Free Intensity by S. Briones Lim Page B

playfully bumped into Celine’s hip. Ruthie took the opportunity to get up from the couch, and like a protective sister, walked up between them. “Hey! Thanks for getting us back here!” she said in an artificially high voice.
    “Oh, of course! The least we could do for getting you both arrested last night.”
    Celine laughed. “Uh, yeah. That wasn’t your fault. We were stupid enough to try to sneak in. Besides, you already made it up to us by getting us out and treating us to pancakes.”
    “Nope, that was me!” Cash’s voice interrupted their conversation. He walked into the room decked out in an expensive looking leather jacket and dark jeans. Celine noticed the sole of his shoes were painted red and couldn’t help but wonder how many thousands of dollars they cost him. Cash ran his hands through his dirty blond hair and flashed his million dollar smile. “Least I can do for getting you both arrested.”
    “We already covered that point,” Brian muttered in annoyance.
    Ignoring him, Cash walked up to Ruthie. Doing a mock bow, he grabbed her hand and once again kissed the top of it. “Lovely seeing you again.”
    Ruthie giggled. “Of course! How could we miss this opportunity?”
    Celine frowned. She hadn’t seen Ruthie act like such a giggling mess since their Spring Break trip to Daytona over eight years ago. She hated to admit it, but even the bitch at the gym seemed more endearing than the schoolgirl catastrophe in front of her.
    She cleared her throat awkwardly and asked, “Are the other guys coming as well?” She could feel Brian’s eyes burning into her back and was growing more uncomfortable by the minute. She didn’t want to think she was putting herself through this torture without a reason.
    “They’ll be here soon,” Brian answered from behind her. Celine looked over her shoulder and threw him a polite smile, then quickly averted her eyes.
    “So, what happens before a show?” Ruthie chirped, trying to alleviate the growing awkwardness. She backed into the couch and gracefully sat down, making sure her tight skirt wouldn’t ride up.
    “Well, we usually relax for a bit. Some of us eat. Some of us nap. Mostly we eat.” Cash sat down beside her and outstretched his arm so that it rested on the back of the couch, just inches from her neck. His arm brushed against Ruthie’s hair, causing her to tremble.
    “Did someone say eat?” Like a stampede, four men walked into room. Even in their casual clothes they made up one of the most attractive groups of men Ruthie had ever seen.
    “Just candy,” Celine offered meekly, gripping her two chocolate bars nervously.
    Zach was the first to extend his hand. “Hi, we didn’t get to meet due to your little dramatic performance last night.” Despite the little jest in his comment, he said it so sweetly that Celine found it hard to feel offended. She grabbed his hand and shook it. She immediately felt her pulse race. She was sure her cheeks had flushed to a warm pink and prayed that he wouldn’t notice—or at the very least wouldn’t mention it.
    Brian, on the other hand, didn’t look as amused. “You guys are late,” he said sternly, tapping on the face of his watch.
    Zach looked up apologetically. He was the second oldest in the group and seemed to be one of the more responsible members. “You can blame Braedon. He got tied up with a redhead at the radio station.” The two men turned their heads and eyed the tall blond man who was munching away on a chocolate bar. He winked and shrugged his shoulders in reply.
    Brian rolled his eyes. “You guys aren’t kids anymore. You can’t be doing the same stupid things you used to do. This is a business. Act professional!”
    Ignoring Brian’s tirade, the rest of the guys began to introduce themselves. With each handshake Celine felt her initial apprehension fading. She was here for Intensity—a childhood dream! Brian just happened to be in the same place and there was no harm or fault in