Effortless

Page 54

Not knowing where our boys were in the lineup, or where they might be hanging out until it was their turn, we just kept searching. Anna flipped out when she spotted Justin and his band- Anna loved their music just as much as I did. She started heading his way but I grabbed her arm. "Don't, Anna!"
She glared back at me. "Don't you know who that is?"
I rolled my eyes and nodded. "Yeah, we met when the boys left."
Anna slung her arm around me, dragging me forward. "Perfect, then he'll tell you where Kellan is."
I felt heat in my cheeks that was nearly painful. Our introduction hadn't exactly been smooth...and...he'd been at the restaurant for Kellan's little, erotic performance. Oh God, I could not look him in the eye after that!
"He won't remember me, Anna." Oh God, yeah, he probably would remember me now...
Anna giggled in my ear as we got closer to Justin, his smile wide as he talked with a couple of girls nearby. "Who could forget you, Kiera?"
I rolled my eyes at her and wanted to protest further, but Justin had turned his head and noticed us. His light blue eyes widened as he pointed a finger at me; I could see the spark of recognition in the pale depths. He did remember me, which meant, he probably remembered overhearing the phone sex, too. Damn it. I really hate you right now, Kellan Kyle.
Tilting his blond head, he grinned crookedly and let out a short laugh. "Hey, aren't you...Kellan's girl?"
Biting my lip, I walked up to him. My knees were shaking, but I made myself say, "Yeah, my sister and I came out to see him...to surprise him." Not able to look Justin in the eye, I stared at the ink scrawled across his chest; I couldn't read it, but the lines were a nice distraction for my embarrassment.
Anna took over at my ineptitude. Thrusting her hand out and sliding as close to him as etiquette allowed, she purred, "Anna Allen, huge fan. 'Kick Me When I'm Down' has got to be my favorite song in the world."
I looked up at her and scowled. Of course she would remember a song title. Justin seemed pleased that she had, and that she wasn't wearing a bra. His eyes only quickly flashed over her br**sts, not blatantly staring like the bouncer had, but he still checked her out as he shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, Anna."
His eyes burned a little as he watched her and I thought my sister might actually have a shot with him. Not surprising really, my sister could have just about anybody. She usually got whatever boy she set her sights on. Except Kellan. She never had gotten to have him.
But Anna didn't seem too interested in Justin. Instead, she waved her hand around the mammoth backstage area. "We're looking for the D-Bags. Have you seen Kellan and Griffin?"
Justin twisted his lips. He seemed disappointed that Anna didn't want to hang out with him. "Griffin?" By the way his lip twisted even more, I thought maybe Justin had met The Hulk too. Pointing over his thumb, he shrugged. "Last I saw, they were drinking with some girls back there."
A knot in my stomach formed at hearing his words. Drinking with girls? I tried to put a lid on the knot growing, though. Drinking with girls didn't mean sleeping with girls. At least, not in Kellan's case.
Anna brightened and thanked him. We both said goodbye and Justin seemed a little sad as Anna left his sight. I looked back before we turned a corner to another corridor and accidentally locked eyes with Justin. He suddenly looked amused. He chuckled and leaned over to a friend of his, pointing at me again. The friend stared at me too, chuckling in the same way. Knowing that they were talking about Kellan faking jacking-off at their table, I clenched my fists and hurried after Anna as she pushed herself through a group of people. That was not the way I wanted a celebrity to remember me. In fact, I'd rather he didn't.
As we got to a large room filled with people, I felt like we'd stepped back into Pete's bar. It was smaller than the bar, but the alcohol was flowing, girls were giggling, and the music from the stage was being piped through some speakers, filling the room with noise. I suddenly felt like I should have a tray and a bag full of lollipops.
I looked around the clusters of people, but didn't see my D-Bag anywhere. Chairs and couches were tossed around the space, seemingly at random, with small tables holding stacks of empty cups. I wasn't sure how long ago the show had started, but this party seemed to already be in full effect.
Girls clamored over boys I didn't know; I figured they were some of the other band's members. As I watched a girl lean up and tug on a boy's earlobe, I wondered if any of these guys had girls waiting back home. It sort of made me nauseous to think about it. Anna grabbed my hand, leading us through the throngs, and my stomach tightened with every step.
Maybe coming here was a bad idea. If I caught Kellan in the act with another girl...I think my heart would explode right then and there. I don't think I could take it. While I'd always felt bad about Denny having seen our moment, I had a newfound appreciation for his pain. No wonder he'd flown off the handle. I wanted to already as I watched boys openly flirting with loose girls, and I hadn't even found Kellan yet.
I found him a few moments later. He was standing with his back to me, luckily with no girls hanging off him, chuckling over something in front of him. Women next to me mimicked pinching his ass and giggled. Other women around looked about ready to sling their drunk arms around him and kiss him. Ignoring them, I concentrated on the messy head of sandy-brown hair that I'd missed so much. As he leaned over to laughingly whisper something to the man beside him, who I finally realized was Griffin, my eyes were transfixed to the strong jaw line, the full lips speaking words through his smile.
