Reckless Invitation (The Reckless Rockstar Series) Read online

  I examine the boxes until I find the one I’m looking for. I drag it over next to the chair by the window and remove the tape. Inside are framed photos. There are far too many for me to take. There’s really only one I want anyway. I dig until I find it.

  A knock startles me. Crew pokes his head inside. “We’re ready when you are.”

  I raise my chin in acknowledgement. He shuts the door.

  I trace the faces of the two people in the picture with me—Mom and Luke—and my throat thickens when it occurs to me that of the three of us, I’m the only one still alive.

  Chapter Two

  Ella

  Jenn pulls me along as we trail behind Krista. “Come on,” she whines. “We’ll get nowhere near the stage if we don’t hurry.”

  “I don’t know what the big deal is,” I say, shaking glitter off my clothes. Why I let them put it in my hair is beyond me. And they overdid it, by a lot, but there was no time to wash it out. I feel like Lady Gaga. “I’ve never even heard of them. Ruthless Alibi. What kind of name is that for a rock band?”

  “It’s Reckless Alibi, and it’s a great name. I promise you’ll download all their music after tonight.”

  I give her a sideways glance. I haven’t seen her this worked up since junior year when Zac Efron signed an autograph for her outside one of his movie premieres.

  Several women push past us on the sidewalk leading to the club—grown women, who act like they are kids going to meet Mickey Mouse. Krista turns around and takes my other arm. Now they’re both pulling me. We get in line behind the crazy women.

  “How is it that the two of you are going bat-shit crazy over this Ruthless Alibi band, and I don’t have a clue who they are?”

  “Reckless!” they both shout.

  “Whatever.”

  Krista says, “You’ve had your head in the sand since you and Corey—”

  I give her the evil eye.

  “Sorry.” Her bottom lip juts out. “I forgot we weren’t mentioning the bastard’s name. What I meant to say was that since you broke up with Dickhead, you’ve been MIA. That all changes starting now. Two weeks is long enough to mope around.”

  We inch closer to the door. I glance behind us; the line goes down the street and around the corner. “Exactly who are these guys?”

  Jenn taps on her phone and shows me a picture. “They aren’t just guys. One of their singers is a girl. Their songs have been on the radio for months. I’m sure you’ve heard them. Here.” She puts her phone against my ear.

  I nod, familiar with the song.

  “Twenty bucks cover,” the man at the door says.

  “Twenty dollars? Really?” I try to step out of line.

  Krista takes my hand. “Oh, no. We’re doing this. It’s our treat.”

  They each pay their way and split mine. “I’m buying the drinks then,” I shout over the crowd.

  “Who cares about drinks?” Jenn says. “Let’s go find a good spot.”

  I check the time on my phone. “But the sign says they don’t start for an hour.”

  “Spot first, then drinks,” she says. “Trust me.”

  I follow them as they weave through a hundred people. Jenn has no problem blazing a path through the throng. “Sorry,” I tell a few when we bump into them as we pass.

  She drops my arm and runs ahead, laying claim to a high-top seconds before another woman gets there. The loser pouts, then runs for a table farther back.

  Jenn gloats. “You gotta be faster than that. This is a great place, don’t you think? Close to the dance floor, and we’ll still see the band.”

  “Dance?” Krista says, surveying our surroundings. “I don’t know. Someone will steal our table.”

  “We’ll dance on the table,” Jenn says.

  Krista squeals. “Yes!”

  I take a seat. “You guys are crazy.”

  “Ella, you need to loosen up. When was the last time you really let your hair down?”

  “You mean my hair full of silver glitter?” I say sarcastically and chew my lip. “Well, let’s see—I dated a tax attorney for eighteen months, so I’d say about one day longer than that.”

  “Your hair looks great. It really sparkles under the lights. You’re due for a fun night out,” Jenn says. “We’ll even give you first dibs.” She pounds the high-top.

  “I am not dancing on the table.”

  “Not yet maybe. But after three or four drinks …”

  “Not ever.”

  A waitress comes by, and I order three margaritas.

