Page 19

Chapter 18

Shawn

T his city just keeps getting better and better. I sit up, get on my hands and knees, and approach him. So much so, I sat in the lobby talking to Bill for an hour the other day when I knew she would be leaving work. I saw her coming towards the exit with Soph and hopped up so quickly you would have thought my ass was on fire.

Unfortunately for me, she had to get to the studio before it closed because she wanted to work on a new vase. One of these days, I was going to just sit and watch this girl work at the wheel. My new favorite routine before I fell asleep was calling Lee or just watching her pottery videos from TikTok on repeat. Thankfully, the extra time obsessing over when I’m going to see her next gave me plenty of time to plan out what I want to do for our next kink on the list.

I take out my Zara men’s cologne and spray a few areas of my chest. Tonight, the group is going to see one of my favorite artists. Shoot, when Ainsley texted the group about the concert right after practice, the boys in the locker room thought I had just got a tit pic. I was so giddy. This may not be my first time seeing BLXST, but I’m already so hyped for this night with the crew. Plus, I want to ensure this is a night Lee will never forget.

* * *

I pull up to the players’ entrance of the arena. The perks of playing in the stadium where the concert is, because Scotia is packed tonight. I get out of the car and make my way to the suite elevators. Once on the main level, I follow the signs to get to suite 1202, the one Millie had texted us to meet at and to let the security know our names because we were already on the list to get in. I thank the guard and make my way inside. I look around and inspect the area of the arena I haven’t seen yet.

Okay, so this is how the family and friends party when they come to our games. The suite is nice as fuck. No wonder most people skip the courtside seats and come up here. There are endless hot trays of food, a full-service bar, and TVs lining the full wall opposite of it. A giant pool table next to some high-top tables and stools, then a glass door is pulled open that takes you to the rows of stacked couches to sit and watch the event you’re here for. I stop when I see Lee and Soph on a couch in the front row. She is sipping a dark drink, and Soph has something with fruit in her cup. I come up to the couch behind them and sit, taking in the pre-concert artist on the stage. They both stop mid-conversation and slowly turn back and look at me.

“Well, hello, stranger,” Lee says over her shoulder.

“Hey, Sunshine. You ready for the show?”

“More than ready, but I’m starving. Wanna get some food?”

She stands up and starts walking to the food area. I’m about to follow her, but her ass hanging out of her skirt stops me in my tracks. Holy shit. A slow smirk slides across my face as my eyes rake over her outfit. A short black leather skirt with a white and black tank that says “Bad Biddies” across her breasts in red script. I use my hand to hide my laugh. Her outfit screams she is ready for a good time, but she has no idea just how good of a time I have in store for her. Glad she came to dress the part, though. She takes a plate and starts making her way down the food aisle as I walk up behind her to join.

“You like what you see, B?”

She glances over at me, and her cheeks give away her true feelings. She smiles before picking up some buffalo wings and putting them on her plate.

“Hell yeah, I do.”

She giggles and continues to add some veggie sticks to her plate as we hear, “WHO IS READY TO FUCKING TURN THE FUCK UP!” from the doorway of the suite.

I set my plate down and go to greet Bouch. He hands me the bottle of 1942 in his hand. How the fuck he got that in here? No one will ever know.

“4 hours, that’s all I have.” I hear Soph say under her breath behind me, but Bouch hears her.

“Yeah, Soph, the best 4 hours of your life!” He throws back.

“Okay, okay, you two, we’re here to support Mils and enjoy this sick ass concert,” Lee says, coming up beside us, and just as she does, Mils and Jeremey walk up to us.

“Hey guys. This is Jeremy. We went to high school together.” Mils says, directing her hand at the tall, skinny dude with glasses and his hair slicked back. He has a rough beard but defined features. The last type of dude I would expect to see in a suite for this concert.

“Hey, thanks for coming, guys. They gave me this suite for the concert, but since no one at work knew who BLXST was, I kept it to myself. I appreciate you all joining me.”

“Damn shame for them! Bonus for us,” Bouch adds, popping his bottle open to pour shots.

“Yeah, thanks for coming,” Mils says as she drops her head down and laces her fingers with one another. Her nerves are clear, but I can tell she is trying so hard to step outside of her comfort zone.

I see Jeremy eye Millie, knowing Soph and Lee probably helped her pick out her outfit. She looks, well, great. Props to the girls for helping her out.

Shoot, Nora would love these girls. I need to get her up here soon, and she has been bugging me since reconnecting with Lee on social media.

Just as we all find our seats and the lights fade, Lee speaks up and turns to all of us.

“Anyone heard from Liam yet?”

Mils looks down again. “Nope, he said he would be here, though. Why do I care, though? He can do what he wants?”

I look at Lee to see her face twist. I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that was weird.

The music picks up, and a “Sheesh” plays out over the speakers so loud it shakes my stomach. As the pungent fog smell rises, I put my drink down, stand up, and make my way directly behind Lee as the first song starts. We are all singing as loud as we can, and Lee leans back into me to start dancing. I grab my girl and enjoy all the good vibes as the first song plays out.

