Effortless (Thoughtless, #2)(14)

He’d wanted that when our relationship was secret, and now that it wasn’t, he let everybody know it. Including the sulking bartender who was watching us.

Rita had been here since Kellan first arrived, when he’d come back from L.A. She’d had her sights set on him immediately and, husband-be-damned, sometime in the past few years, she’d successfully had him. It made me a little nauseous. She was at least twice his age, over-tanned leathery skin, over-bleached blonde hair, and a sense of fashion that left nothing to the imagination. I’d never asked Kellan about their hookup.

Honestly, I didn’t want to know…ever.

38



Her lips twisted up when Kellan shifted his head to acknowledge her.

All he gave her was a slight incline of a greeting, but you’d think he’d just walked up and licked her by her reaction. All sultry smiles and hooded eyes that were, I’m sure, mentally undressing him, she leaned over the aged bar that ran the length of the wall beside the front doors.

Practically purring, she murmured, “Hey there, Kellan…Kiera.” My name was clearly an afterthought.

I smirked at her and twisted to face Kellan. “I have to go put my stuff away. Usual?”

I tilted my head and he ran a finger back through my hair, tucking a lock behind my ear as he bit his lip. It was charmingly attractive. “Yeah, thanks, Kiera.”

Smiling at him, I leaned up to kiss his cheek. Not satisfied with a peck, he twisted and found my lips. My face heated, knowing Rita, and a good portion of the rest of the room, was staring, but I let myself indulge in a small moment of PDA. I immediately stopped the moment when I felt his free hand come around to squeeze my backside. Kellan didn’t always do subtle PDA.

Pushing his shoulder back, I pointed at him in warning. Laughing, he shrugged and gave me an I’m innocent smile. It was a complete and total lie, he was nothing near innocent, but it was adorable and I rolled my eyes and laughed as I turned away from him.

As I made my way to the hallway, I passed about five sets of tables that all had their eyes glued on where we’d been by the bar. The women at those tables alternated between him and me as he made his way to the far back corner of the room near the stage where the guys traditionally sat. I could feel myself being appraised with every step I took. Self conscious, I kept my head down and walked a little faster. It was one thing for him to be admired by so many people, it was quite another to be judged if you were worthy of him or not. And by the leers and twisted lips I saw, it was clear I was falling short of their expectations. Again, I tried to not let it bother me, but the ego is a frail, tender thing.

39



Exhaling in relief when I was through Kellan’s admirers, I made my way to the back room, where the employees kept their stuff. Jenny and Kate were coming out of it as I approached. Kate, a tall, graceful girl with the world’s bounciest, most perfectly put together ponytail, beamed at me. I’d seen her work a double shift two nights in a row, and her hair had still looked liked she’d just done it five minutes ago. I don’t know what she used on it, but she should look into endorsing the product.

“Hey, Kiera. I hear the show rocked yesterday!” A long, auburn strand curled around her neck as she spoke, a neck so slim and elegant, it was practically begging to be draped in diamonds.

I nodded eagerly as I worked past them in the doorframe. “It was.

They were incredible!” I sighed, thinking how perfect Kellan looked on stage. They say some people are just born to be on one, and Kellan was one of those people. Idly, I wondered what that meant for us…long term.

Jenny tilted her head at me curiously, her red Pete’s shirt emphasizing every curve that the men here swooned over. She was the sweetest person, though, and completely loyal to Evan. “You okay, Kiera?” she asked.

I shook my head. “Yeah, just nervous about school starting up.” And Kellan becoming a bone fide, across-the-globe rock star. It was weird to both want a future for someone, and desperately not want it at the same time. I wished him all the success in the world, but only if I didn’t have to share him. Man, one more thing I needed to work on. Good thing college is all about self discovery.

Jenny smiled and patted my arm. “Don’t worry. You’re super smart.

You’ll do great.”

I nodded, feeling silly again for even worrying about school. Jenny was right. Kellan was right. I knew the grounds. I knew a lot of people there. I knew a lot of the professors. And I had a scholarship that practically paid for the whole thing. I had nothing to worry about. Nothing to fear but fear, right?

Kate nodded with Jenny, her light brown, almost topaz eyes wistful.

“Yeah, you’re so much smarter than me. I gave up after one semester.” I 40



frowned sympathetically, but then she swished her head to look down the hall. “Hey, is Kellan here? I want to ask him about the show.” Shifting to a smile as I pictured Kellan leaning back in his chair, people watching while he waited for me to bring him his “usual,” I nodded.

“Yeah, he’s here.”

I couldn’t keep the dorky grin from my face and they both giggled at me before shuffling off together. What? My boyfriend was a super-hot musician with fabulous hair, a rock-hard body, and my name tattooed over his chest. Who wouldn’t grin about that?

I shoved my stuff in a locker and hastily threw my hair up in a ponytail that was nowhere near as perfect as Kate’s. Sunday nights weren’t too terribly busy, since the band didn’t play, but there was still a lot of moving around and not having my hair flopping all over my face was a good thing.