“Wherethefuckis he?” Devin demanded, towering over Ty.
Ty’shands were held up, palms out. “Whoa, man, who?”
“Whothe fuckdoyou think?” he growled, and Ty groaned,nodding.
“Letme guess … I don’t know, dude. Maybe in his room? I just got up here.”
Devindidn’t bother replying. He turned, gently nudging me out of his way, to stalkdown the hall toward the room across the hall from ours. Ty touched my armbefore I could leave.
“Areyou okay?”
“Hecornered me and said some shit,” I said, underselling my one-on-one time withRobbie, and I winced as Devin pounded his fist against the door down the hall.“Oh God, he’s going to kill someone …”
Pound,pound, pound. We both winced that time.
Iturned and ran down the hallway, wondering if a rock star’s life was alwaysthis full of drama. I met the open door and watched, as Devin pushed Richardaside and stepped into the room.
“JesusChrist, Devin,” I groaned and walked past Richard, clutching at my robe. “Comeon. It’s not worth it. He’s not—”
“Ah,O’Leary,” Robbie said, stepping out of the bathroom with the bottle of vodka,empty and swinging loosely from his fingers. “I guess Firecracker over here,spilled the beans about our encounter. Don’t worry, bro. I was gentle and usedprotec—”
BeforeRobbie could finish, Devin’s fist connected with his jaw and he staggeredbackward into the bathroom, knocking his hip against the sink. Gasping, Irushed forward to grab at Devin, to keep him from throwing anymore punches, butRichard’s arm shot out, blocking my path.
“Hey,Dev,” Richard said calmly, trying to grab his attention, but he went unheard.
Devinstepped into the bathroom. Looming over the sleazy guy with the booze breathand stringy hair.
“Holyshit, man, you actuallyhitme,” Robbie whined, and I couldn’t believeit myself. He gingerly touched his fingertips to his cheek. “What the fuck didyou hit me for?”
Myjaw dropped, gawking over Richard’s blocking arm. “Are you fuckingkiddingme?” I shouted.
Devinwhipped his head around, shooting me a warning with his eyes. He had neverlooked at me quite like that before and my heart jumped into my throat. “Stayout of this, Kylie,” he said, voice lowered and threatening. He turned back toRobbie. “If I hear one more fucking thing about you so much aslookingat her …”
“Comeon, man! I was playing around. She knows that—right, Kylie?” Robbie peeredaround Devin, shooting me a pleading look. I didn’t possess a single ounce ofsympathy, even if he did use my name for the first time.
Devingrabbed Robbie’s chin. “Isaidnot to look at her,” he growled, thenpulled his hand away.
“Ithought we were friends,” Robbie moaned, rubbing his chin.
“Youand I havenothingto do with her, understand?”
Robbienodded incessantly. “Yeah, man. I got it.”
“Good.”And with that, Devin left the bathroom, and he looked into Richard’s eyes.“Sorry for waking you up,” he grumbled, and he grabbed my arm and pulled mefrom their room and back into ours. Like the guy at that party had, like Natehad.
Likehe owned me.
Thedoor slammed behind us and I watched uneasily, as Devin left me at the entranceand walked into the room. He sat at the edge of the bed and flopped backward,his hands covering his face. I noticed the splotched red along his knuckles andhurried to grab a washcloth from the bathroom. I laid some ice into it beforepulling its edges together and approached him quietly, slowly. His breathingwas heavy, hot and angry, as I sat next to him, taking his battered hand intomy lap and pressing the makeshift ice pack to his knuckles. He winced, but hisfeatures softened immediately, peering up at me with his one uncovered eye.
“I’msorry,” he grumbled. “I shouldn’t have grabbed you like that.”
Ishook my head. “No, it’s ok—"
“No,it’s not. But, dammit, Kylie.Pleasestay away from him,” he begged me,dropping his other hand to the bed. “Stop instigating him.”
Instantlymy heart began to pound, as my face grew hot and red. “You’re blamingmefor this?”
“I’mnotblamingyou,” he said assertively. “But there’s somethinggoing on with the two of you, and I can’t always be there to rescue you everysingle time you get in trouble with some asshole.”
