Take Me with You (Take Me #2)(57)
Author: K.A. Linde

“I fucking told you they were worthless. But how the hell could you keep this from me?”

I’d known this was coming. “Let me explain to you what happened. Your dad came to my house and left his phone number with Cheyenne when I wasn’t home. I never contacted him back, but then after finals, right before I flew up here, he showed up at my place.”

“Fuck, Ari! He showed up at your apartment?”

“He wanted me to convince you to talk to him.”

“I’m not fucking doing that!”

I threw my hands up. “I told him I wouldn’t convince you, that he had no right to talk to you.”

“Let me guess. He insisted?”

“Yes. I just”—I sighed heavily—“I worry he’s never going to stop trying to get in contact with you. I don’t want to play into his hands, Grant. But maybe if you saw him and heard him out, then you could tell him that you never want to see him again, and this nightmare could be over.”

“That is never going to happen,” he growled. “I’m not fucking stupid enough to think if I hear him out once, then he won’t try to kill me…or you. And he already knows about you, Ari. I can’t keep you safe. I know I was joking before, but come on tour with me.”

I shook my head. I wanted that, but I wasn’t dependent on my boyfriend. And we weren’t ready in our relationship to spend every minute of every day together. “You know I can’t.”

“I need to keep you safe.”

“He didn’t try to hurt me or threaten me or anything. He seemed kind of crazy but not like he’d hurt me.”

“That’s how he wanted to appear. You’re dealing with a trained ex-military criminal.”

“I know, Grant. I just want things to go back to normal. I don’t want to live in fear that he’s going to come after me…or you.” An unbidden tear slid down my cheek.

“Oh, Ari,” he sighed. He cupped my cheeks in his hands and swiped the tear away with his thumb. “We’re going to figure this out.” He gently kissed me on the lips. “I can’t have you in danger. If I have to confront him and all my demons to make sure you’re safe, then I’ll do it. I’ll do it for you.”

Two weeks later, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

Our last tour stop was in D.C. The Drift was closing out their tour in the city where they had grown up, and that meant we got in two days early, so they could visit with family and friends. I was kind of wishing that we could get this over with, so I could get back to Ari and deal with this shit with my dad. But The Drift wasn’t staying in D.C. after the tour, so they’d booked in some time in the schedule to stay in town.

The guys and I spent our first day wandering around downtown. Miller had been there once for a school trip, but none of the rest of us had ever been here. Seeing all the monuments and shit was pretty cool, but I was too anxious to really enjoy it. I opted out of day-two plans and worked on the new song that had hit me since I last saw Ari.

I was still messing with the guitar chords when they returned.

“Grant! Let’s fucking party!” Vin cried, launching himself into the hotel room and crashing down on the bed. “Drift said there are some kick-ass places a couple of blocks down. Let’s go pick up some chicks.”

“It’s almost perfect,” I muttered through the pick in my mouth.

“You’ve been working on that all day,” Miller observed.

“Bro, we’ll have plenty of time for working on our fucking music when we’re in the studio. This is our last night before our last show on our first ever tour! Let’s get fucking wasted!” Vin encouraged.

I slid the pick back between my fingers and started strumming along. Halfway through, I stopped and slapped my hands over the strings. “What’s it missing?”

McAvoy laughed. “Drums.”

“A backbeat,” Miller added. “The lyrics.”

“A fucking recording studio, motherfuckers!” Vin cried.

“Maybe,” I said uncertainly.

“Figure it out later. Let’s go drink!” Vin said.

“Go without me. I’ll meet up with you guys as soon as I figure this thing out. It’s been bugging the shit out of me all fucking day.”

With the combined effort of Miller and McAvoy, they finally got Vin to vacate the hotel room, leaving me all alone with my cherry red baby and the notebook full of lyrics.

I spent another forty-five minutes trying to figure out the flaw in the chords before putting the guitar aside in frustration. The music had helped me not to obsess about my dad and Ari at least for a bit. But I needed to get out of this place.

Maybe a drink or two would do me some good.

I followed the guys’ directions down to the local pub. I recognized The Drift’s security detail standing out front. Who knew if that was because there were supposed to be crowds or because they wanted to look important? I wouldn’t put anything past Donovan, who had been acting whack all week.

When I strode up to the entrance, the first thing I noticed was the smoking-hot chick talking to one of the guys out front. She was so hot that I did a double take. I whistled softly under my breath as I took in her features. Her ass cheeks were barely concealed in high-waist cutoff shorts. Her large chest was visible in the skintight shirt she wore. She was tall and leggy with dark brown hair that fell halfway down her back.

I was so busy checking her out that I didn’t even realize she was arguing with the doorman.

“I’m here every weekend! What do you mean I can’t go inside?” she snapped.

She planted her hands on her hips, and in no hurry to get inside, I admired her hourglass figure.

“Sorry. You’re not on the list.”

“I don’t understand! There is no list! This place is fucking empty.”

“Closed event tonight.”

“Well, let me see your goddamn list, and I’ll write my fucking name on it!” she yelled.

“Doesn’t work like that. If you’ll please step aside, Mr. McDermott is on the list.”

I jolted at the sound of my name. I nodded at him and sympathetically took in the hot chick.

Tough break.

When she swiveled around, her mossy-green eyes glared at me, and then her eyes widened. They traveled up and down my body like a million girls had done. I got some small measure of satisfaction from knowing I could bang this super fucking hot girl if I wanted.

“How come he’s on the fucking list?” she asked.