3 - Angel

~Livie~ 

“Ladies! We’ve been waiting for you!” Raze calls out. 

“Who is she?” A member of the trio gives me the stink eye. 

Raze shrugs, devilish grin in place. “A friend of Abel’s.” 

“Abel?” She eyes me up and down, weighing her supposed competition.   

“Actually, we’re not friends at all.” I plaster a smile on my face for her benefit.  

“Are you lovers?” She persists.  

Ugg. I laugh at her desperation. I will never disgrace myself over a guy again. 

She crosses her arms across her chest, amplifying huge, fake boobs. A pout forms on her cherry-red lips. “But he invited me back to the bus.” 

Stupid chick. I shake my head. “There’s no reason to be upset. He’s not a lover or friend. He’s just somebody I used to know.” 

“So you aren’t screwing him?” 

My hand itches to grab a handful of her bottle blond hair. Crazy, right? I am totally not jealous. Liar, liar! Pants on fire! 

“Nope.” I say cheerfully and waive at Gabe. “Good luck with this freak show. Laters.”   

He stands up, letting the drumsticks fall. “You can’t go out there by yourself.” 

“Watch me.” My exit is less than graceful. Ask me if I care. Once outside, I understand what Gabe means. 

The mob is rowdier than I remember. I wind my way through the dense crowd. It’s like the labyrinth from hell. A dead end there, cut right and try again. Meanwhile, the stench of alcohol and smoke clogs my breathable air. I’m gagging when a hand grabs my ass. I turn around and come face to face with a guy wearing tight leather and more eyeliner than me. 

“What’s a pretty little thing like you doing all alone?” His teeth are incredibly white against the black lipstick.  

I shove his hand away. “Touch me again and your goddamn hand becomes my property! Asshole!”  

“Mmm. A dirty girl with the face of an angel.” He reaches for me. “Let’s go back to my bus for a private party.”

“I don’t understand. Are you insane or freaking delusional?” I yell, gasping as strong arms wrap around my waist. 

“I’m gonna say this once, Cain.” Gabe’s voice is void of emotion. “Stay away from this one. She’s off limits.”  

“Can’t Angel speak for herself?” Cain oozes disdain as he glares openly at Gabe. 

These two share bad blood for sure. I have zero fucks to give about any of that. I want to give Cain a piece of my mind. I don’t get the opportunity. 

“I said stay the fuck away from her. You don’t want me for an enemy, especially if you give a shit about your little blip of a career.” Gabe is suddenly in his face. 

Cain holds up his hands in surrender, walking away. “Whatever, man. No piece of tail is worth your drama.” 

Damn, I am impressed. I elbow Gabe. “Wow. Bully much?”  

“He put his filthy hands on you. He’s lucky I didn’t beat his face in.” He shrugs.

“Um, yeah. Thanks for not going that route. And stop glaring at everyone.” I tug on the hem of his shirt.

“Why did you wear that dress and those boots? You’re like a fucking beacon in a crowd of sexually frustrated horndogs.” Gabe is focused on me.

I look down at my outfit of a simple summer dress and cowboy boots. “You’re overreacting.” I laugh. “And either let me go or stop squeezing so tight.” 

“Is it true what you said on the bus?” 

We’re suddenly looking into each other’s eyes. I break contact first. “Depends. What specifically did I say?”  

“That you and Abel aren’t friends or lovers.” 

“Oh.” How do I explain my relationship with Abel when I don’t understand it myself? “I don’t know what to say.” 

“How about the truth? And don’t tell me it’s complicated.” 

“It’s super complicated. In high school we used to be close. But we haven’t spoken in a few years.” 

“Then why come back now?” 

“Because I need his autograph. You’d think he’d be happy to give it.” I spot my car and groan. “Why me?” 

“What?” He looks around, trying to locate the source of my distress. 

“That’s my car.” 

“The one boxed in?” 

“Yup.” I sigh, rubbing my eyes. All I want to do is go home and sleep for twelve straight hours. 

“That sucks. Just come back to the bus with me.” 

I stare at him like he is speaking in tongues. Go back and see Abel again? And all those women? “I’ll wait here. Someone is bound to move sooner or later.” 

“It isn’t safe for you to be alone. A bus filled with chicks is better than a cold, lonely car.” 

“Who says I’ll be lonely? Cain might visit.” I smile to show I’m joking. He still scowls at me. 

“Great.  Then I’m forced to stay and babysit you.” 

My head shakes instantly. “Uh-uh. No thank you.” I push him back a step or two. “Go on. Find your way back home.” 

He frowns. “You leave me no choice.” He bends down, scoops me up and slings me over a shoulder. 

I screech, pounding his back. “What the hell are you doing?” 

“Taking you back to the bus for your own safety.” 

“Put me down!” I don’t believe this is happening. To top it off, no one is helping me. Instead, people are catcalling and congratulating Gabe on his conquest. Really? He shoves the door to the bus open and hauls me inside. At least the women are gone.

“Yo! Fucker! Put my wife down!” Abel yells.  

Gabe sets me on my feet. “Did you say wife?” 

I ignore Gabe’s questioning stare and tug my dress down. These guys are seriously lacking in manners. Abel wears jeans and nothing else. It must have been some shower. His hair is still wet. Red lipstick smears his face. That’s right. This is my life. Some things never change. I would be a dumb bitch to ever fall for Abel’s bullshit again. Fool me once…

I stomp my foot. Yes, exactly how a five-year-old throwing a tantrum would stomp. “No! You do not get to call me that!”  

“Will someone tell me the hell is going on?” Gabe’s scowl is now permanently etched on his face. 

I’m so pissed my cheeks must be tomato red. “I’ll tell you what is going on. Marriage means nothing. It’s just a goddamn piece of worthless paper.” Both men ignore my rant. I hate when I’m ignored. 

Abel growls at Gabe, ignoring my rant. “Why were you pawing my wife, bro?” 

“Her car is blocked in. She’s not going anywhere tonight. I had to save her ass from Cain. For real. I caught him grabbing her ass and trying to get her to go back to his bus.” 

“What the fuck?” Abel turns to me. “You into the emo rocker scene now?” 

“No! If he is an example of what I have to look forward to in the dating pool, I’m better off trying my luck on Bumble.” 

“Stop talking about dating. Mention it again and I’m gonna spank that ass.” Abel threatens.

The guy is bat-shit nuts if he thinks he can order me around. “What?” 

“You have a problem following orders, babe. I told you to wait for me.” He steps closer to me.

“I’m not doing this, especially in front of an audience.” I’ll get a damn uber, find a hotel, or sleep in my damn car before hanging around here. 

On my way out, I overhear Gabe call Abel a douche and tell him to wipe the lipstick off his face. Jackasses! Both of them. 

The sun might be setting, but the heat rages on. The stifling July weather has my dress clinging to me like a second skin. Gross. I sit down on the hood of my car. My elbows rest on my knees, my hands cradling my head. This entire trip has gone from bad to horrible, as in I might not recover. I groan when I see a familiar pair of boots standing in front of me. 

“Will you please come back to the bus with me?” 

“Fuck off, Abel. Leave me alone.” 

“Livie, I’m not good at this shit. I’m sorry, okay?” 

I sit upright. “Apology not accepted.” When he smiles, I’m on high alert. 

“Don’t you want your phone back?” 

“Huh?” I screech, digging through my purse in a frantic search. It’s not there. How the hell did he get it?