“Do a line off her tight fucking ass,” someone called out.
“No, do a line off her tits,” another guy called out.
Now would be a good time to go someplace else, especially if the drugs were coming out. People started moving closer, caging them in. He pressed his side against Tanner’s, trying to block her from the sudden surge of movement as everyone attempted to get in on the action of watching this girl get blow inhaled off of her body. The girl getting ready to degrade herself for the enjoyment of the crowd moved over to the glass table between the two leather couches.
Everyone was getting wild at this point, even more so when the table was cleared off and the girl climbed on and lay in the center of the table. Her top came off, and her tits were pretty big for how small she was. When she reached down and started shimmying out of her Daisy Duke shorts Jacks turned so he was facing Tanner. Her eyes were wide as she was watching all the crazy shit going on around them.
“Come on.” He took her hand and led her through the thick throng of people. A lot moved out of his way, called out his name to stay and party with them, but the people that didn’t move the fuck back got shooed out of his way.
“Is that cocaine?” Tanner didn’t sound surprised.
It was only going to get worse. You stupid fuck. Why in the hell would you bring her here knowing you didn’t want her to see this part of your life?
“Yeah,” he said in a clipped tone, but kept his focus in front of him and toward the balcony doors just a few feet from them. A few people were already out there. “Get the fuck out of here.” He didn’t care if he sounded like an asshole. He was pissed at himself. It was the middle of summer, and there was a light breeze that moved by. Once the door closed behind the people, which left them alone, Tanner moved closer to him. Her hair moved around her shoulders from the breeze, and as she stared out the balcony at Aspen and the mountain view, Jacks moved closer, needing to be closer.
“Again, I’m really sorry about all that. I shouldn’t have brought you or Zoe here, or at the very least warned you about the shit that happens at these things.”
She looked over her shoulder and into the living room where Zoe was pressed tightly beside Beats. She was looking at the pixie getting cocaine cut into a line onto her belly. Zoe’s eyes were a little wide, but when Beats wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in tightly to the side of his body her entire expression changed.
“At least Zoe is having a good time.”
“I’m having a good time,” she said.
He looked at Tanner after she spoke. “Yeah?”
She smiled and shrugged. “I mean, this place is crazy, that’s for sure, but yeah, I’m having a good time.” She pushed him lightly on the shoulder and grinned wider. “Besides, why would I pass up hanging out with one of the most desirable rock stars on the planet?” They stared at each other for a few seconds, and although the sound of clapping, laughing, and shouts came through the glass of the sliding doors, it was like none of that mattered.
Her cheeks turned pink the longer he stared at her, and he forced himself to turn away and lean against the stone banister. They were twelve floors up, and he leaned over slightly and felt the gust of wind move by his face. He turned his head to the side and saw her doing the same thing.
“This is wild, Jacks.” She looked at him. “I mean, I knew you guys would always make it, but I never thought it would be this soon, and never imagined this kind of grandeur.”
“You didn’t think we’d make it to the top?” He was teasing her.
“Of course I did.” She bumped her shoulder against his. “I just meant it’s hard for me to even picture you living this kind of lifestyle, even when it is right in front of me.” She turned and leaned her back against the banister and stared through the glass doors. “I mean, drugs, sex, and rock & roll, huh.” She didn’t phrase it like a question. “It’s got to be all so crazy for you, too, right?” Her focus was still on the party. “Even all these years later.”
He turned around, too, and leaned against the stone. He could have answered her question, but he had other things on his mind, things that were better left unsaid, yet things he couldn’t stop thinking about now that she was right in front of him. Over the years he had been able to immerse himself in this lifestyle and his music, even though she was always on his mind.
“I mean, look at Marcus—I mean Five—he didn’t leave Rosco’s with a brunette, yet there is a half-naked one hanging on him.” She looked over at Jacks and grinned. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to calling him Five.” She shook her head and stared at the crowd again. “And Matty? He always spoke his mind and did what he wanted, but I’ve never seen him act so blatant in the sexual department as he was with that redhead, especially in front of all these people.” She started laughing softly. “It’s just insane.” They were silent for a moment, both staring at the party still. “Hey, I have been meaning to ask you all night.” She turned so she was slightly facing him, “What’s up with Marcus and the nickname Five? Or do I even want to know?”
He scratched his neck and chuckled, but it was kind of in the uncomfortable category. “Well, I don’t think you really want to know, but if you do I’ll tell you.” He was still watching her, and her grin spread.
“It’s raunchy, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is.”
Her smile was contagious.
“Well, go on, don’t keep me guessing, although I have an idea of what it might be now that you said it was sexual.” She rolled her eyes. “Marcus also was one to stick it in anything that had a hole.” She started laughing.
He shook his head, still smiling, and stared at her. Christ, she was so pretty. “Well, when we first hit it big we were playing at Red Rocks. The crowd was fucking insane, and it was a damn rush of adrenaline to hear everyone chanting our names.” He started chuckling, again a little awkwardly. “Uh, after the concert we were partying. We couldn’t find Marcus, and being drunker than fuck and not knowing any better we went in search for him. We had rented out the penthouse of the hotel we were staying at, so there were two other rooms on the floor. We found him in one of them, screwing five different girls.” It got so silent between them that he swore he heard damn crickets making noise even from the height they were at.
“You’re kidding?”
He brought his beer to his mouth and drank half of it. He set the bottle on the edge of the balcony and shook his head. “I wish I was.”
She was laughing so hard now that he couldn’t help but follow suit. “Oh my God. That’s like those crazy sex stories you see on TV, like how sex brought them to the hospital.” She wiped stray tears from her eyes and sobered slightly. “Wait, how was that even possible? I mean, he has one. Well, you know ... thing.” She made a punching motion, and he stared at her for a second.
“Did you seriously just do that as the action for fucking?” He curled his hand into a fist, and mimicked what she had just done.
She licked her lips and looked away. “Yeah, sorry. Michael has been doing that when he talks with his friends about porking some chick.”