Hand In Glove

Chapter 14

Not knowing how to go about finding Ashton, Chloe looked around, searching for the magical backstage door. How awkward. She felt like an idiot. The thought of someone assuming she was just some love-struck groupie made her skin crawl. But he did say he'd drive her home and since she had just seen Jill leave with her friends, her options for getting a ride home were suddenly limited.

Spotting a scruffy guy who looked like he worked there, fidgeting with some cables on stage, she approached him gingerly and asked how to get around back. He very rudely gave her the once over and impatiently waved her off. "Sorry, babe, I can't just let you back there. You have to be invited." He winked suggestively. "It's the rules, you know. Although, I may be persuaded."

Chloe could only stare blankly for a moment before finding her voice. "Ugh... no thanks, jackass."

"Well then, no deal, babe," grumbled the guy before he turned back to his task.

Losing her nerve, Chloe just about gave up, but as she turned around, Ashton appeared out of nowhere. "Hey, you," he said with a wicked grin, catching her as she crashed into him. "Looking for someone in particular?"

Relieved to see him, Chloe's smile spread across her face. "Oops, sorry," she gasped as she righted herself.

"Everything all right?" he asked, sliding his hands down her arms.

"Actually, I was starting to think that you'd left without me," she said with a bashful shrug.

He closed his eyes, slowly shook his head and took her by the hand. She had such small hands, small and delicate. "Now, how could you think that? You don't trust me yet, do you?" he asked as he walked her through the magical backstage door.

It was a whole other world back there. The hustle and bustle of the clean up crew. The handful of hopeful girls standing around and, of course, Jamie, in their midst. He was obviously bragging about something. He had them all captivated by what he was saying. He paused long enough to leer at Chloe. Always the charmer, he held up his beer in greeting with that all too familiar suggestive look on his face.

"Yuck," she muttered under her breath.

Ashton led her into a room at the far end of the hall. Nick and Chris were in there getting their stuff together. Chris saw her first and nodded at her in his friendly yet reserved manner.

"Look what I found lurking around backstage," Ashton announced. Chloe gasped at his phrasing and blushed bashfully.

Without so much as a blink of an eye, Nick dropped what he was doing and sauntered over. Gathering Chloe up in his arms, he gave her a huge bear hug and spun her around.

Watching from the side, Ashton shook his head, smirking indulgently at his exuberant friend. Nick was always such a flirt around pretty girls. Ashton couldn't help notice Chloe's smile as he twirled her around. An odd sense of possessiveness and jealousy struck him. He was sure, had it been Jamie manhandling her, she would not be so quick to smile.

"Hey, Chloe, did you enjoy the show?" Nick asked breathlessly. He reluctantly lowered her back down to her feet, but not before conveniently sliding her down his lean physique.

"It was great! You all looked and sounded amazing up there on stage." She giggled, straightening herself, still a little dizzy from the exuberant spin. "The crowd really loves you guys! You have a whole lot of diehard fans. That's for sure," she gushed, heady from all the attention.

Not quite down from his high yet, Nick raised her up in his arms again. Leaning into her wide-eyed expression, he said, "What about you, Chloe? Are you a diehard fan?" He gave her a playful smile. "You should know, Ashton never brings girls backstage. He has some crazy code of ethics. So now, you must be real special. Are you special, Chloe?" he asked with a roguish grin. "I think your very special," he cooed, laughing and spinning her around. He made sure to stay out of Ashton's reach, dodging many a shot to the back of the head.

Chris doubled over, laughing at his brother's antics. "You're such a brat, Nick." Chris chuckled. "Give Ashton his girl back."

Too distracted to notice Ashton's scowl, Chloe couldn't help but laugh along. Nick's mood was contagious. She liked Nick. He had a silliness about him she couldn't help but like.

"Well, guys, I'm taking off now," Ashton interrupted, fed up with his affectionate bandmate. "Are you coming, Chloe? Or would you rather stay here and play with your buddy, Nick?"

In response, Nick lowered her down and held her steady by the hands. "Yeah, Chloe, stay with me. Forget him. He's boring." Nick teased, making a face at his moody friend.

Ducking away from Ashton's expected counterattack, Nick scrambled behind her. He placed his head on her shoulder. "Think about all the fun we could have," he practically squeaked.

Chloe couldn't help giggling at Nick's playful teasing.

"Enough already!" Ashton shouted, exasperated. "Chloe?" he said wearily, no longer finding the humor in Nick's flirtatious overtures. Giving the bass player a withering glance, he turned and walked out the door. "Later, Chris."

Not knowing how to feel about Ashton's dour mood, Chloe looked back at Nick and shrugged apologetically. "Goodnight, guys," she said, messing Nick's hair as he winked at her.

She scrambled after Ashton and found him waiting in the hall, looking tired and worn out. Realizing it was well after two o'clock in the morning, she felt a pang of pity for him. After all, they'd both had a long day. "Okay, Ashton, let's go home," she said, looking up at him with a sheepish smile.

Chloe didn't remember much after that except getting into Ashton's car, glancing at him and thinking he looked sad and exhausted. After that, everything went black.

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To be continued...

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Hand In Glove

Copyright © 2014 by Maria Bernard. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-9731474-5-2

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