“I know,” I whispered, hugging myself tight.
As the guys climbed back on stage, Letty and Eva came and stood beside me. Eva laced her hand in mine, offering me a reassuring smile. But nothing could undo what had just happened.
I’d arrived at the club a no one, but I had a horrible feeling that everything had just changed. That by publicly defending me, Hudson had created a ripple that couldn’t ever be undone.
By the time the band finished their set, my nerves were shot. Levi had delivered another note perfect performance, the duet with Eva a firm crowd favorite. But I saw the dark cloud circling him. He was pissed. Confused at being sidelined earlier. I knew Letty, Damon, and Rafe had all tried to talk to him, but I also knew his mind would be playing all kinds of tricks on him.
As they came off the stage, I hovered in the wings waiting for a chance to talk to Levi.
“Maybe this isn’t a good time,” Letty whispered, but I shrugged her off. I just needed a minute to reassure him, to let him know that everything was okay.
But Levi didn’t stop for me. He brushed right past me as if I was nothing to him. As if I was completely invisible.
It hurt.
It hurt so fucking much, I felt like I’d had the wind knocked from my lungs.
Eva gave me a sympathetic smile. “He’ll come around,” she said, taking off after Rafe. I knew Dowager wanted to meet with the band and celebrate their new partnership. There would be photos and drinks. And then Letty had arranged for the band to make a sharp exit due to their tour commitments.
I didn’t want to wait until we left. I needed to make him understand now.
Steeling my spine, I approached Levi at the bar. He looked right through me, sending a shudder through me. “Can we talk a second?”
“I don’t think now is a good time,” he deadpanned. No emotion. No anger.
Nothing.
“Levi, please.” I stepped closer, careful not to get too close. The party was in full swing now, the dance floor a sea of bodies all drinking and dancing.
“If you don’t want me to fuck everything up,” he finally met my eyes, contempt burning in his depths, “I suggest you get the fuck out of my way.”
“Levi, please—”
“Yo, man.” Hudson appeared, instantly grinding to a halt when he saw us locked in some kind of stare off. “Is everything okay here?”
“You tell me?” Levi gritted out.
“Relax, bro. I got your back.” Hudson nudged his shoulder. “No one is any the wiser about... well, you know. Come on, Dowager wants us over in the VIP section. Pheebs.” He gave me a wolfish grin before tapping Levi’s chest and dragging him away.
I spun around and ordered a drink. Letty found me mid-way through downing the sugary sweet cocktail.
“That bad, huh?”
“He wouldn’t even look at me.”
“Levi is... complicated.”
“I know that,” I sighed, the weight of the night’s events pressing down on my chest, “but surely he doesn’t really think that me and Hudson...”
“Deep down he knows it. But the mind is a dangerous thing.”
“So, what do I do?”
“Wait it out, I guess. This is new territory for us. Levi has never... aaand I’m giving away all his secrets.”
“Are you saying there’s never been another girl?” I mean, I knew there had never been a leading lady in his life as far as the press was concerned. But still. It was hard to believe he was a twenty-one-year-old guy and there had never been anyone else.
“Except Eva, and that wasn’t like what the two of you share at all.”
Weirdly, I didn’t get jealous hearing Eva’s name come up. I was glad that Levi had her. She was different to most people. Kind and compassionate and understanding. Levi needed people like that in his life.
Letty and I stood by the bar sipping our cocktails. Aside from Dowager meeting with the band, the party morphed from a networking event to a crowd of people all looking to let loose and enjoy the free bar. I watched groups of scantily clad women dance, men stalking them from the sidelines, weighing up when to make their move. Past the dance floor, I could just make out the VIP section. Dowager was seated right in the middle of the band, his expression animated, and hands exaggerated as he told them his story. He beckoned for something and a group of girls were called past the rope dividing their section with the rest of us.
“Oh, shit,” Letty breathed as I watched the girls all pick a guy and sidle up beside them. Except Rafe because Eva was plastered to his side like armor.
“Uh, Letty, what is happening right now?”
Dowager had just dismissed one of his employees for groping me, but he was proffering the guys with half-naked women. Talk about double standards.
“It’s a man’s world, girl,” she scoffed.
My eyes almost bugged out of my head when Levi hooked his arm around a slim blonde’s waist and pulled her down on his lap. I saw the flash of triumph in her eyes, the blatant hunger as she slid an arm around his neck and sat there like a queen atop of her throne.
“It’s acceptable to drink more, right?” The knot in my stomach twisted violently.
“I swear sometimes,” Letty groaned, “he’s like a child.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not looking to play games.”
“I’m not sure he knows how to not play them. It just what he does. Oh shit.” She spun around and faced the bar. “See that guy coming over here.”
“Eyebrow piercing with all the tats?”
“That’s the one. I need you to get rid of him.”
“Me, but why—”
“Hey, Letty,” he said, reaching us. She ignored him. His gaze flicked to mine, and I smiled.
“I’m sorry, Letty is unavailable right now.”
He snorted, running a hand over his faux hawk. “She’s standing right there.”
“I know, but she’s still unavailable.”
“I see.” His teeth ground together. “I’m Miller.”
“Phoebe.”
“You’re with the band?”
“I’m with the label, yes.”
“Cool. I’m an exec with Dream Sounds. The band killed it tonight. Especially, Drown. That has number one hit written all over it.”
“We’re hoping it’ll go all the way to the top.”
Well, this was bizarre. Standing here talking to Letty’s friend while she pretended he didn’t exist.
His eyes flicked to Letty again and he released a frustrated breath. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Phoebe. Tell Letty I said when she’s ready to grow some balls and hear me out, I’ll be waiting.” He gave me a stiff nod before jamming his hands in his pockets and walking away.
“Ugh, I can’t believe he’s here.” She peeked up at me.
“Want to talk about it?”
“No.” She grimaced. “I really don’t. Ready to call it a night?”
“But don’t we have to—” My eyes found Levi again across the room. He still had the blonde in his lap, his hand curved around her waist.
Damn you, Levi Hunter.
I swallowed the ball of emotion clogging my throat.