Page 29 of Game Winner
Before I can say a word, he grabs the hand of a passing guitarist whose band kicked off the show and stumbles into the crowd with him.
Pinching the bridge of my nose doesn’t alleviate the tension there. I sag into the feel of Soren’s arm around my shoulder and Tyler’s around my waist. “I can’t keep chasing him all night.”
Tyler presses a kiss to my cheek. “It’s okay if you need to. We’ll be here with you.”
“When he gets like this, he won’t listen. So unless I pick him up and carry him out of here, I don’t know what to do. And I don’t want to do that. It would cause a bigger scene.”
Soren twists me so I’m facing the dance floor. “We can keep an eye on him from here.”
“He always puts himself in situations, doesn’t think about the consequences.” I track Layne’s movements as some random dude feels him up. The tensing of his muscles, the way he spins,a fake smile plastered on as he pushes the guy away, then darts deeper into the crowd of dancers. “Sometimes, I get tired of always having to be on alert. But I feel responsible for him. If something happened?—”
“You can’t blame yourself for someone else’s actions.” Tyler rubs my back in soothing circles.
“Tell that to the guilt twisting my gut into knots.”
Soren clasps my hand, smoothing the pad of his thumb over my knuckles “Maybe we can hire a security guard for him.”
He’s smiling, but I can’t tell if he’s joking or not. “We had one for the show we performed on Halloween. The venue was big, and there wasn’t a barrier between the performers and the crowd. Layne always gets a lot of attention, fans acting like they have the right to touch him without his permission, and we didn’t want to take any chances with a crowd that large, that close. Having a guard was great. I didn’t worry about Layne that night. But I can’t afford to hire a guard full-time.”
The music booming from the stage halts, and the club’s manager grabs the mic. “Who’s ready for the new year?” The crowd goes wild, and the manager watches the countdown clock behind Soren, Tyler, and me. “It’s almost time. Let the countdown begin. Ten… nine… eight… seven…”
“Six… five… four…” The crowd takes over. “Three… two… one… Happy New Year!”
Soren pulls Tyler and me into his chest. His lips land on Tyler’s first, and I groan at how good they look together. When he raises his head, he shifts to me without missing a beat. His lips are warm and taste like Tyler’s drink.
Tyler kisses my neck, then jaw, and as soon as Soren lets me breathe, he takes over, pulling me down to smash his lips to mine.
We sway together, trading kisses as “Auld Lang Syne” plays.
“Do you want to come back to our place tonight?” Murmuring the question against my lips, Soren traces his fingers along my cheek and lips. “Stay over?”
I suck his finger into my mouth, swirling my tongue around it, then release it with a pop. “My apartment is closer. I’ll make you breakfast. I even bought that video game you two like.”
Tyler beams. “Gargoyles Gateway? I knew you’d like it.”
“Through the app?” Soren asks, and I nod. He grins as big as Tyler. “This means we can play together even when we’re on road trips.”
I lean in and claim a kiss from him before doing the same with Tyler. “That was a big incentive.” It’s one additional way of staying connected when we’re apart. “But tonight,” I trail a finger down Tyler’s chest, then do the same to Soren. “I want toplaywith the two of you.”
They both lick their lips, arousing a charge that runs from my lips to my shaft. As much as I want to take them to my place now, I can’t leave Layne, and without having to say it, Tyler and Soren seem to know. To understand. A new band takes the stage, and they pull me with them into the horde of people. We dance, and I keep an eye on Layne.
By one AM, the crowd thins and I’m ready to go. I want alone time with these two. No crowds or excessive noise. Just the three of us. But I don’t know what to do about Layne. He’s dancing not far from the bar, but he’s stopped drinking and hasn’t kissed anyone in a while so I hope he’s winding down.
Gavin and Everett emerge from the hallway leading to the restroom, their hair and clothes a rumpled mess. I lean into my guys. “I didn’t think they were still here. Let me see if Gavin and Everett can keep an eye on him.”
Everett’s eyes widen when they meet mine. “Hey. We were just?—”
“Ringing in the new year,” Gavin finishes, clamping his hand on Everett’s waist. “You heading out?”
“Not until I know Layne’s good.” I jerk my thumb in his direction.
Gavin’s brows narrow as he takes in our friend. “We’ll make sure he gets home safe or bring him home with us.”
The tension tightening my muscles eases, and the relief comes so fast, I feel weightless. “Thanks.”
“We’ll see you at practice on Saturday.” Everett gives me a quick hug. “I have some ideas about your song.”
“What song?” Tyler wraps his arms around me and presses a kiss to the back of my neck that makes me shiver.
