EFFA
It was all I could do to keep my hands off Mercs for the hour-long car ride back to Pittsburgh, but the car didn’t have a section break so unless we wanted the driver to see everything, we had to keep our hands to ourselves.
Unfortunately.
But for now, we’re at the hotel and making our way up to our room like a pair of giddy teenagers. I know I have people I need to see. Alana, Andi, probably Luke, but right now I have a two-day old itch that needs a serious scratch. They’re just going to have to wait.
Mercs and I rush toward our room as he carries our bags and I pull out the hotel room key. Raoul from security met us downstairs and has walked up with us, so he’s following along effectively stopping us from jumping each other in the hall, which in essence is probably a good thing.
“Did you have a good trip?” Raoul asks.
“It was enlightening,” I reply.
Mercs raises his brow as he stops at our door.
Raoul tilts his head. “Oh, how so?”
“I found out so many things about Mercs, and his family, and his life, but I had the best time. Thanks for walking us up, Raoul.”
“We’ve had a few Luminatis lurking around the hotel, stalking the other girls, and trying to catch them on their downtime. Andi snapped at one of them, and you know what Luke’s like with that kind of thing. So he wants you girls on guard at all times. He let you go to Ligonier without a guard because Mercs was with you, and he knew everything would be fine due to the size of the town. Plus, no one knew you were going. But from now on, you’ll always have a guard with you. Sorry mon petit oiseau, I know you like your freedom.”
I smile and nod. “It’s okay, Raoul, it’s not your fault. We’ll figure it out as we go. But for now, I need a bit of alone time with my man. Is that okay?”
Raoul smiles. “I thought you spent the last two days with him?” His cheeky smirk makes me want to giggle. It’s a rare side to Raoul and something I don’t see often.
Mercs grabs the keycard from me and swipes to open the door, obviously seeming impatient.
“Not completely alone. His Gran and sister were there the entire time, so no alone time for us. We get more alone time on tour if you know what I mean.” I wink at him.
“Take care, and if you need anything just holler.”
“Will do,” I reply as a door slams further down the hall and Andi storms toward us. Her hair color which was flaming red has now changed to jet black. The color changes usually depict her mood, so the black she’s sporting tells me something’s very wrong. She spots us, her eyes have dark circles under them, and her face is slightly pale like maybe she hasn’t been sleeping. Andi glares at me, giving her head a slight nod when she sees me, but keeps storming past.
Raoul stiffens his posture and spins. “I better go after her.”
I peer over my shoulder at Mercs.
“Go.” His voice is low, I realize he’s disappointed, but she’s obviously crying out for someone to talk to.
“I don’t have to—”
“Effa, I’ve waited two days, what’s another couple of hours. Andi needs you. Clearly. Please go… work your magic. I’ll get the room set up.”
Andi presses frantically on the elevator button as Raoul takes off after her.
I lean in giving Mercs a tender kiss on his cheek. “You’re amazing. You’re the best. And I owe you the greatest orgasm of your life,” I whisper in his ear then lean up tugging on his earlobe with my teeth, before spinning around and rushing off toward the elevators and just making it inside the doors before they shut.
Andi lets out a loud huff as she folds her arms over her chest. I simply move in to stand beside her as Raoul stands on the other side of her.
She looks from him to me and groans. “What is this? An intervention?”
“No, just me wanting to catch up with my favorite bassist. That’s all. And Raoul’s coming with us, ‘cause he’s cool as shit.”
Raoul’s lips turn up slightly as Andi rolls her eyes and leans back onto the railing.
“What a crock of shit. You’re babysitting me. Did Luke send you? That son of a bitch.”
I shake my head at her tone. “No. I saw you in the hall and thought I’d catch up with you after being away. Maybe we can go to the hotel bar and have a drink?”
She groans. “I was on my way there anyway, so join me if you want. I honestly don’t give a fuck anymore.”
My heart leaps into my throat, and my stomach sinks a little. Those are some serious words from Andi. I mean she’s always a little grumpy, but never this deep. The elevator pulls to a stop, and we all walk out. Raoul stands by us both the entire time as we make our way to the hotel bar. I’m in a little bit of shock. Something’s obviously happened, and I was under the impression that it was Tank, but maybe there’s more to it. We traipse into the bar and take a seat right at the counter.
The waitress looks to Andi and smiles, and Andi simply nods, then the waitress goes about getting a drink ready. Andi’s apparently been here a lot if the bar staff already know her order.
Scratching my head, I swivel to face her and let out a heavy breath. “So, you wanna talk to me?” I figure I’ll just get straight to the point.
She shrugs. “What’s there to talk about?”
I tilt my head and decide to tread carefully. “Well, you’re holding a lot of anger... or maybe resentment about something… or maybe… someone. Have you tried talking about the problem?” I ask, and she chuckles.
