Page 66 of When the Stars Rise

This girl just loves to give me a boner and doesn’t care that we’re in public and all eyes are on us. Mostly on her. She’s a big fucking deal. In my world, she has always been.

We dance on the crowded floor until we both work up a sweat and I forget that anyone is watching us.

She spins to face me and runs her hands up my chest. “You’ve got somemoves,McCallister.”

Luckily, I’m a better dancer than singer. “You know it, baby.” I wrap my hand around her wrist and bring her palm to my mouth, pressing my lips against the pulse point on the inside of her wrist. “How about we get out of here and I show you some of my moves?”

She smiles, and those dimples in her cheeks appear, and yeah, I’m a goner. I want to get her out of this club and onto the tour bus to have her to myself.

I lean in close, my lips ghosting the shell of her ear. “Let’s go.”

Hayley nods, and we collect her entourage on the way to the door while I keep a firm grip on her hand and lead her through the crowd.

The sea parts to let us through, and even though we’re surrounded by Hayley’s security it’s hard not to notice how many flashes are going off from phone cameras. It doesn’t bother me as much when I’m by her side though.

What I don’t like is seeing photos of Hayley on social media with other guys leading her through a tapas bar in Barcelona or getting cozy with her at a festival in Lisbon.

Then there was that Hollywood actor she dated for a while. That was a fucking circus. Hated seeing her on his arm at awards shows and the hottest spots in West Hollywood. Another user if you ask me.

I don’t actively seek those photos out. The algorithm sends them my way. And there for a while, they flooded my feed. But that’s all over now, so I don’t have to think about Asher the douche anymore or that “Hollywood Heartthrob” (zero talent and not even that good-looking, but hey, I’m not bitter).

We’re almost to the door when a guy with a fade buzz cut and gold chains around his neck bulldozes through the crowd and shoulders past Chris.

I only got a glimpse, but I recognized the guy. He’s a defensive lineman. Pretty sure he just got transferred to Green Bay.

“The fuck are you doing with my girlfriend, asshole?”

A shrill scream pierces the air, and I hear rather than see a fist connecting with flesh and bone.

“What the fuck, man?” That sounds like Liam.

Hayley spins around to see what’s happening but I pull her closer to my side and keep moving toward the door.

“Hayley!” someone shouts. “It’s Hayley Saint James.”

I tighten my grip on Hayley’s hand and pull her in front of me as the crowd closes in, jostling to get to her.

“Oh my god. Aiden!” Hayley shouts, trying to break free to what?Help him?

“Come on, baby.” I wrap her in my arms and hustle her out of the club. Pushing through the throng out front, I get her to the SUV waiting at the curb and Chris opens the door, waiting until we’re both safely inside before closing it.

The fight spills out of the club and onto the street. Aiden’s T-shirt is splattered with blood, and he’s swinging punches at the baller who’s built like a brick wall. He takes down biggerguys than Hayley’s drummer for a living and looks as if he could squash Aiden like a bug.

“Someone needs to help him,” Hayley cries, trying to yank open her door.

I wince when the guy’s fist connects with Aiden’s face, and his head flies back. He staggers on his feet and Jules is on hand to hold him up as Liam lunges at the guy and tries to keep him away from his brother.

“Someone will help him,” I say, watching through the window as a girl hangs on the baller’s arm screaming and crying. “But it’s not going to beyou.”

Hayley is still trying to get out of the car, which is ridiculous because now the car is surrounded by fans trying to capture photos of her.

Pretty sure the driver turned on the child locks because the doors won’t open from the inside. Smart move.

I pull her into my lap and wrap my arms around her as Brian climbs in followed by Chris who taps the driver’s seat. “Let’s move it out.”

“No!” Hayley shouts. “We can’t leave without him.”

As we pull away, I see security intervening to break up the fight. Not sure what took them so long, but I guess their number one priority was ensuring Hayley was safely in the car.