“You’re a good dancer,” she offers and wipes her face.
“You too but I guess I already knew that.” I lay down the grin.
She rolls her eyes, somehow managing to resist the charm I’m putting out.
“Uhh, sorry to pause the music but we have a request,” the lead singer says into the mic. “Our friend Bev told us there’s a certain someone in this crowd who plays the drums, and we have been told her favorite song is ‘I Need Never Get Old’ by Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. It’s also one of our favorites. And we want her to come play with us, since she’s already been in a famous band and all.”
Bev spins around and beams at Jenny who takes a step back.
“No,” she whispers.
“So uh, Jenny Snowdon, obviously we are huge fans of your brother, Josh, and would be so honored to play with you.” He scans the crowd and Jenny backs up into me, bringing with her that damn cherry smell.
I have two options, lean in and smell her while everyone stares at us, or push her away from me. I take the second option, preferring not to get hard in front of everyone since I’m halfway there with her against me.
Pushing her forward makes her turn back, gasping at my betrayal as the singer’s eyes land on her. Bev grabs her hand and pulls her up onto the stage.
Bev grabs the mic and shouts in, “Jenny is a shit-hot musician because of course she is.” Bev laughs and rolls her eyes, making everyone else laugh. “Not sure how many of you know this, but she was the drummer in her brother Josh’s band for a summer when she was seventeen and the band was just coming up.” Bev pushes Jenny to the drums where the drummer hands her his sticks. He grins at her in a way that makes me wanna punch off his face, but I’m too stunned to move.
She smells like heaven, plays hockey better than I do, dances like she’s paid to do it, kills at paintball the same way, and she plays the drums?
Fuck me.
Everyone is cheering and clapping. Brady places a hand on his chest and gives me the look. The one that says I better nail that fucking redhead or else. But I’m way ahead of him.
Jenny’s mouth parts to protest, but the drummer picks up the tambourine and moves to the other side of the stage.
The guitar and bass players begin.
They play a couple of rounds of the intro, staring back at Jenny who is in shock. Her hands start to move with the other instruments, drumming softly.
The musicians grin and nod to her beat then turn around to us. The whole song starts over again, making the intro crazy long.
This time Jenny beats those drums.
She starts dancing exactly as she did in the living room except now she’s actually got drums.
She isn’t trying to be sexy; she’s an intense drummer and this song is somehow in her blood.
The singers are bringing the music.
The drums are building.
“You working at catching flies?” Beverly asks as she slides up next to me.
“How did you know she played in the band?”
“Just because jerking off with a bunch of guys is your job, don’t mean it’s mine.” She scoffs.
“No, really,” I press but my stare is stuck on the girl flinging the drumsticks.
“I had one job in this wedding, Lori. Make sure the guest list was perfect. When Stan Levisohn replaced himself and his wife, I vetted Sukii and Jenny through Stan. He didn’t bring up the gold medals or the fact she’s an assassin, but he did joke that if the band canceled, Jenny could entertain us. I looked up old Twin Peeks videos from when Stan said she toured with them, found a video of her playing the drums on YouTube. Sukii said this was her favorite song.” Bev shrugs like this is no big deal.
“That’s creepy.”
“No, what’s creepy is you’re pining for Sami ten years later, and at her wedding no less, when this goddess is right in front of you.” She motions her head at Jenny.
“Okay, we need to talk about this. Firstly, I’m not pining for Sami. Maybe I find her attractive and sometimes imagine dirty things when I stare at her, but I’m admitting nothing and guilty of less than that. Secondly, I have a rule about hooking up with girls at weddings,” my voice cracks because neither of us believes the line right now. Particularly, since I’d already convinced myself that fucking Jenny needed to be the next thing I did.
“Oh my God, you and your rules. Trust me, she isn’t up for a serious relationship, Lori,” Bev spits the words out with a laugh as the song ends. “I was thinking something less permanent. One night in your shared cabin. That’s more her speed, anyway. Just get fucked, Lori, you’ll feel better!” Bev slaps me in the arm and walks away as Jenny hurries off the stage while everyone cheers.
The drummer takes back his seat and Bev’s insane words float through my mind.
Get fucked.
Jenny blushes and makes her way to the bar, clearly embarrassed by the attention. Despite Bev’s weird meddling almost killing my vibe, my feet are walking that way before I have something to say so I lean against the bar next to her, staring like a psychopath, still shocked.
She orders a shot and drinks it back, wiping her mouth with her hand. Her fingers are trembling a little when she puts the glass down on the wet counter.
“So you’re an assassin, a drummer, and a lead scorer for Team Canada?” I ask loudly. “Anything else?”
“You never listen, Lori.” Her eyes lift from the counter as she turns to face me, staring up through her lashes. “I told you I’m retired. Besides, I heard it’s you who’s the lead scorer right now.” Her lush red lips toy with a grin and I realize she’s flirting.
My cock twitches. “Well, I