He was so impossibly attractive, it was nearly unfair. But that wasn't all he was, and my heart swelled with the love I felt for him, love that was only growing since we'd been forced apart.
Then I noticed what had his and Griffin's rapt attention.
As Anna sidestepped us around some girls that she couldn't plow through, I got a full shot of what Kellan and Griffin were watching and laughing about. Draped over the makeshift bar that someone had set up back here, a blonde, buxom bimbo was spread out. Wearing impractically tiny shorts and only a bra for a top, she was having shots of liquor poured over her while other, equally skanky women, sucked the liquid off. One girl even poured some in the blonde's mouth, then immediately dived in to retrieve it.
I watched them for a second, disgusted by the obvious ploy to get the rock star's attentions, then I twisted my head over to stare at Kellan. He was still watching them, chewing on his bottom lip as he twisted a bottle of beer in his hands. Narrowing my eyes, I stared at his jeans. I knew it was wrong, a guy couldn't help being aroused by beautiful girls acting overtly sexual, but I had to know if he was getting turned on by this. I didn't see any telltale signs...yet.
I was still staring at his jeans when Anna finally pulled us close enough that Kellan and Griffin noticed. When the view of his h*ps went from a side angle to a front angle, my heart started beating ten times faster and I looked up to his face. Embarrassed that he'd caught me staring at his privates, I blushed.
He didn't look embarrassed, though, not that he would ever be embarrassed about me staring at his body. No, instead, he looked completely floored. Mouth wide open, he stared at me like he'd just wished me into existence. Griffin beside him looked equally shocked as he stared at Anna.
Griffin surprisingly snapped out of it first. "Hell yeah!" he exclaimed, pushing past Kellan to scoop up a giggling Anna. His tongue was deep down her throat in seconds. A moment after that, her legs were around his waist and he was walking out of the room with her, bullying aside anyone who wasn't quick enough to move.
I blinked at how quickly they got down to business, then twisted back to Kellan. Recovering slowly, he shook his head, a smile replacing his shocked expression. "You're here?" he said, stepping towards me.
I nodded, a smile on my own lips. I accidently flicked a glance at the making-out coeds and Kellan followed my eye sight. Bunching his brows, he looked back at me and shrugged. Looking a little sheepish, he grabbed my hand and pulled me into him. "Sorry about that." Running his other hand back through my hair, his eyes lovingly washed over my face. "Some girls will do anything to get noticed," he whispered.
Feeling the heat in my belly fading as those indigo eyes absorbed me, I nodded. I didn't point out that they'd succeed in getting his attention. He'd definitely been invested until I'd walked up. But men were men...you couldn't expect them to not look at something like that. Even Denny would have watched.
Smiling warmly at me, he cupped my cheek, the heat of it traveled all the way down my body. "I can't believe you're here." He glanced around at where he was. "How did you get back here?"
I sighed morosely. "You would not believe what I had to do." I raised an eyebrow. "Make sure you say bye to Anna...because I'm killing her when we get home."
He chuckled at me, his smile glorious. "Ah, I can't wait to hear this story."
Biting my lip, I stepped closer to his body. "Could it maybe wait just a little bit?" I whispered, my eyes locking onto his mouth.
Understanding what I needed, his lips were instantly on mine. I wanted to groan and clutch him to me. It was the first part of March. It had been over two months since our last kiss, back in December...and I had missed this so much. His arms wrapped around me, his hand cupping my cheek moving back to cradle my neck. My arms slipped up his chest, one continuing on to tangle in his hair. His tongue slid against mine, tasting me, teasing me. The chaos of the world slipped away as we melded together, and for a few long seconds, it was just the two of us in this packed room.
But then Kellan's shoulder was tapped on and he grudgingly pulled away from me. Hiding a scowl, I looked over at who couldn't wait a few moments to have his attention. Thinking that maybe the buxom blonde on the counter was going to try something a little more aggressive, I fully expected to see her there. But when Halle 2's eyes met mine, I wished to God that it had been the blonde.
The actress's lookalike glanced at me, then focused on Kellan. "Kellan, I'm ready for you."
My mouth dropped open as wide as Kellan's had when he'd first noticed me here. Had she seriously just propositioned him right in front of me? Who the hell was this chick?
Expecting Kellan to stutter and stammer and flail about for a lie that made sense, I was a little surprised when he only nodded at her and said, "Okay, I'll need a minute, though."
The statuesque woman looked me up and down, shook her head a little, then smiled back at him. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she leaned in so he could hear her over the music and laughter in the room. "The conference room upstairs...when you're ready."
Kellan nodded, still smiling warmly at her. I wanted to punch the jackass in the face. She smirked at me, then turned and walked away. I just stood there, my arms falling off of Kellan to hang loosely at my sides. That didn't really just happen, did it? I dug my nails into my palms, trying to wake myself up. I had to be dreaming. This was just another nightmare about her...that's all.
But I didn't wake up and Kellan twisted back around to face me. He didn't seem chagrined at all about being caught. Of course, he didn't know that I knew she was his stalker. He didn't know that I'd watched the videos, that I'd seen her hanging around, that I knew he knew her. As he watched my blank expression, he bit his lip, finally seeming nervous.