“See this is the problem. People come in here thinking they know all about my crap. Thinking they can try to help me with my issues. When in reality they have no idea. No fucking clue what’s going on. Why would talking fix it? It’s not that fucking easy, Effa. Not everything can be magically fixed by incantations and fucking kumbayas. This is the real world. Not hippy land, you little fucking pixie joke.”
I swallow hard as I try to hold myself together. I’ve never once thought Andi pictured me that way. I know she knew I was different to everyone else, but I never imagined she thought I was a joke.
Attempting to hold back my tears because that comment hurt more than I like to admit, I flare my nostrils and huff. “Well, I’m sorry if Tank liked the blonde more than you or some shit, and that’s why you’re so fucking pissed right now, but fuck girl, get your head out of your ass before you piss us all off and cause a rift in the band. You’re being a jerk. Andi… sort your shit out.” Standing, I turn just as the waitress brings Andi’s drink over. She picks up her whiskey tumbler and throws it back in one fell swoop without even looking at me.
I curl up my lip and shake my head walking away.
I can’t believe her.
I was only trying to help.
To talk to her about her problem, whatever it is. But she’s so freaking angry.
I have no idea what the issue is. All I know is she’s obviously not ready to talk about it just yet.
As I storm toward the elevator, someone slides into my side, and I glance to my right to see Cooper smiling wide at me. I grin and wrap my arm around him.
“Hey Coop, where did you appear from?” I ask, and he chuckles pulling out his cell.
“Got a text from Raoul saying he was with you and Andi, and that if anything happened and you split up, one of you might need a security escort and bam… he was right.”
“He’s a smart guy our fearless leader… so things have been tense, I hear?”
We make our way to the elevators.
“Yeah, with the fans and Andi going haywire. It’s like you left and the ecosystem failed. We need our little bubbles of effervescence to keep us all working properly,” he adds. I smile as the doors open and we step in to see Jett, who’s about to step out. He smiles that devilish smile and continues on his way. I walk out of the elevator back into the lobby, grabbing hold of his elbow to stop him. He peers at me through his lashes—it’s almost sexy the way he does that, but I know that’s all part of his charm.
“Stop… talk to me,” I express.
He pivots and faces me as I let go of his arm. With a sigh, he straightens his body as Cooper steps back leaning against the wall to give us a bit of space, but not too much as I drop my hand from Jett’s elbow.
“So the queen cupcake is back from her romantic getaway,” he sneers.
I roll my eyes. “Stop it. I’m sorry.”
He tilts his head and raises his brow like he’s either slightly amused or slightly confused. Possibly both. “Okay…. aaand what are we sorry for?”
“Mercs told me what happened between you and him, and why you’ve been avoiding me the last two weeks.”
“Ahh… the infamous standoff. Yes, your man told me to back off… or else. Not sure what the or else would be, but Luke came in the nick of time to save the day.”
Sighing at the fact that this happened even though he’s being completely sarcastic in his tone right now, I feel bad it came to this. “Well, you don’t have to avoid me. You could’ve come to talk to me.”
He smiles wide, almost a mischievous grin as he leans in close, so close his usual smell of tobacco and aftershave flood my senses. “But this was my plan all along, cupcake. To have you come crawling back to me. I knew you couldn’t resist staying away. The pressure of me teasing you and not paying you any attention would build until you caved and asked Mercs what happened. He would tell you. You would get angry at him for forbidding me to talk to you, and you’d do exactly what he didn’t want… which is what you’re doing right now…” he tilts his head with a sly smirk, “… caving and talking to me. So you see, cupcake, he won that battle, but this little victory goes directly to me.”
He leans in and presses his lips to my cheek, kissing me hard. The bristles of the light smothering of his beard grates on my face, causing me to jolt back with so much force I almost fall over. Cooper rushes over and catches me, wrapping his arms around me from behind and pulling me away from Jett as I glare at him in anger.
He casually smiles, licks his lips then swallows. “Tastes delicious.” He saunters off like he owns the damn hotel lobby.
As I stand in Cooper’s arms, he holds onto me tight, probably more for comfort as he spins me to face him. “Are you okay?” He bends down to eye level with my face, which I’m sure is pale white from shock.
Nodding, simply because my words have left me, he wraps his arm around my shoulder and edges me toward the elevator, pressing the button rapidly. It opens and we walk in. When the door closes I relax into Cooper’s side.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
“That was messed up. Mercs is gonna blow a gasket,” Cooper mumbles.
I look up to him with fear in my eyes.
Shit!
Telling Mercs is going to cause a commotion of epic proportions.
Fucking Jett.
He might have won that battle, but he’s just started a mother fucking war.