At least one of us was getting laid. Then I realized something. Patience had said before that she wouldn’t let Megan go to an underground club alone. Did that mean she was going to be there, too? I wanted to ask Chet, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. If I asked it would look like I gave a shit if she was there or not, and I didn’t. I really didn’t.

So when we started to play and I saw her walk in with Megan, it wasn’t excitement I felt. It was annoyance. Mostly because she was there and she came knowing I’d be there too, but also because she looked so fucking hot I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. The prep-school Patience was gone, and in her stead was a sexy little vixen with a low-cut top and the tightest pair of jeans I’d ever seen a female wear.

I tried to keep my eyes away from her as I played, but every now and again they moved over her against my will, and I’d get the sudden rush of heat that ran down my spine, wrapped around my pelvic bones, and landed in the crotch of my pants. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. I wanted this girl more than I’d ever wanted a girl in my life, but I couldn’t and I wouldn’t touch her. No matter how badly my body begged me to, I refused.

An hour later, she had some drinks in her system and was dancing on the floor with Megan. It was nice to see her smiling and happy even though I knew I’d have to take her home. Megan was obviously drunk out of her mind and there was no way in hell Chet was going to let her drive home, which was fine by me, considering there was no way in hell I’d let Patience ride home with her. I’d had a few beers, but I didn’t even have a buzz and once I saw the two girls partying hard, I started sipping my beer instead of drinking it.

I took my attention away from Patience for a bit and scanned the crowd. It was a full room and everyone was having a good time. I turned and looked at Chet and he threw his drumstick in the air. Show off. When I turned back around, I saw Patience talking with some guy. She had my attention from that point on. I openly watched as she flirted with the guy she stood next to. I suddenly felt tense all over. My arms felt stiff and my eyes were starting to burn from staring so hard.

The guy reached up and picked something from her hair and I saw red at the thought of his hands touching her. It took everything I had in me to stay on the stage and keep playing. She leaned forward to say something to him and bits of her cleavage became visible. Patience wasn’t the kind of girl to do something like that on purpose, although I knew girls who did. I’d been around women enough to know when they were obviously bending over just right to show some tit, but not Patience. She was smiling innocently back at him and had no idea the fucker was ogling her bare skin. He took her in with greedy eyes and slyly smiled down at her.

She looked up at him with big blue eyes and smiled and then he touched her again as he put a hand on her back. I saw her smile become uncomfortable for a second and then she seemed to relax. I didn’t. Instead, I missed a chord and then another right after that, which prompted Tiny to poke me with his guitar and question me with his eyes. He was silently asking me if I was okay. I wasn’t, but I nodded and continued to play.

The more time passed, the more I could tell Patience wasn’t herself. I couldn’t take my eyes off her and she was definitely acting strange. The playful flirting, the cleavage, and those painted-on jeans… none of it was her. Then she picked up a shot glass and slammed the liquid down like she’d been drinking her entire life. They say liquor takes away all inhibitions and she was making sure to melt all her insecurities away.

By the time our set was over, I was fuming. I couldn’t get off the stage fast enough. I set my guitar next to Finn and then jumped down from the stage. I made my way across the room to the bar where they were standing and talking. I took flirty boy in as I grabbed her arm and pulled her away from him. He attempted to say something, but I turned back toward him and eyed him hard. He must have seen the anger in my eyes because he shut up and turned away.

“What are you doing, Zeke? Let me go,” she slurred.

I didn’t respond as I dragged her across the room to the bathroom. She was more clumsy than usual, which did nothing but piss me off even more since I knew it was because she was drinking. I pulled her into the bathroom and let the door slam behind us. Finally, I let her arm go as I made sure there was no one else in the bathroom with us.

“Are you going to tell me what this is about?” She crossed her arms, which pushed her tits up even more.

“Yeah, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” I motioned to her body.

She looked down at herself, then back at me like she was confused.