3. Erica
three
Erica
T his is crazy. What was I thinking about coming here? Sure, the lure of the free concert ticket was too much to resist. But what if the jerk Doug left the extra ticket and not Mike?
Relax, Erica. This isn't a date. It doesn't matter who left the ticket. You're in control—you can leave whenever you want.
I glance down at my denim bibs and pink tank top. They're definitely casual, not a date outfit. I pat my French braids one more time before pulling the ticket out of my purse and handing it to the security guard, proving that I belong in the floor seating—the first row, to be exact.
Which is something else I don't understand. They could have easily scalped this ticket for five times what they paid for it—why would one of them give it to me?
The security guard shines his flashlight on my ticket stub, then nods and moves out of the way so I can pass by him. I work my way through the crowd, reaching the front row in record time.
"You came." Mike stands, motioning me to take the aisle seat next to him. "Would you like something to drink?"
The snort comes out of nowhere. "Sorry." I cover my nose and mouth with my hand. " You caught me off guard with that question. I'm normally the one asking if someone wants a drink."
"It's time someone waited on you for a change." he smiles, and my heart flutters. I've missed having someone take care of me.
After my long-term boyfriend from high school broke up with me, we went our separate ways to different colleges. I've been so focused on my nursing degree that I haven't taken the time to date.
Needing a distraction from how his smile spikes my heart rate, I say, "Thanks for the concert ticket—you didn't have to. I mean, I appreciate it, but it's too expensive. Let me pay you for it." I reach into my purse, getting ready to pull out my tip money from today. Sure, the three hundred dollars I made in that short three-hour shift would come in handy for my moving expenses. But this will be so much better.
His hand closes over mine, giving my body goosebumps. "No, the ticket was going to go to waste anyway. Chad canceled at the last minute. And before you say we could have scalped the ticket, I much prefer sitting next to you than some random stranger."
"But isn't that what I am—a random stranger?"
"I was hoping we could be more than random strangers by the time the night is over with." The possessive gleam in his eyes should make me run for the exit, but instead, I find myself wanting to get to know Mike better.
"I think I'd like that."
The main lights go down, and the stage lights come up, shining on the Piano Man himself. The crowd jumps to its feet, their chairs long forgotten, as they push closer to the stage until I feel like a sardine squished in a tin can.
"Here." Mike maneuvers himself behind me and braces his hands on the stage in front of us cocooning me in his arms as he keeps the other concert goes behind us. "I'll make sure no one pushes you into the stage," he says against my ear.
Before I can thank him, someone bumps into his back, causing him to lurch forward. Pressing his front into my back, I feel the hard length of him against my lower back. I feel him try to take a step back, but the crowd is too strong for him to move. "Sorry. I think we're stuck like this for the rest of the concert."
The heat in his voice has me leaning back in his arms. "It's kind of nice." I turn in his arms and look at his face to see if he's as affected by our close quarters as I am. The heat in his eyes matches the heat of his voice, causing my body to tremble.
"Are you cold?" He wraps his arms around me, still managing to keep the crowd from pushing us into the stage.
"I'm better now." I smile and turn back to the stage just as Billy Joel opens the concert with Piano Man.
I begin to sway to the song—my back gently rubbing against his hard cock. It's kind of a dick move on my part since he's just trying to be nice and protect me from the crush of the audience all wanting to get closer to their idol. But I don't care—I want Mike.