  “Make it six,” Jenn says. I give her a hard stare. “What? She might not get back for a while.”

  I hear screaming coming from the front door.

  “Looks like the band is here,” Krista says.

  I crane my neck. “Where?”

  “They probably won’t come in through the front. Hopefully they’ll stick around after.” She pulls up her lightweight sweater, exposing a tight tank top. “I want all the guys to sign this.”

  I shake my head at both of them. “What have you done with my best friends?” They laugh and hug me.

  Krista gets out her phone. “Which one do you want? You can pick anyone but Liam. That sex god is mine. Interesting fact. You two have the same last name.”

  “I think Ella would look good with Garrett,” Jenn says.

  “Which one is he?”

  “Tats.”

  My eyes widen. “That’s a lot of tattoos on his arm.”

  Krista giggles. “Makes you wonder where else he’s got them.”

  I study the men in the picture. “If I were forced to choose, I’d take this one.”

  “Good choice. His name is Crew. Singer. Hot.” She fans herself.

  “What about you, Jenn? Who would you choose?”

  “Brad, for sure.” When Krista isn’t paying attention, Jenn leans close. “I lied. It’s totally Liam, but I can’t say that in front of her.”

  Half a dozen drinks are placed on our table. We all reach for one.

  “To Reckless Alibi,” Krista says. “May we all be lucky enough to take one of them home tonight.”

  I clink my glass to theirs and drink, even though that’s not at all what I want.

  It’s been fourteen days since I left the cheating bastard. I’m not about to invite another train wreck into my bed. I’m done with men. I’ll focus on the three things most important to me: friends, work, and running. At twenty-three, I don’t need or want to be tied down. I plan to enjoy the freedom Rat Bastard afforded me by screwing his nineteen-year-old neighbor. I’m too young to be in a long-term relationship. I wasted enough time as it is.

  “Ella!”

  I turn to see both of them staring. “What?”

  “Where’d you go?” Krista asks.

  Jenn’s smile fades. “You’re thinking about him, aren’t you? Stop it.” She pushes my drink closer to my lips. “You promised you’d try and have a good time. You deserve to have fun.”

  I sigh heavily. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” I down a few gulps, making a face at the tartness.

  Half an hour and two drinks later, the crowd goes ballistic as the band takes the stage. I again gape at my friends as if aliens have invaded their bodies.

  Now that I’m feeling a bit tipsy, however, I get into the music as they play. They’re good. It’s hard not to swing my hips to the beat. The male singer—what’s his name, Crew?— and his female counterpart are stunning together. I wonder if they’re a couple. Krista and Jenn don’t seem to notice what I do, or maybe they don’t care. They’re too busy drooling over the men on stage.

  Occasionally the one playing guitar glances at our table. Every time he does, Krista screams, “Oh, my God, he’s looking at me!”

  When he does it again, I watch him closely, unsure what he’s looking at. I turn to see what’s behind me—it’s a wall. When I look back at him, our eyes lock, and he rewards me with an irresistible and devastating smile. Oh, gosh. It’s not her he’s looking at, it’s me. I�
�m sure it’s the hair. Jenn said it sparkles when lights hit it.

  Shortly after the band takes a break, a tray of drinks arrives. “From the guitar player,” the waitress says. “You lucky girls.”

  Jenn and Krista squeal like teenagers.

  “Do you think this means he wants to take me home with him?” Krista asks.

  “He’s probably got herpes,” I say. “Rock stars sleep with everyone.”

  “So he’ll wear a condom,” she says.

  I cringe. “Gross.”

  “Oh, come on, El. Don’t be so uptight.”

  The band comes back, and Krista goes wild. When it appears they’re winding down, she does the unthinkable. She gets up on the table and dances—until a very large man comes over and pulls her down. Then he puts her over his shoulder and starts for the door. He turns. “If you want to get your friend home safely, I suggest you follow me.”

  Embarrassed, I take Jenn by the elbow and we follow.

