“Yes.”
“Great, he’ll take one of those, no ice.”
The bartender turned, getting our drinks ready.
“What?” I asked, taking in the same stern expression. “You used to love that liquor.”
“So we’re back to you knowing who I am? How long is it going to last this time?”
“Why do you have to ruin every moment?”
He leaned in close to my face, and my stomach fluttered. The strong smell of his cologne assaulted my senses.
“I used to love a lot of this. Some I still do.”
“What do you mean—”
“Oi!” a familiar voice hollered from across the room.
While another familiar voice called out, “There’s our girl!”
Julian stared from them to me. “Their girl?”
“Look at you, Autumn Bum Bum.” Jude, the bass guitarist from Life of Debauchery, looked me up and down.
It was his silly name for me, meaning my ass was nice.
“She’s mine first,” Beck, the rhythm guitarist from their band stated, standing in my face.
“Hey there,” I greeted, amused.
They were by far my most entertaining clients.
Beck didn’t hesitate, instantly picking me up off the ground in a warm, tight embrace.
“Mate, don’t bloody hog her.”
As soon as Beck put me down, Jude did the same. Except he twirled me around in a circle and then kissed both my cheeks.
“Fancy seeing you here in Miami.”
He set me down. “Likewise.”
“We’re on tour, and I’m fucking knackered.”
“You’re always fucking knackered.”
They went back and forth for a second, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see Julian’s intense stare narrowed in on them before he leaned into my ear.
Murmuring, “Is that just an old nickname too?”
“And who’s this?” Beck asked, bringing our attention back to him. “Are you fucking our girl?”
“Jude!” I shouted, glancing over at Julian. Knowing he wouldn’t appreciate their crude personalities, but what did he expect?
They’re rock stars.
“This is my client, Julian Locke.” I swallowed hard, silently wishing I knew what he was thinking.
Feeling.
Wanting…
Truth was, the more I was around him, the more I realized how much I still couldn’t read him. Before yesterday, the last time I’d seen him I was crying over him. Pouring my heart out and falling apart in his arms. Telling him I loved him.
Now, there he was, with me. And after all this time, all these years, he was still so damn hard to decipher. Giving me mixed signals left and right like he did when I was younger.
Our connection.
Our friendship.
His indifference when we were in public versus private.
It all came barreling down on me, and I wasn’t anticipating it to.
Chapter EIGHT
—Autumn—
I never knew what he was thinking, especially when he was around the guys I dated. He didn’t stop denying his attraction to me until I was almost seventeen, and that was only because I’d made him. Thinking about that night made me pissed at him all over again.
The pushing me away, only to lead me on was definitely one of the worst games he’d played with me. Always blaming it on my brother.
Wait… Why am I thinking about this? Why do I care?
“Julian Locke.” Jude looked at Beck, pulling me away from my reckless thoughts. “Where have we heard that name?”
“Fuck if I know.”
“Oh! I know! Alpha CEO! You invented the eco-friendly sports car, right?”
“The engine.”
“Yes! I fucking own three of those cars. Fucking spectacular, Mate! Let me buy you a drink.”
“I don’t need you to buy me anything.”
“Julian…” I rasped under my breath, not used to this side of him.
Was he just being possessive and controlling, or was he jealous?
Jealousy wasn’t something I was used to from him either. He was always so fucking confident and cocky when it came to me. It was such a turn-on and as much as I hated to admit it, it still was.
Goddamn it.
“Don’t get your knickers in a bunch. We didn’t fuck your girl, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Not that we didn’t try,” Beck commented.
“Autumn Bum Bum is a fucking peach. She turned our entire lives around. Even partied with us. This girl can drink some fucking whiskey.”
“I had to keep up with you.”
“Yeah, babe, you did. But our singer has turned into a fucking pussy since he got married, and our drummer is sticking it to his assistant.” Jude threw his arm around Beck. “It’s just me and this fucking wanker now.”
I giggled, missing these guys.
“Her girly squeal is absolutely delicious, isn’t it? You sticking it to her? I give it a week before you’re balls deep inside of her.”
My face turned fifty shades of red—Jude had no filter.
Ever.
Beck joined in. “I want in on that bet.”
“Five k on him sinking into her before the week is over.”
“A week?” Jude scolded. “Her ass has gotten bigger. I give it two days. Max.”
This was a reoccurring thing between them. They were always betting each other on stupid shit.
In less than two strides, Julian tugged me into his side.