4 - Bully Tactics

~Livie~ 

I notice women are staring. I'm talking bug-eyed ogling. Yup. Abel's sculpted upper-body is on full display. Couldn't he have put on a damn shirt before chasing me to cause a scene?

“You left your phone on the bus. It has been going off. Whoever “J” is, he or she really, really wants to get in touch with you.”  Abel smirks

“Crap! Give it to me!” I lung for him.

Abel easily fends me off. “I didn’t bring it with me. If you want it, you’ll have to come and get it.” 

My hands ball into fists. Again. I can picture doing bodily harm to his sexy ass. “Aren’t you missing a booty call?” 

“Hell, no! I sent that bitch away.” 

I say nothing, nibbling my lower lip in deep thought.

“She attacked me after I got out of the shower. Raze had to restrain her and drag her ass off the bus.” 

Whatever. “I need my phone.” I stalk towards the bus.

“To call J?” Abel is hot on my heels.

The nerve! He doesn’t deserve an answer.  So I don’t give him one.

“Livie, are you seeing someone?” 

His long legs match my pace. I smell his aftershave. The enticing aroma of Abel lures me in his trap. Why? I don’t need new memories to haunt me. The old ones hurt enough. “Don’t do this. Let’s keep it civil.” I beg.

His laughter is bitter. “Civil? We don’t do civil, babe.” 

Suddenly, I’m tired. Tired of him, maybe tired of life. “I think it’s best if I grab my phone and leave.” 

“Fine.” His eyes have a calculating gleam that I don’t trust for a moment. He grabs my hand and pulls me closer to his side. He’s got the caveman disorder down pat. Grab and take. 

“You realize I’m not your prisoner, right? I mean, I agreed to come.” His lips press into a flat line and I wonder what level of hell I inadvertently stumbled upon. 

Back on the bus, Gabe lounges on the couch. “So, it’s complicated?”  

“Very.” I agree. 

Abel sneers, shooting Gabe a look of warning. “Don’t be fooled by his act. He only wants to get in your pants.” 

I put my hands on my hips. “My pants. My business.” 

“I beg to differ. You have my last name. Hence, your pants are my business.” 

“You actually married this guy?” Raze snorts through his laughter. “Didn’t you have any better prospects?”

“Very funny. This is my life we’re talking about.” I knock Gabe’s legs off the couch and sit on the other end. I sneak a glance at Abel. He’s watching me like a hawk. 

“You’re better off marrying me, sweetheart.” Gabe smirks at me.

“Hmm.” I pretend to ponder his statement. 

Abel wedges himself on the tiny couch between me and Gabe and flicks my nose. “Don’t even think about it. I already claimed you.” He throws and arm around my shoulders. “Guys, I’d like to introduce my wife, Olivia. Wife, this is the guys.”

Raze gives me a crooked grin. “Welcome to our fucked up family, pretty lady.” 

“Whatever.” My stomach decides to launch a protest, the obnoxious grumbling impossible to hide.  

“When’s the last time you ate?” Abel’s tone is unhappy. 

“I dunno. Breakfast.” Has it really been that long?  

“Me too. Let’s grab a bite to eat.” Sensing my hesitation, he applies peer pressure at its best. “It’s only food, Livie. Not a lifetime commitment.” 

"At least put on a damn shirt!" I pout and ignore the way he smirks knowingly at me.

The food tent overflows with hungry musicians and stage crew. At least they are more interested in their meals than me, most of them anyway.  

“Sit here. I’ll grab us a couple of plates.” Abel orders.

Bossy and obstinate. At least some things remain the same. “That’s okay. I can get my own.” I move to follow him. He hoists me up and sits me on an empty stool. “Stop that! What’s with you guys and manhandling?” 

“I said sit.” He presses a finger against my lips. “You look like your about to fall over. Let me feed you. Please.” 

“Have it your way.” I pull my dress down, covering my legs as much as possible. “Just know I’m disturbed by your frequent use of bully tactics.” 

He grins. “Noted. Now stay put this time.” 

God help me. He backside is gorgeous. A stupid smile stretches across my face as he walks away. I never realized I am a sucker for bossy men. Instead of melting at his feet, I should run in the opposite direction. Instead, I scroll through all my missed calls and texts.

“Is this seat taken?” A tall guy with a devastating smile and wide shoulders asks. 

My mouth falls open. I wonder if it is my lucky day because gorgeous men keep appearing out of thin air. Just when I’m about to smile and bat my eyes, Abel walks up. The guy has terrible timing. T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E. 

He whispers in my ear, “It ain’t happening, babe. Close your mouth before I stick something in it.” He straightens to his full height and nods at the other guy. “Sup, Nikoli. This is my wife, Livie. Join us for a bite?” 

Nikoli shakes his head. “Wife? That’s a damn shame. How did an asshole such as yourself manage to strike it rich?” 

Abel distracted me for a moment with his lewd remark. It finally sinks in that Abel labeled me as his wife. Again. Damn I’m slow today. I shoot death glares at him. The bastard has the balls to wink at me. 

“Guess I’m lucky that way. See you around?” Abel answers as he sets a plate of food in front of me. 

“Sure” He pats Abel on the shoulder before addressing me. “Hey, good-looking, when you decide to leave this loser and trade up, give me a call.” Nikoli smiles. 

I giggle. “If I suspected for one second you weren’t bullshitting me, I’d be swooning.” 

“Livie, I’m one thousand percent serious. Pleasure to meet you.” As he walks away, he mouths, “Call me.” 

I’m grinning like an idiot when Abel takes a seat across from me. 

“Did you enjoy that?” He sounds grumpy.

“It was rude of you to scare him away. He seems much nicer than Cain.” 

“Eat. Before your food gets cold.” 

“Um.” I stare at the food stacked on my plate. Three people couldn’t eat this horde.  

“Don’t you like bacon?” 

“What kind of question is that? Of course I like bacon. But a few strips would have been fine. I don’t need a pound of pork.” 

“You can never have enough bacon. I want my woman to have curves.” He talks just fine around a mouthful of food. 

“Yeah. I noticed.” The pouting Bimbo Barbie will be forever etched in my memory. Whatever my husband has been up to for the past few years, I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know. “Abel, what are we doing?” 

“Eating?” He stares at me warily, like my questions is a trap.

I understand the confusion he must be feeling. As usual, the heaviness in my heart kills any joy before I have the chance to experience it. 

“Stop it, Livie.” 

“Stop what?” 

“Stop thinking about whatever is putting a frown on your pretty face.” 

“After we eat, will you sign the papers?” See? Happiness and I aren’t meant to be.