Page 66 of Beautiful Trauma

My skin itched with the need to get to the bus to check on Cee.

Thirty-Nine

I laid in my bed reading as we drove down the highway. From the sounds of it, everyone else on this bus was sound asleep, but I’ve always had a hard time falling asleep, especially on nights we had a show. Typically, I use the quiet time to read but I couldn’t get into my book, so I had been staring at the same page for a while when my phone buzzed next to me.

Cee: I need you

Me: Are you okay? What’s going on?

Cee: I just don’t want to be alone.

I opened the video chat app and tapped her icon. Her face filled the screen. Her eyes were puffy and her nose red from crying. “Aww, bestie. What’s going on? Before I went on tonight, it looked like you were having a good time.”

“I was trying. For a little while I forgot that Eli wasn’t at home waiting for me, but then I picked up my phone to text him and remembered that he’s gone.”

“I’m so sorry that happened. I’m afraid it’s going to happen sometimes. At least for a while,” I whispered.

“It’s your turn to tell me a bedtime story, Serge. Read me whatever book you have.”

I was in the middle of a super cheesy romance and that felt like throwing salt in her wounds, so I lied. “Just picked up a mystery I think you might like. I’ll start over.” I propped the phone on the pillow beside me so I could keep an eye on her while I read her a story until long after her eyes closed, and I was sure she had fallen asleep.

When I rolled out of bed the next morning, I noticed she had turned off the video chat; I had left it open in case she woke up and needed me. I expected her to at least greet me when we saw each other at breakfast, but she ignored me.

I noticed that a few hours before showtime, she was already drunk. I pointed it out to Mish and Elle and told them to watch her. Elle rolled her eyes, and Mish looked at me with pity.

That night, and the next three, followed the same pattern. Cee pretended I didn’t exist until the middle of the night when she was alone, drunk, and needed someone to distract her. And I was the asshole who indulged the behavior. I didn’t tell anyone about our nighttime routine, not wanting to hear their commentary.

The fourth night, we didn’t have a show and we were staying the night in a hotel. We all went out to a club to let off some steam. As the night progressed, Cee got more and more fucked up, and more and more handsy with the guys on the dancefloor until I couldn’t take it. I told myself it wasn’t jealousy when I went and inserted myself into the situation. I was just concerned for a friend that wasn’t thinking clearly.

Cee didn’t notice when I made the guy whose dick she was grinding on step back and let me take his place. He wasn’t happy, but the security I had flanking me convinced him to let me cut in. I wrapped an arm protectively around her waist and moved to the music with her.

She looked so beautifully broken, trying to dance away her pain. She smelled like coconuts and vodka, and the way her body moved against mine had my dick stirring in my jeans. “You’re killing me, bestie,” I said into her ear.

If she was surprised it was me, she didn’t show it. She turned in my arms to face me. “If you’re scaring off all the other gentlemen callers, you’d better be prepared to give me what I need, drummer boy.”

“Those guys were not gentlemen, I assure you.”

“They were a sure thing. Are you?” She lifted an eyebrow. I groaned, not sure how to proceed. My cock really wanted to take her into a bathroom and fuck her. My mind screamed it was a bad idea. But fuck, it would feel so good. She rubbed her hand over my crotch, causing my dick to twitch appreciatively. “Looks like there’s some interest here.”

“You’re drunk, Cee.”

“I am,” she giggled. Her fingers fiddled with the button on my jeans. We were in the middle of the dance floor, and she clearly wasn’t taking no for an answer.

I grabbed her hand from my dick and pulled her toward the exit. The hotel was just a few doors down from the club. I texted the group that we were headed out while we walked back. I wasn’t sure anything would actually happen once we got there, but I wasn’t about to have her pulling out my junk in the middle of a club.

We got on the elevator, and she stepped in close. “Don’t even think about dumping me off in my room with Beth.” Cee and Beth were sharing a room and she had stayed in, opting to get some sleep instead of partying with the rest of us.

It had been my plan. I figured by the time we made it all the way back here, she would’ve switched gears, but I was very wrong. Her fingers were back on the button of my jeans. The doors to the elevator opened, and I scooped her up into my arms to carry her to my room before she could take this any further.

I kicked the door shut behind me and brought Cee over to the bed. “Get naked,” she demanded.

“I’m not fucking you while you’re drunk.”

“Then I’m going back to the club,” she said indignantly.

“Stay right there. I got you.” As much as I wanted to fuck her, I couldn’t justify that in my head. If she wanted to get off, I could certainly give her that. She quirked her head to the side in confusion. “Lay back,” I ordered as I sat on the bed beside her.

She did as she was told, and I ran my hand along the waist of her jeans. God, she was fucking beautiful. She squirmed under my touch. “Please, Serge. Make me feel good.”