Effortless (Thoughtless, #2)(64)

Seeing my worn features, she walked over to the couch to give me a hug while Evan excitedly clapped Kellan on the back. “You all right, Kiera?” she laughed out.





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Groaning, I laid my head back on the cushions. “Yep.” Looking over at her, I frowned. “I don’t remember you and Evan leaving last night?” Her cheeks flushed a little as she glanced at the boys standing a few feet away from us. “Yeah, well, you were a little preoccupied at the time.” Kellan glanced her way mid-conversation and she chuckled at him.

I covered my face with my hands. God, this embarrassment was going to last all friggin’ day. Laughing a little harder, Jenny pulled my hands down and gave me a warm smile. “I’m glad you had a good time, Kiera.” Shaking her head, she added, “Evan and I were afraid you’d spend the whole time moping.”

I smiled and looked over at Evan, the tatted, buzzed-cut, punk, rock star with a heart as big as Jenny’s. Meeting my eye, he nodded at me warmly and I let the lingering discomfiture fade. These people loved me, they wouldn’t purposely make me regret a moment of letting go with my boyfriend. Especially since the release was a much needed one, in light of today’s upcoming emotional goodbye.

Rachel quietly joined us on the couch while Matt took a shower. I longingly listened to the water flowing from the hallway, wondering if I could take one next. Feeling clean again might help my head stop thudding. Then, of course, hearing Matt in the bathroom reminded me of being in that bathroom myself. Just as my face was flushing, Kellan turned from his conversation with Evan to grin at me, like he knew exactly where my head had been. Biting my lip, I looked away.

“Kiera, when Matt’s done, what’s say you and me go suds up?” Frowning, I glanced over at the last band member to enter the living room. Griffin was smiling at me in a way that I didn’t care for, his eyes clearly already imagining me in the scenario he’d dreamed up. Giving me a kiss in the air, he added, “I want to hear you moan my name like you did Kell’s.”

I was just about to walk over and pummel the man when he was hit by about four different people. My sister, sleepily shuffling up behind him, 179



smacked him over the head. Jenny beside me chucked a couch pillow at him, hitting him in the face. Rachel even got into the mix by tossing the TV remote into his gut. But Kellan was the one that probably fazed him the most.

Striding the few steps over to him, Kellan grabbed a thick section of his chin-length hair and jerked Griffin’s face into his. “Knock it off, Griffin, or I’ll knock it off for you.” His indigo eyes dark and cold, Kellan searched Griffin’s face. By the chill in his voice, I knew that Kellan wasn’t joking. He’d finally had enough of Griffin teasing me, sexually assaulting me with his comments.

As tension built up in the room, Evan placed a hand on Kellan’s shoulder, trying to calm him down. Anna even tried to push Kellan back a pace, but his face stony, Kellan kept Griffin about an inch away from him. Griffin’s light blue eyes looked scared for a moment…then he started laughing.

“Did you want another kiss, bro? All you had to do was ask.” Rolling his eyes, Kellan finally released the idiot. The tension in the room immediately dissolved as Griffin doubled over. “Dude, you should have seen your face! That was awesome! I really thought you were gonna hit me.” Kellan grunted and walked away as Griffin stood straight and draped his arm over Anna. Pointing at Kellan’s retreating back as he walked into the kitchen, Griffin laughed out, “Say it again, Kell!” Mocking his voice, Griffin growled, “Knock it off, or I’ll knock it off for you.” Anna smacked him in the chest, but laughed a little too. Sighing, Griffin shook his head. “Ah, that was classic.” 180





10


Chapter


This Isn’t Goodbye


Once the boys had cleaned up and gotten their stuff ready, it was time to head out. Kellan had already packed a bag and shoved it in his trunk, probably figuring that the going away party might turn into an overnight stay. I hadn’t, and still wearing my Pete’s uniform under my jacket, I slid into Kellan’s Chevelle beside him.

I hated the drive there. It was like how an army wife must feel, driving her man off to war. Alright, I take that back, the situations were nothing alike. Those women were living with the potential knowledge that they may never see their husbands again. What Kellan was doing wasn’t nearly so treacherous. But…it still felt the same. And in all honesty, the possibility that I could never see him again was there. Not because of him being killed in battle, but because he could be swept away by fame.

He could be discovered by some record big-wig, offered the world, then sent off to parts unknown to become a cog in the entertainment in-dustry wheel. He wouldn’t have time for me then. And, if he was constantly surrounded by dying-to-please star-effers…he may not want me then either.

Rolling my eyes as I watched the tail lights of Griffin’s van and Evan’s car, I reminded myself that Kellan wasn’t interested in a woman who only wanted what he was, and not who he was. He’d had that…for years…and he wanted more. He wanted me. Even if this was his moment, he wouldn’t let us go. I just had to keep believing that.

Setting his hand on my thigh, Kellan looked over at me. “It won’t happen.”