Page 23 of Anthem of Love and Loathing

When I catch his attention, I curl a finger to beckon him over. He makes his apologies with a great deal of flirtatious charm before grabbing a couple of shot glasses and a bottle of Patron.

Coming to stand beside me, he hands me both glasses and tells the girl, “Shoo.”

She gives him a pointedly irritated look before she leaves to join her friend. Golden pours the Patron, splashing it on my hand and pants in the process. When I glare at him, it becomes obvious he isn’t focused on what he’s doing but on Bronx and Kelsey.

He’d happily greeted her like a traitor when Bronx showed up with her last night, but tonight he’s stand-offish. He’s watching her almost as warily as I am. “I can’t believe he’s bringing her on the tour.”

That’s what Bronx had told us earlier. He wants her on the tour, and the rest of us can deal with it. I... I can deal with it. Well, fuck that.

“It’s bullshit that he would want you to be okay with this.” He flips his favorite pick between his pinkie and ring finger to the space between his ring and middle. Between his middle and pointer and all the way back again. His usual easy-going smile is flattened. “He’s jeopardizing band dynamics to get his dick wet.”

Finally, someone who sees it my way.

I knock the shot back. Set the glass aside. Snatch the bottle and take another. It tastes like ass—grungy chemical ass—and leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

Not as bitter as I am about her being here. “She’s not going to get on the bus.”

“No?” Golden looks at me. Waits.

“I’m going to need your help.” I swig from the bottle again before I hand it back. Reaching into my pocket, I use two fingers to draw out the plastic bag which is no bigger than a credit card. The logo on the front is a jester.

“If you’re considering drugging her, I’m not down.” He folds his arms across his chest, concern turning the corners of his mouth down when he sees the pills inside. “There’s a line.”

“These are for me.” I roll my eyes and take one. “Getting rid of her isn’t going to be hard. I just need to get her alone. Without Bronx hovering over her like a mother hen. That’s where you’re going to help.”

“You want me to distract him?” He dispenses with formality and takes a drink from the bottle before handing it over again. “Because that I can do.”

Swaggering across the crowded room, ignoring the women being pulled into his orbit, he walks over to them. He grips the back of the couch and leans over to speak to our wayward brother.

Bronx tenses. His arm around Kelsey tightens as he locks gazes with me. I raise the bottle in my fist. Take a swig and wrap my arm around the blonde walking past me. Damn it. Why are they always fucking blonde? Not that it fucking matters. “Hey, sweets. Wanna make this a private party? Come to my room with me.”

“Yes,” she says.

Bronx isn’t the only one watching me as I take the blonde’s hand and lead her toward the bedroom. Her posture tight, she locks cold, hard stares with me. Then Bronx says something to distract her, and she turns her attention to him. A forced smile becomes genuine.

Let’s see if she’s still smiling by the time I’m done with her.

The blonde enters my room ahead of me. She turns around ready to do whatever I want her to. “Take a seat.”

“W-what?”

“On the bed. Take a seat.”

“Oh.” She moves to the bed and sits on the edge. Crossing her legs she toys with a strap. “You want to hang out first? Listen to some music? Chat? Drink? Or do you want me naked?”

I turn my back to her and watch the party from behind the door. “Sure. In a minute.”

Bronx untangles himself from Kelsey and straightens to his feet before following Golden out onto the balcony.

“Stay here,” I order the woman.

Ignoring her questions I stalk back into the living room, grab a beer, and tower over Kelsey. “Get up.”

“No.” She folds her arms across her chest.

“Fine.” I stretch out my arm with the beer in it and tip the contents over her head.

She shrieks as the brown liquid soaks into her hair and T-shirt. The white cotton clings and turns semi-translucent.