  Outside, someone is setting up a roped-off area by a second door. Krista eyes it. “I’ll bet that’s where the band will come out. You guys, we have to stay. If we wait here, we’ll be in front. They’ll see us. Please. Oh, God. Does my hair look okay? Brutus back there messed it up when he went all Tarzan on me.”

  Jenn and I peer at each other. Krista has gone off the deep end. She’s had more to drink than the two of us put together. I shrug. “Fine by me,” Jenn says.

  Krista takes off to position herself in what she deems to be the best spot. Other people see us and gather around, speculating on when they will come out. Someone exits the main door, and I can no longer hear the band play.

  “Shouldn’t be long now,” I say. “Sounds like they’re done.”

  “Unless they stay for drinks,” Jenn adds. “We could be here for hours.”

  “Wonderful.”

  My feet start hurting from standing in one place. More and more people gather behind us. A few times, I have to ask the drunk women behind me to please stop crowding us. One of them is telling me off when the door opens. Screams and cheers erupt as the members of Reckless Alibi step out on the sidewalk. There is a huge man in front of them and a few others in the rear with SECURITY printed across their T-shirts.

  Autographs are signed. Pictures are taken. Krista is about to come out of her skin waiting for them to get to us. “We should have stood right by the door. What if they stop signing before they reach us?”

  “I’m sure they’ll be happy to autograph your boobs,” I say.

  Suddenly I’m pushed from behind. I fall through the ropes, my heel catching on the pavement. As if in slow motion, I see Jenn reaching for me. I try to take her hand but miss. Then everything goes black.

  Chapter Three

  Liam

  The ropes are breeched, and the first thing I see is Crew protectively putting his arms around Bria. Thor lunges forward to keep bystanders from trampling over the girl who fell down.

  I see silver sparkles. Shit. The girl from inside. I rush over and pick her up. She looks at me in a daze as I carry her to the limo. Once inside I flip on the light. Blood trickles down her temple and a large goose egg is forming.

  Crew, Bria, Garrett and Brad slip in behind us.

  “What happened?” the girl slurs. I can’t tell if she’s drunk or stunned from the fall.

  “Looks like you were pushed from behind. You fell on the pavement and were about to get trampled to death.” I’m more than a little concerned at the sight of her head. “I’m afraid you may have a very bad headache tomorrow, but right now I’m taking you to the hospital.”

  She touches her head then stares at the blood on her fingers. She seems embarrassed. To be hurt? To be in my lap? “Uh, I’m fine. I should go. Krista and Jenn are probably wondering where I am.” She tries to sit up but cringes in pain.

  “Don’t move.” I crack the window. “Tom, can you please find two women, Krista and Jenn, and tell them we’re taking …” I glance at the woman in my lap.

  “Ella,” she says, looking mortified.

  “Tell them Ella is going to the hospital. She’s got a possible head injury. Give her friends your contact info so they can call later.”

  “I’m on it,” he says, turning away.

  I close the window as fans swarm the limo and try to peek inside. “Take us to the nearest emergency room,” I tell the driver.

  She touches her head again, but I remove her hand. “You shouldn’t. Your hands could be dirty.” Bria gives me some wadded-up tissues, and I press them gently to her temple. Ella tries to wiggle off my lap. “Stay still. You could have a concussion.”

  Her eyes close. “This is not happening.”

  It’s hard not to smile. If she’s aware enough to be embarrassed, she must not be injured too severely.

  “Is there anyone we can call for you?” Bria asks.

  Ella retrieves her phone from her back pocket. The unexpected squirming causes pangs of pleasure to shoot through me. Douchebag, I tell myself. She’s hurt, and you’re getting a fucking boner?

  She moans in pain. “I can do it. Thank you.”

  The limo comes to a stop, and the driver tells us we’re there.

  Everyone starts to get out. “It’s okay,” I tell them. “You can head back. I’ll handle this.”

  “We should stay,” Bria says. “How will you get home?”

  “I’ll figure it out later. Right now I need to get Ella inside.”

  They move aside, and I remove Ella from my lap and get out. She takes my hands as I help her onto the sidewalk. “Go slow,” I say, ignoring the softness of her skin.

