Losing Control (11 page)

***

I opened my eyes. “Gia?” I heard Dana. “Oh, thank God. Gia, are you all right?”

“Dana, I’m fine, chill out. What the hell?” I said, looking around, half dazed.

“Fucking Rick drugged you, that’s what the hell!” she yelled. I think she was starting to cry. It took me a minute to process what she just said.

“Drugged me? How? When? I didn’t take any drugs.” I was confused.

“He put it in your champagne. Someone saw him. Luckily you had only taken a few sips, so you’re gonna be okay, but shit, Gia, you scared me half to death!” She was scaring me.

“Oh my God,” I whispered. “That’s fucked up.”

Dana half laughed. “Yes, Gia, that
is
fucked up.” Then she looked up at someone and said, “Thank you, she’s back. She’s gonna be okay.”

“Just relax for a bit, Gia!” Dana scolded me as I tried to get up.

Jo and Brittany suddenly appeared. “Hey, Gia, welcome back.” Jo sat beside me.

“How do you feel?” Brittany asked.

“Good, I think,” I said. “I’d like to get up, though.” I felt like an idiot laying there with a bunch of people staring at me.

Jo reached her hand out. I took it and she and Brittany stood me up. “Slow and steady. You okay?”

“I think so,” I said. “I think I need something to eat, though.”

“I think we all do. Let’s get out of here,” Dana said and we left some bed in the VIP bar.

***

“How are you feeling, Gia?” Jo asked after we had eaten.

“Actually, pretty darn good!” I said, and I did.

“Yeah, Ethan said you’d be fine in about an hour,” Brittany said.

“Ethan?” I said, surprised.

“Yes, and you should see what he did to Rick. I don’t think we’ll be seeing his band around here ever again!” I could tell Brittany was impressed.

“Is that who you were talking to when I was waking up?” I asked Dana.

“Yes, he stayed there until he knew you were gonna be okay. He was scared shitless, Gia. He kept blaming himself. Poor guy, he’s got it bad for you.” She smiled at me. “You’ll be able to thank him soon enough,” she said. “We’re meeting him and Trey and a couple of their buddies to watch the concert, just like we’d planned.”

“Okay,” I said, knowing by the way she was looking at me there was no other choice. “Can I still drink alcohol tonight?” I asked, not knowing if I could face Ethan sober.

“Yes, just take it easy, okay?” She was serious.

“Okay.” I knew I’d better, too. “Can we go freshen up before we head up to the VIP viewing area?” I bet I looked like hell.

They all assisted me when we got to the VIP bathrooms. Between the four of us we had makeup, hair product, eye drops, breath freshener, and lip gloss. I felt like a sexy beast again.
Now for a drink, and a cigarette to calm my nerves.

Chapter 12

Ethan

“Hey, man. You still alive?” It was Trey.

“Yeah, what time is it?”

“Three o’clock. You missed the a.m. meeting by about four hours.” He laughed, “Must’ve been a long night, Gia looked pretty spunky, though!”
What? He saw Gia?

“Come over,” I said and hung up. I jumped in the shower.

The last time I was in here was with Gia. We washed each other’s hair and looked at each other naked for the first time. If she were here right now, I wouldn’t screw it up like I did then. I hoped she was going to give me another chance tonight.

“C’mon, Sleeping Beauty, get a move on!” Trey hollered.

I jumped out of the shower, toweled off, wrapped it around my waist and headed into the other room. I had to know what Trey found out with Gia.

“Well, your girlfriend looks a lot better in a towel than you do,” Trey said. I felt my heart beat an extra beat when he said ‘girlfriend’. “I’m just sayin’…”

“What are you talking about? What did Gia say? Is she going to meet me tonight?” I was irritated by his lack of immediate information.

“I went over to the girls’ camp and gave them the VIP passes,” he started. “They all seemed super excited, but Gia wasn’t around at first.” My heart sank. “Then she comes walking out of the back looking fucking amazing in nothing but a towel—a very short towel.” He was smiling. I wanted to knock him out. “Anyway, Dana and the other girls said they’d be there but Gia wouldn’t give a definite answer.”

“Did she seem upset?” I was worried.

