“Are you fucking all of them now? Or only Camden?” Everest’s fury was so thick I could taste it.
“No more fucking than you did in Milwaukee. And who I fuck has never been any of your business.”
“For a couple years it was, until you decided it wasn’t.”
“I decided.” She lurched forward and the table rocked, slipping a few of the drinks. Taking a deep calming breath, she opened her eyes and painted an easy smile on her face. “Have a wonderful night, guys. I hope you enjoy the party.”
“Will you be enjoying it later tonight? Who gets the first round? And who’s stuck with sloppy fourths?”
Her smile widened. “They trade off. We’ve got a rotation going so no one feels left out. And everyone’s satisfied. But you wouldn’t know anything about making sure someone else is satisfied, would you?” She smirked and her arms crossed over her chest.
“I satisfied you enough. You’re still wearing that.” He nodded to the locket that had fallen free earlier.
Her hand shot to the rose gold metal. Her fingers tightened around it for a second before jerking it down, snapping the chain. Holding it out, she released her grip and let it clatter to the table. “It matched the dress, but you’re right. It belongs to you.” She left and the volume of the room came roaring back.
The bubble around the table evaporated and the too-loud voices, clinking bottles and driving bass snapped me out of the display that had made me want to turn and bury my face in the nearest hole.
Everest touched the locket like he expected it to burn him before sliding it off the table and into his waiting hand. All the barely-contained anger evaporated, replaced with a palpable grief.
“I’m out of here.”
Both sides of the booth had been vacated, which gave him his choice of escape routes.
People screamed and laughed, unaware of the implosion taking place steps away from them.
He stormed out of the backstage area, August heading out after him.
Leo touched the small of my back, jerking me from the bystander role I’d taken on in someone else’s life. “You ready to go?”
I nodded. At the bar, the woman, Madison, who’d been the storm cloud to our night out toasted, surrounded by the guys in the band, but I didn’t miss how she watched the door closing behind Everest, or how her face didn’t scream smug satisfaction.
We gathered our things, but Hunter hung back. “I’ve got some people to talk to. I’ll see you guys later. Zara, as always, it was a pleasure.” He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. Somehow when he did it, it wasn’t smarmy or creepy or dorky. It was Hunter. No wonder he always got whatever he wanted.
Leo steered me away from him.
Jameson dropped in behind us after we made it outside, his arms laden with swag. “I couldn’t help it. I love their music and I promised my mom and Teresa. I’m catching a cab. Do you guys want to share?”
Before I could respond, Leo jumped in. “It’s cool, I’ve got it.”
Jameson climbed into the taxi and was gone. Then it was me and Leo. The street, which had been swarming with fans, was empty now except for a small crowd outside of another of the stadium doors.
“I can get the bus, there might be one running this late.”
“Come on, Gingersnap. Don’t make me fight you on this.”
“I’m not trying to be difficult. I can make my own way home.”
“Of that, I have no doubt. It’ll help me sleep better and wake up more refreshed if I see you get home safely.”
A taxi I didn’t know he’d ordered pulled up to the curb. He opened the door and held it open for me. “Your trusty steed awaits.”
Inside the car, the questions piled up so high they’d come toppling over at any second.
“Was that as much of a train wreck from the outside as it was from the inside?” He laughed and squeezed his forehead.
“Only slightly. It was intense.”
“Everest and Madison have history even I’m not fully in on. College sweethearts. Something happened in Europe.”
“And Milwaukee?”
His body went rigid like he’d seen a predator. “And Milwaukee. Let’s not let their drama ruin the night. Did you have fun?”
“It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
“That’s a shame.”
We pulled up outside my building.
“Why? I shouldn’t have a fun night?”
“No, that it’s been so long since you’ve had one.”
“If we can get the presentation ready early for next Friday, I’d really appreciate it.”
“Hot date?”
“And cheat on my fiancé? I’d never.” I pressed my palm against my chest. “Tyler has a concert in Carnegie Hall on Thursday. I’d like to be there for him.” I’d opened my door and had a foot on the sidewalk.
“We can make that happen.” His fingers landed on top of mine on the door handle.
My pulse thumped out the insistent beat of anticipation. Of what? I wasn’t sure.
A beat passed between us. One where, in a rom-com, I’d trip and fall back into the car and our lips would meet. But I wasn’t the klutzy girl who was adorkably awkward and cute.
“’Night, Leo.” I dropped my gaze and shot out of the taxi.
“’Night, Zara.” He called after me.
I shoved the door closed and rushed into my apartment, not looking back.
Putting my party girl outfit into my hamper, I climbed into bed. I stared up at the ceiling—I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Every touch. Every word. I couldn’t afford this kind of distraction. One more event. One more presentation, and then he’d hate me forever. What was the point of daydreaming about him now, when this was all going to end in disaster?
28
Leo
My steps faltered on the walk up to the house. It had been too long since I’d been here. California was on the other side of the country, but that was no excuse. I’d found time to travel in the off season. Why did I only stop by once or twice a year?
So much for the big celebrity I was. I switched the bottle to my other hand and started to knock.
The door swung open before I could. “What are you knocking for? You don’t have your key?” Sam hugged me and swatted me on the back.
It was in my pocket, but I hadn’t wanted to try. Not after what had happened at my dad’s.
In the company, Sam mainly kept to his office, never leaving other than to remind me and Zara how late it was or ask if we’d eaten. From there, he juggled the few accounts Simply Stark still had, and directed the part-timers.
I’d taken over some of that as I learned the ropes. My time with Zara had shown me a lot of what went into the business, and I hoped I could take some of the load off Sam, but for how long?
“Someone’s glowing.” Sam ushered me through the door and into the small craftsman nestled in the quiet neighborhood outside of Center City. Garlic and onion scents from the kitchen drew me in by my nose. Felix had been the decor man. Everything from the curtains to the pillows made the house look like a homey version of the ones on the covers of interior design magazines.