leaving so soon?"

  "Don't fucking worry about me."

  "Oh, I promise ya, you’re the last thing on my mind." I stop to take in his smile. The urge to punch him straight in the face is disrupted by Lilly's voice.

  "Hey. I forgot to grab my jacket. Can you get it for me, Garrett?" He steps into the bus and disappears, leaving me and Lilly there to stare at each other. My hung over state isn't making things any better, but I can't seem to read her right now. She seems mad at me. What the fuck have I done wrong?

  "Don't you dare, Luke."

  "Don't what, Lilly? Don't tell you that you deserve better than to be a notch on that asshole’s drum sticks?"

  "Fuck you. You're no better...." She stops talking when Garrett opens the door to toss her jacket at her.

  "Call me later, Lils." She nods as she turns to walk away from the situation. I follow on her heels, ready to finish this conversation.

  "I'm no better than what? Tell me you think I'm like that asshole."

  "Just leave me alone, Luke."

  "Is that what you really want?" Her steps come to a halt, but she doesn't turn to look at me.

  "What I really want doesn't matter." She begins to walk again, but I don't follow her. What a fucked up mess. This is what I get for crossing that line with her. Our friendship is now a mess and it feels like we are both in self destruct mode.

  I choose to give her the space she seems to need and I begin to walk. There's a gym nearby and I could really use the release.

  Two hours of lifting doesn't make me feel much better about the Lilly situation. I'm going to have to talk to her today.

  Climbing back on the bus, I notice she's the only one anywhere to be seen. I'm sure the others are still in the hotel rooms. I walk up to where she's laying and watch her try to act like I'm not standing here.

  "What do you want, Luke?"

  "So, you're just going to hop from bed to bed now?" My question sends her upright in an instant and her expression is that of someone who is ready to attack. She's pissed, and so am I, so this is liable to be one hell of an explosion.


  "You." She stands and points her finger at my chest, jabbing it to make a point.

  "You. Have no fucking right to talk to me like that. You fuck skanks in bathrooms. I don't have to answer to you, just like you don't have to answer to me. Remember, Luke? No. Fucking. Strings. Attached."

  "I remember, but you hate that asshole just as much as I do and then you sleep with him after he sniffs you one fucking time."

  "Sniffs me? Look. You've got to stop. I don't owe you any explanation and you don't owe me anything. This wasn't supposed to get complicated and you're making it that way."

  "You're right. I can and will fuck anyone I want without your approval. I just don't want to see you turn into a fucking loose bitch willing to open her legs for anyone."

  "I opened them for you, so I guess it's a little late for that." Her words hit home. She thinks I'm just anyone. Point made very clear. This has turned into chaos and I don't know how to fix it.

  "I'm sorry I said anything. You can do whatever you want. I have no right to say anything or try to talk you out of anything." Her eyes fall to the floor while she tries to comprehend my apology. I need her to work this out with me and not fight me on everything during this tour. The Walkers will for sure have my ass if that happens.

  "Thank you. Sorry I laid into you so harshly. We just need to keep things on a friend level, because we obviously have problems taking it beyond that." Her words are only slightly louder than a whisper.

  I want to disagree with her, but after the last twenty-four drama packed hours, I have to agree.

  Chapter Eight

  Lilly

  I should've probably clarified to Luke that I didn't 'sleep' with Garrett, but it really is none of his business. I wish it was, but it's not. He made that clear yesterday.

  He stays on board the bus with me, and it's really an awkward attempt at a conversation. I wish I could turn back time and never go there with him, but damn it was so good. I'll probably always have him in the back of my head when I'm out with other guys, but it's obvious that he's nowhere near ready to settle down to one girl. He needs to live it up while he's young and becoming famous.