“No, man. She must’ve just showered and she was all decked out, like I said, she looked fucking amazing.”
Can’t you just say beautiful?
“And she seemed to be in a playful mood, actually. I really can’t see the other three girls coming and not Gia. What happened? Did you two go up to Sunset?” he asked.

“Yes, but we had a little disagreement and we were both real tired, so we didn’t get to resolve it, and make a plan for tonight. I’m not sure she wants to see me.” I tried not to look like my world just crumbled.

“Well, you’ve got a few hours to figure it out, man. I’m sure they’ll probably be in the VIP bar pretty soon,” Trey suggested. It was a good idea.

“What else is on the agenda?” I asked, knowing that he probably took care of everything this morning while I slept.

“Not much. The meeting went good. Everyone seemed to have a good night last night. A couple of fights and some underage drinking was all security had to deal with. I checked in the orders, met a couple bands, made rounds, and drove through the campground when I took the passes over. It’s all good, so now you can buy me some dinner.” Trey was the best right hand man I could’ve ever hoped for.

“Thanks, man. I’ll buy you dinner and drinks and I won’t even expect you to put out later, okay?” I said and Trey laughed.

“Get dressed,” he said.

***

Trey and I drove the cart around for a while. It was a fulfilling feeling to see the place packed and looking so alive. We stopped and chatted with a few people. Trey was right, it was all good.

He saw a few guys he knew, so he ran over to talk to them while I was talking to Marcus on my cell. When I hung up, I looked over toward the stage and saw her—Hotness.

I about fell off the cart. Trey was right again, she looked fucking amazing. She was singing and dancing with a bunch of people, light all around her, just like in my dream. I was relieved that she was having a good time after what had happened between us. I wasn’t real relieved however, with the attention she was attracting from all the men in the vicinity. She was wearing a short skirt with leather boots that went up to her thighs—every guy’s fantasy—and no one could look better wearing it than she did.

“Holy shit!” Trey had come back without me noticing and saw what I was seeing. “No wonder you fantasized about her for ten years!” he said, smiling. I wanted to knock him out again. “No offense, man,” he added. “My girl Dana is holding her own for sure!” I hadn’t even noticed the other girls.

They were dressed to impress also, and that made me feel a little better. It’s just what girls do here, they get all rocked out and wear all the stuff they don’t get to wear anyplace else, just like we do when we ride our Harleys. I get it. It wasn’t like she was on the prowl for some guy to do to her what I wouldn’t, was it? I couldn’t stand the thought of it.

“Let’s eat,” I told Trey. “That omelet I had at three this morning is long gone.”

“Since you’re buying, I’m in the mood for a big steak!”

I headed for the only steak place we had on the grounds. I needed to eat and then find Gia again and talk to her. I hoped she would meet us at the concert after she had some fun time with her friends today.

***

After we ate, I told Trey I was gonna head over to the VIP bar for a while. He wanted to go back to his place for a nap and a shower. I gave him a ride and headed back to the arena. I pulled the cart up to the VIP and stopped and talked to Brad, the bouncer at the entrance.

“Hey, my man, Ethan,” Brad said. He gave me a high five and a man hug.

“Hey, Brad, how’s it hangin’?”

“Long and loose, full of juice!” he answered. He always seemed like he was high, even when he wasn’t.

“TMI, man!” I answered, laughing at his awkwardness. I went in.

I looked around for a while, but didn’t see Gia or Dana or the other two girls they were dancing with outside. I headed for the bathrooms. As soon as I walked in, I saw Gia, in all her beauty, just standing there.

“Hey, Hotness, you look amazing.” Our eyes locked, filling me up. She had looked me in the eyes again, it was a good sign.

“Hi, Ethan.” I sighed silently as she said my name so quietly, and she thanked me for the passes. I was just about to make my plea for her to meet me at the concert when Dana yelled my name. I looked over and she came running toward me. She gave me a hug and started thanking me, and then two more girls came over and she introduced them. It was chaotic all of a sudden.

“Thank you so much for the VIP passes!” Brittany gushed. Her eyes were wide with excitement.

“Yes Ethan, that was so thoughtful!” Jo said, smiling wildly. “You should’ve been here a little sooner. One of the guys from Whitesnake was in this first stall.” She pointed to it.

“Yeah, and some girl was in there with him and they were bouncing off the door! We thought it was gonna come off the hinges!” Brittany said, laughing.

