“Hey there, this is where you ran off too.” The blonde from the table is standing in front of me rubbing her hands lightly down my arms. When she reaches my waist, she comes in closer and rubs her chest against mine. “Your friends said you’re going through a tough break-up. I thought maybe I could help you keep your mind off her for a while.”
“Nah, I’m okay.” Even though I said it, I didn’t convince myself. Fuck! Why did I have to drink so much? She doesn’t move away but instead starts kissing down my neck. Her hands find the waistband of my jeans, and she starts to unbutton me. I sway to the right, but she holds me up. I’m trying to tell her to stop, but my tongue is swollen in my mouth. I can’t talk. Her hands travel to my bare ass and my jeans slip down. I see her lick her lips through the slits in my eyes. She sees my apa.
“Hey man, I got worried.” Ryan breaks through my haze. “Sorry, honey. You need to go back inside. I don’t know what your friends told you, but this one isn’t available.” He points to me.
“But they said he’s the lead singer. They’re all hooked up inside.” She whines so loud that I cringe. God she sounds annoying. I wish I could see straight and talk so I could tell her to leave me alone.
“Declan, pull up your pants. You’re going with me. I’ll be right back; I’m going to walk this Bunny to her friends.” I shake my head to him and button my jeans. I barely remember anything after that except passing out to the face of my beautiful Sparkle.
*****
The next morning I wake up feeling like shit. I don’t recognize where I am, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to throw up.
“You awake, Sleeping Beauty?” Ryan asks from the other bed.
“What the fuck happened? Where am I?”
“After I saved your ass from the blonde, I brought you back here.”
Images flash in my mind, and I remember. “Fuck! Did she touch my dick?”
“No, I heard the guys at the table telling her you were going through a tough break-up and she offered to make you feel better. I watched her disappear and then followed her. I got there in time.”
“Man, I owe you. I would never forgive myself if something happened. I must have drank more than I thought.”
“Yeah, I want to talk to you about that. I have a pretty good idea of what happened because this group of guys’ gossip like old women. But, I’m worried about you. Raven seems like a cool chick, and I’m pretty sure you can work things out if you straighten up.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Calm down, I’m not always going to be around to help you out. You may want to keep your drinking in check.”
He’s right. I’ve completely turned to the bottle. This has to stop. “You’re right man, I’m a fucking mess. I don’t know what I’ll do if she doesn’t take me back.”
“Let me help. She definitely won’t take you back if she finds out you get drunk and get blowjobs in back alleys.”
“What are you gonna do?”
“For starters, we’re going for a run and then we’re going to hit the hotel gym. This afternoon let’s jam before the show tonight.”
“Okay, but let me get changed and possibly throw up. Then I’m going to beat the shit out of my band.”
“Declan, say what you have to–get it off your chest–then let it go. These guys want you to be happy again and if helps, I don’t think Blake was involved.”
“Yeah, thanks. I’ll meet you out front in half an hour.”
When I get to my room, Blake is sprawled out on his bed snoring. He hears the door slam and jumps up. “Declan, I didn’t have anything to do what that girl. I swear.”
“Lucky for fucking all of you, Ryan came to my rescue. I was too fucking drunk to fend her off. But forget it. I’ll take it up with Cooper and Nate later.”
I get dressed and meet Ryan in the courtyard. As soon as we hit a stride, I start to feel better. Listening to my playlist, I think about the days until Raven comes home.
Chapter 6
I’m Shattered
Raven
The last five weeks have been nothing shy of amazing. Finn and I had two more long weekends and spent them in the city. We’ve visited every place on my list; including a few I’d never heard about. Finn took me on a picnic to the Luxembourg Palace and Gardens last weekend, and we stayed for hours. We tried to go to the Pont des Arts but as soon as I saw the street musicians, I started to cry. Finn pulled me away, and we went to Notre Dame instead.