  “Don’t worry. I doubt I’ll be running marathons anytime soon.” She almost laughs but stops. She must be in pain.

  I shut the limo door and give the roof two pats. It drives away as I slowly escort her inside. “Sit here,” I say, finding an empty bench in the crowded waiting room. I hand her the bloody tissues. “Hold this on your head if you can. I’ll be right back.”

  I cross to the counter. Pointing at Ella, I tell the person at the desk, “She hit her head on the sidewalk.”

  The nurse cranes her neck to get a look. “She seems stable. You’ll have to wait. Name?”

  “Liam Campbell.”

  She eyes me like I’m stupid.

  I mentally smack myself. “Oh, her name. Uh, Ella …” I don’t know her last name, so I stop.

  “Okay, Mr. Campbell, keep her awake, and we’ll get her seen as soon as we can.”

  I return to Ella. Her head is leaning against the window behind her. She looks tired. “The nurse said it could be a little while. She said you shouldn’t go to sleep.”

  Her eyes dart around the room. “Not likely, with all the crying.”

  There is a woman with three little kids, and one of them holds his arm as if it’s broken. “Sorry,” I say. “I bet the noise isn’t helping your head much.”

  “I’m fine.”

  I laugh. “You are not fine. You have a second head growing out of your temple.”

  Her hand covers her mouth. “I’m so embarrassed. I don’t know what happened. One minute I was standing there, and the next you’re putting me in a car.”

  “You blacked out?”

  “I don’t know. I remember falling and then you were looking down at me.”

  “Shit. If you blacked out, it might be more serious than we thought. Hold on.” I go over to the counter again and wait for the person in front of me to clear.

  “You again?” the nurse says. “I promise we’re working as fast as we can to get everyone seen.”

  “Yeah, but I have new information. She might have lost consciousness when she fell. That’s bad, right? Don’t you think she should be seen now? You know, in case she has a brain bleed or something? I mean, you wouldn’t want to be sued for leaving a woman to die.”

  This gets her attention. She looks up from her computer and over at Ella. “I’ll move her up the list. Should only be ten more minutes or so.”

  “
Thank you.”

  Walking back across the room, I see Ella’s eyes flutter closed. “Oh, no. You can’t go to sleep.”

  She strains to open them. “Then find me some coffee.”

  There’s a coffee vending machine on the other side of the room. I race over and get her a cup.

  She makes a face when she tries it. “This isn’t coffee, this is brown water.” She shoves it back at me.

  I glance out the window. “I did see a Starbucks outside, but I’m not sure—”

  “Please? I’d kill for a mocha latte.”

  She reaches into her pocket, but I stop her. “This one’s on me under one condition. You promise to stay awake.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Ma’am,” I say to the lady on the other side of her. “Please make sure she doesn’t fall asleep.”

  Her finger is wrapped in a bloody bandage. “You’re leaving her here?”

  “The woman wants coffee. In fact, do you like Starbucks? I’ll get you one as well.”

  She gives me her order and then I’m crossing the street. The line isn’t too bad, but I keep looking back at the hospital. I can’t see the ER windows from here. What if she falls asleep?

  My name gets called, I pay, and then I’m racing back to the hospital. Ella’s gone. My heart pounds, thinking she got up and walked out.

  “They took her back a few minutes ago,” the bloody bandage lady says. I hand her the coffee and thank her.

  I contemplate my next move. I got her here. She’s being seen by a doctor. Maybe I should leave. I don’t know her. She didn’t seem confused.

  I turn for the door then remember the latte in my hands. I go to the desk, using the coffee as an excuse to stay. The truth is there’s something about Ella that makes me want to stay and see if she’s all right.

  “Remember me?” I ask the nurse. “Liam Campbell. Ella was just taken back. I was getting coffee. Do you think I could join her?”

  “Of course. I’ll buzz you through.” She turns and calls to a young woman in a red vest. “Stephanie, please take Mr. Campbell to bay seventeen.”