The good vibes are short-lived. After the first six songs, there is a minor break, and we all sit down to finish our drinks until we hear giggles and mumbling at the door of the suite.

The door swings open, and Liam and two girls come stumbling in. Clearly, he’s already gone.

Shit. I hop up to meet him and make sure he’s good. Wanting to step in already, just in case. I don’t want him causing a scene and ruining the night for the girls. Also, who the fuck are these girls he’s just bringing into the suite?

I step closer to Liam and his groupies, immediately taken back by the smell of whiskey.

“Books, what’s up, man?” He hugs me hard as the smell of him and the watered down perfume these girls have on mix.

“Good to have you join us,” I say, hugging him back.

“And you two are?” I point to the two ladies with him.

“Oh, dude. They found me on my way in. We went to the bar downstairs before I invited them up.” He reveals as the girls giggle.

I lean into him to whisper. “How did you get them in past security?”

He smiles and waves his hand over his face. “Hello, Mr. Toronto, over here.”

Ohhh, this is the ego Lee was talking about. Got it.

He walks past me with the girls and sits on the couch directly behind Millie and Jeremey.

“Yo, Jeremy Sharemy! Long time no see. I brought some friends since I know you like to share so much.”

He points to the ladies on either side of him.

Okay, Liam is in dick mode tonight. I shake my head. No way he brought an extra girl up here for Jeremy while he is on a date. Millie’s head sinks further into her chest, and Lee hops up, ready to intervene.

“Cut the shit, Liam! Be respectful, or you can watch the show from somewhere else!”

My eyebrows raise at how quickly Lee jumps to put a stop to Liam’s bullshit before I can even form a plan of my own.

“Calm the fuck down, Ains! It was a joke.”

“Who is laughing, Liam?” Lee fires back.

“Whatever. Clearly, y’all aren’t here to party.” Liam huffs.

Millie takes a long pull of whatever she got to drink, and everyone goes back to their seats.

The tension dies down a bit as the songs come back on, so I go back to Lee and stand with her, putting one arm around her so she can sway to the beat with me. My eyes still cutting over to Liam every now and then to make sure he doesn’t say any other stupid shit.

Several songs later, I look over and see Liam is making out with one girl he is sitting with. Millie stands up to go to the bathroom just as he turns to make out with the other girl. She gasps loudly and takes off jogging. Lee and Soph are already setting their drinks down to run after her.

I stand up and walk over to Liam, Bouch right on my coattails. I hall him up so fast that both girls end up falling a little off the couch they were all on.

Liam walks up with me to the food area, away from the girls he came with. He clears his throat as he takes a seat next to me. Bouch is making his way to grab another shot before going back to the concert.

I look over and see Liam squeeze his eyes shut. He opens them after several beats and stares over at me. Trying to divert the conversation, he speaks up.

“So, um, you and Ains?”

Nope. Good try, Postie boy.

“Yep, so you and Millie?” I shoot back.

He sucks in a breath.

“Not going to talk about it, huh?” I eye him again.

He nods. So, I speak for myself.

“Well, your sister and I are a thing. We’ve always been a thing. I have no problem telling you or anyone else my intentions with her because, well. She is mine, whether or not she fully knows it. She always has been.”

“Yep, I figured that out when I was twelve, dude.”

He pats me on the back. Damn, guess it was obvious to those around us as well.

“Sorry it took me this long to figure it out myself.”

“Yeah, well, you think I should, um, go check on the girls?” He eyes behind him.

“Yeah, no. Soph and Lee can handle it.” I shrug. A few minutes later, Soph and Lee come back without Millie. Liam stands immediately and walks up to them.

“Where is Mills?”

Lee ignores him and moves around him, stepping up to Jeremy.

“I’m so sorry. Millie wasn’t feeling well. We helped her get an Uber home, and she wanted us to thank you for the wonderful time. She will call you in the morning.”

Liam grabs Lee’s shoulder and spins her around. “What?! Are you kidding me??”

Soph rolls her eyes and leans down to his ear.

“Yeah, dipshit. She needed to go, and we helped our girl out. What did you do?”

He sinks his head down and walks over to the girls, talking to both of them. They nod and all stand up.

“We are headed out. Thanks for the invite, Jeremy.” Liam waves at all of us, but Lee walks right up to him.

“Whatever, Liam. You owe Mils an apology for ruining her date and making this uncomfortable for all of us, but especially her! You totally killed the vibe and the first date she has had in God knows how long.”

Lee smacks his arm as he leaves.

“I’m on it, okay.” He mumbles as they all duck out the door.

“Well, I’m going to head out as well. I’ll check in with Millie tomorrow. It was great hanging out with you all.” Jeremy says to all of us. “You guys enjoy the rest of the show.”

We all give him side hugs and thank him as he leaves. Then it’s just Soph, Bouch, Lee, and I singing our hearts out to every song. I lean down to Lee.

“Want one more drink before the show ends?”

“Sure!”

She smiles up at me, and I bend down, kissing her cheek. As I do, I snag her purse from the chair next to her and tuck it around my back. My heart rate picks up as I turn and head back to the bar, going around the back to tuck it away in a cubby below.

Now, for the real show to start.