Chapter 18

Ethan

"Dear baby Jesus. Why did we think this was a good idea?" Liam groaned as him, Deza and Frank walked huddled against me through the UCLA campus. Someone had gotten the memo that I was coming to see Riley in her play that night. Who spilled the beans was beyond me. I hadn't told Riley my plans in case they changed, and the only people that knew were the three wrapped around me as we shuffled forward.

"Guy, I'm not a senator or a prince. Fucking get off me and let me walk." I pushed at my brother's back as he walked in front of me. I'd stubbed my damn toes on his big black shiny shoes a million times.

I would have thought after having the whole day to myself that my mood would have been better, but it'd been a long ass week. I was more worn out from laying around, thinking about Riley than actually living my damn life.

"Shut up and keep moving forward," Deza barked from beside me as the crowd around us seemed to grow. We had five guys working security for us because people were crazy as shit, and we'd learned the hard way over the years that nobody respected personal space, at least not mine.

"Yes, ma'am, momma," I shouted and chuckled as she popped me in the stomach.

The sound of people talking about me calling Deza momma was priceless. I had no doubt that the paper the next day would have a headline pronouncing her as my long-lost mother. People were dumb and didn't need much to get rolling on the stupidest shit ever.

"How much farther?" Frank asked.

"Right up here. Maybe thirty steps." My brother glanced over his shoulder and gave me a look. "I hate that you're more popular than I am."

"Story of our lives, bro." I pinched his butt and smiled when he jumped. More ammo for the idiots around us. "Ethan Lewis pinches boy butts."

"Stop that. Now." Deza glanced up at me and shook her head. "You know there are reporters in this crowd."

"Yep. We should give them a show. On three. Frank and Liam move and I'll take you down to the ground, kissing the shit out of you and dry humping you for good measure."

Liam and Frank's chuckles didn't do me any favors.

"I'm honestly going to kill you. When this is over, I'm going to take you back up to the lookout and throw your skinny, white ass off the edge."

"She took you to the lookout point?" Liam glanced back. "Fucking hot."

"Right?" I laughed before getting popped in the gut again.

"Hush. Both of you." Deza popped my brother in the back of the head, which pulled another chuckle from me. Maybe the people around us weren't the only ones being idiots.

"All right. We're at the door. There are five seats up front for you, Mr. Lewis."

"Thank you," Liam responded and pushed through the door into the auditorium. "Ugh. For fuck's sake."

Everyone on stage stopped the rehearsal and glanced over at us as I pressed my hand to my face and tried hard not to laugh like a lunatic.

"I'm sorry. We'll be quiet from here on out." Deza moved past me, bumping into me and poking at Liam's side. "Won't we?"

"Yep. So freaking sorry." Liam held up his hands in surrender.

I moved in front of him and slapped his hands with mine. "Yeah. Way to make us look like douche-canoes."

"What?" He rolled his eyes. "Shut up and come up with a plan to get the girl. You're failing miserably at this shit."

"I'm not trying to get the girl. Idiot." I walked to the front as the rehearsal started again. Riley wasn't on stage yet, but she would be shortly. I sat down as the sound of her singing filled up the auditorium. The acoustics were fucking amazing.

"Wow. Is that her?" Frank sat down on the other side of Liam, who was to my left.

"Oh yeah. That's her." I closed my eyes and concentrated on how beautiful her voice was. Did the guys at Eon know that she could sing too? That was big shit.

"Did you know that she could sing?" Deza leaned toward me and rested her cheek against my shoulder.

"Oh, now you wanna talk to me?" I whispered and opened my eyes. "No, I didn't know. Why didn't you know? You're her talent agent. You know that I can burp the ABCs. What the hell, D?"

"Really?" She gave me a look that caused me to smirk.

"God, I love you. Marry me."

"No. I'm holding out for the black stallion."

"Seriously? I thought we were done with him." I sat up and turned to face her.

"No, I don't think I am." She nodded toward the stage. "There she is."

I turned back and almost swallowed my tongue. "Damn."

"Damn is right. I want that girl to be mine. She's too much woman for you." My brother leaned forward in his seat.

"Don't even," I growled softly as I glanced over at him.

Deza popped me in the shoulder. "Hush."

I leaned back and held my breath. The lacy ballroom dress that Riley wore hugged her thin waist and left her breasts swelling above the fabric that dipped down into her cleavage. My cock twitched a few times and grew hard faster than should have been possible.

Her short hair was tucked into a long dark wig, which I didn't much appreciate, but her alabaster skin accented the outfit beautifully. Her button nose turned up a little at the end and her chin was slightly lifted. She owned the stage. Owned everyone watching... owned me.

"Excellent! Cut. Let's get ready for the show." A loud portly woman in a bright red dress clapped her hands as the actors scattered off the stage. She turned and walked toward us, extending her hand. "We're so glad to have you guys here tonight to support Riley. We sold out the entire show and had to put standing room at the back. So thank you."

"There's nothing to thank us about." I shook the woman's hand. "They're coming to see Riley. She's the one you should thank."

"Agreed." Deza shook the woman's hand and leaned back in her chair. "Wow. She's breathtaking, right?"

"I'm gonna need private time tonight for sure," I whispered and let my eyes move along the curtains, hoping to catch another glimpse of her.

"I heard that." My brother lifted his hand to get a high-five.

I swatted it out of my face and laughed. "Fuck off, dude. You're not gonna be thinking of Riley while you're waxing your weasel. Fuck that."

"Oh Lord. Do you guys always act ten?" Frank ran his fingers down his face.

"Ten? I was thinking they were at least fifteen. You guys jack off at ten? Gross." Deza gagged and got up. "I need some away time from you guys. Nasty."

"Don't be jealous," I called after her and grabbed her program, laying it over my lap. "She was beautiful, wasn't she?"

"Hell, yeah. Way too much woman for you." Liam snorted.

"You're just friends and co-stars, right?" Frank stood up and glanced down at us.

"Yep. She's not willing to give it up... yet." I shrugged and leaned back, closing my eyes. The conversation was over. I didn't owe him or Liam or Deza shit, and I wasn't paying it. My thoughts were my own, as were my feelings.

I wasn't sure I would be able to make it through the full production without melting into a puddle on the ground, but I was going to try. I couldn't remember another time in my life of having someone pull so many of my strings, but Riley was doing it... with no effort. I loved it.