“And then the lead singer comes over and bangs on it and tells him to ‘Giddy up’ because they were on in fifteen!” Dana added, they were all hysterical. I glanced up to look at Gia, but she was gone.
Dammit!

“Then he told us, ‘Enjoy the show, ladies,’ and winked at us!” Jo recalled. Dana and Brittany were nodding and grinning.

“Unbelievable!” Brittany said. “This place is wild!”

“I know!” Jo said. “Hey, where’d Gia go?”

“She’s been gone for awhile,” I told them.

“We’d better go find her,” Dana said. They all glanced at themselves in the mirror as they headed out. I followed.

As we walked back into the other room I immediately saw her dancing, dirty dancing with a band member I’d met before, I think his name was Rick. Yes, Rick the dick, that was about right. I couldn’t take my eyes off them, he had his leg between Gia’s so she could feel him every time he moved her a certain way, which he was doing every chance he got. She didn’t seem to mind—in fact, she looked like she was really enjoying having his hands all over her. I couldn’t believe it and I thought I might get sick. He whispered in her ear, her expression looked odd, then he kissed her neck and I wanted to kill him! I felt wounded, I couldn’t watch this—but I realized this was what she wanted. What she tried to get me to give her, some cheap thrill, like she was a piece of meat.
Well, looks like you got your wish, Gia.
I was just about to bow out when I saw him put his hand on her thigh, I looked to see her reaction and something wasn’t right. Just then I heard Dana.

“Gia.” There was no reaction whatsoever. “Gia!” Dana was right in her face. They exchanged a few words and Gia looked totally out of it. I rushed over and grabbed her from Rick before he could touch her anymore. Dana was yelling at Gia. She slapped her in the face, but Gia didn’t respond. She went limp in my arms.

“Ethan, someone had to have given her something—something is wrong with her. She doesn’t take drugs!” Dana was really scared. I was fucking pissed!

I looked around the room. “I want some answers and I want them now!” I yelled, laying Gia down on a bed that who knows who did who knows what on.
What the fuck is it even doing in here?

A guy and girl walked up. “Rick put something in her champagne. We just thought they were a couple and a lot of us use stuff like that so we can go all night… we didn’t know that she didn’t know.” They were blasted out of their minds.

I looked frantically around the room for Rick. I wanted to kill him. When I found him hiding behind a door, I grabbed him by the front of the shirt, my fist clenched so tight under his chin I thought it might choke him. I didn’t care. “What did you give her?” I shook him violently. “What did you give her, you piece of shit!”

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a cellophane wrapper with a few pills in it. I grabbed them from him and pushed him away so hard he hit the wall and fell into a heap. I recognized the pills. I ran back over to Dana. “Where’s the glass of champagne Gia had?”

Dana pointed and I went and grabbed it. She hadn’t taken but a couple of drinks, thank goodness! And since she wasn’t a drug user, she already had alcohol in her system, lack of sleep, probably dehydrated, probably hasn’t eaten much, and who knew what else, they affected her pretty quickly and just knocked her out. Who knew what that douche had in mind for her after that. I needed to kill him after I made sure Gia was all right.

I knelt beside Gia. I put my hand on her face and just stared at her. “I shouldn’t have just let you girls come in here alone. I should’ve had some security on you,” I told Dana. “Why do girls think this is so great, anyway?”

“The fantasy, the rock-star boyfriend fantasy, or even just the rock-star one-nighter. You know, ‘wham, bam, thank you ma’am,’ and you’re back to work on Monday with a really great story and a hot memory you can turn to whenever you’re feeling lonely,” Dana said. “And it’s not your fault, Ethan, you were just trying to be nice. You had no idea this was going to happen!”

“Is he still there?” I yelled over to a couple of guys I had watching Rick.

“Yeah, he may be starting to come around, though!” one of them yelled back.

“Keep me posted!”

“Gia’s gonna be fine,” I told Dana, seeing that she needed to hear it. “In an hour she’ll be back to her beautiful, glowing self.” I smiled, knowing she would.

Dana looked relieved. “What are you going to do to Rick?”

“I’m gonna kill him,” I said. “Well, let’s just say he’ll be dead to the world of rock and roll, and that, in turn, will kill him.”