Page 9 of I Think We’re Alone Now

“Not yet. I’m pretty much already accepted—they called and let me know that a couple of weeks ago. It’s just a matter of having room for me to make it official. Admissions guy thought they should have an opening in the next few months or so. I told them that I’d go wherever in the state; I don’t have to stay in Baton Rouge, although it’s preferable. So that should help my chances of getting a spot sooner. Could end up in New Orleans near you.”

“That’d be awesome!”

“It sure would. But, until then, it’s mall security.”

“There are worse gigs,” Bryan said.

“This is true,” I muttered, watching the flurry of activity happening in front of us.

A tall, lanky man with dark hair and glasses appeared from behind us, carrying a blue wig. The hair on the wig had been crimped and teased to within an inch of its life, and then interlaced with sparkly pieces that looked like the tinsel you put on a Christmas tree. Between that and the matching eyeshadow, it was no wonder that I’d never seen the resemblance. The guy slipped it on Elle’s head in one swift movement, completing the transformation.

Elle turned to face her brother and me, a large, saccharine smile taking over her face. “How do I look?”

“Beautiful,” I answered without thinking. And it was the truth. While I preferred the Elle that I had spent the afternoon with—fresh-faced and laid-back—there was no denying that there was a radiance coming off her now. She looked like she stepped right off of the MTV set.

“Like you belong in Barnum and Bailey’s,” Bryan chided, laughing at his own joke. Elle shot him a look that only a sister could give, which made him laugh harder. “Sorry, Elle. All kidding aside, Travis is right. You look great.”

I felt my heart give a squeeze as Bryan agreed with me, rather than wonder why I was so quick with my praise. I didn’t need him knowing just how much had changed between Elle and me in such a short time. Things had changed, right? I wondered. Of course they had. I’d tongue fucked her in the dressing room—and the fun would have continued had he not shown up. Elle looked over at me, giving me a smile that told me that my words meant something to her, making my heart squeeze all over again.

“Well, here we go!” she said with a little shrug. “Travis, it’s your job to escort me to the stage.”

Holding my arm out like I was a knight about to escort the queen, I stepped toward her, ready to do whatever she needed from me. We made our way back out to the front of the store, which was now all blocked off in preparation for the show. As we approached the stage, Elle let go of my arm and widened the gap between us. I missed the contact almost instantly, and had to remind myself that this move wasn’t personal. Just because we had known each other most of our lives, and today had brought us even closer together, didn’t mean that we shouldn’t act one hundred percent professional in front of the crowd. She wouldn’t have held her last bodyguard’s hand as she took the stage, so there was no way she was going to hold mine.

Shrill screams filled the open area of the mall as we passed fans, who only seemed to get louder the closer we got. How did Elle do this every night? She looked so calm as we walked, like this was nothing other than a regular day for her. Which, I guess it was. When we finally got to the stage, she turned to me, giving me a flirty little wink.

"I want nothing more than to kiss all that lipstick right off of you,” I whispered into her ear as we reached the stage stairs.

“Well, if you’re a good boy, when we’re done here, maybe we can pick up where we left off,” she returned. I sucked in a breath as all the blood in my body rushed straight to my dick. To anyone watching us, we just looked like a pop star having a quick, last-minute conversation with her security. The fact that it was only the two of us who knew just how naughty this little exchange was only made it that much hotter. “And you can finish guarding my body.”

“It’s a job I won’t take for granted.” She grinned at my response, and then, with another wink, she took the stage.

I found Mr. and Mrs. Roberts in the sound booth with Bryan and joined them. They both greeted me with a big hug, telling me it was great to see me and that they were happy to hear that I was the one who was filling in as Elle’s security. A wave of guilt hit me, thinking about how they might not be quite as happy if they had known what we’d been up to in that dressing room, but I pushed the idea from my mind and focused on Elle—I mean, Glitter—up on that stage.

She looked incredible as she sang and danced in front of the huge crowd that had gathered. Her moves were effortless, like she was made just for this moment. It didn’t matter what she was doing up there on that stage, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Once or twice Bryan tried to engage me in conversation, but I missed most of what he was saying. Elle was just too captivating.

When the show was over, I retrieved her from the stage, and we made our way back into Hudson’s, where Linda was standing talking to Mr. and Mrs. Roberts.

“Great show, honey!” Mrs. Roberts said, pulling Elle into a hug.

“Thanks, Mom. I’m so glad you guys could come.”

“It’s fifteen minutes from the house. What were we going to do, stay home?” her dad asked when it was his turn for an embrace.

“Daaad,” she moaned.

“It was indeed a great show,” Linda said, trying to steal Elle’s attention away from her family. “A fabulous way to end this leg of the tour. I spoke to corporate, and they are working on finding you new security arrangements for the next leg, but we probably won’t have anyone until the first show.”

“That’s fine. I’m staying here in Pine Grove with my parents,” Elle told her. “I don't need a bodyguard while I’m here.”

“The label disagrees,” Linda said sternly.

“Travis will do it,” Bryan offered.

“What?” I exclaimed, turning to look at him. Did I just hear that right? Did he really just volunteer me to spend the next two weeks watching over his sister?

“You’re the most trustworthy guy I know. Plus, you’re basically family. I’d rather you be the one spending day and night with her than some stranger.”

“I don’t need anyone while I’m at home,” Elle repeated.

“As a matter of fact, I spoke with Mr. Horton, and he’s willing to lend out Mr. Parker for the next two weeks. Should you be interested, Mr. Parker.”

“Ummm,” I mumbled, caught off guard by the offer. Spending the next two weeks hanging out with the coolest girl I’d met in a long time was hands down better than having to patrol the mall for shoplifters. But I didn’t want Elle to think that I thought she needed a babysitter. “If it’s okay with Elle, then sure, I’m in.”

Elle looked at me, wide-eyed, and I couldn’t tell if she was amazed that I was letting her be the one to make the call or if she thought I was playing some sort of game. I flashed her a smile, one I hoped she understood to be genuine, wanting to communicate to her that I was serious. This was her call. She smiled back, her bright berry-colored lipstick still perfect, but a little reminiscent of the plastered-on Glitter smile from earlier tonight.

“I guess there are worse people to be stuck with,” she answered with a shrug before walking off.

What the hell does that mean?