Surrendering (Surrender 1)

Are you fucking serious? – Of course from Charlie.

There are also a few moans. Tripp and Gabe start haggling Declan and Robbie glares at him. Finn is silent, but I know he’s disappointed for other reasons.

Robbie walks to the fridge and surprises me by bringing out two bottles of Champagne from my parents private selection. Charlie helps him open and pour the glasses, and Kendall passes them around to everyone. Robbie winks at me before he raises his glass to the group. “To my baby sister, and soon to be brother-in-law, congratulations!”

Everyone cheers to us. I kiss his swollen lip gently.

“You may need to put some ice on that tonight.”

“Nah, it was worth it. But I do need my lip ring back before I leave. I know what the ring does to my girl.”

“I love you, with or without it.”

“Good to know.”

Declan leaves early to set up for the show at The Steamroom. I change into a black halter dress and silver heels before we leave. The shoes show off the shiny ring on my finger. Robbie’s driving me. He meets me at the door and I give him a scowl.

“Really, Robbie, you busted his lip? I have to kiss that lip tonight. Now I’m going to be worried about hurting him.”

“That’s what I was thinking, Baby Girl.” He laughs at me as he sets the alarm.

*****

We go in The Steamroom through the backdoor again. Since there are so many of us this time, we give the owner fifty dollars for our cover charge. I’m standing with a drink and talking to the other girls when a girl walks in that I’ve never seen before. She’s stunning in a blue slip dress. She has auburn hair cascading down her back and intense blue eyes. She looks around the room and it goes mostly silent. Abbi and Ella grab the guys and walk over to where I’m standing. Abbi looks like she’s going to be sick.

“Whatever happens next, you stay near one of us. Don’t listen to a word she says.” Abbi whispers.

Finn tenses and positions himself in front of me. His jaw’s ticking.

The redhead takes in our circle of friends and zones in on Abbi and Ella. “Where the fuck is he?”

“Christie, what are you doing here? He doesn’t want to see you!” Ella screams at her.

“Chance meeting, I wouldn’t be here without good reason, bitch. I need to talk to him about a video he made.”

My stomach drops as I recognize her as one of the girls I saw in the DVD. Finn holds onto me and she notices our interaction. Then she zones in on my ring and looks me up and down.

“I sure hope you stay with that fine piece of ass. Don’t give Declan another look because he will break your little heart.” She storms to the back door and goes on stage looking for Declan. My knees give out and Finn catches me. He slides me over to Will and takes off after her. My friends are quiet, but I know they’re wondering what the redhead meant about the video. I try my best to lighten the mood, but Kendall catches on quick.

She sets up shots for us and raises her glass. “FUJIMO BITCH,” and we all chant it back.

Declan walks through the back door a minute later with Finn on his tail. He looks livid, but relaxes as I raise my second shot to him. He raises his eyebrows suggestively, but I ignore him and take the shot.

When he gets to me, he kisses my finger. “You okay?”

I nod my head, but don’t look at his eyes.

He lifts my chin to him and frames my face. “Don’t let her ruin our night. I told you before; she’s a crazy bitch. She just caused a scene backstage. I asked Mark to remove her. She got an anonymous tip about a sex tape and thought I was behind it. Finn was right there and heard everything.”

“Seeing her tonight brought back the image of the two of you in the video. She’s gorgeous, Dec, much more so than the other girls.”

“Shh, don’t say that. You are the most gorgeous girl in the world to me. I have a little secret that may make you feel better.”

I lift one eyebrow, urging him to go on.

“I never even came when I was with her, and I was only with her once. There was nothing there for me at all. I was drunk and stupid and I paid the price. So now, can we forget all about it?”

Even though I shouldn’t, I smile.