The anger subsided and something tingled at the base of my spine, shooting to my dick. This was the bold and brave CC I’d seen glimpses of all those years ago, and I yearned to be with her again, to learn everything I could about what had happened after I’d left.
“Please, Terri, I never…” I ran a hand through my short hair and turned to a window. “You don’t understand what it was like, how—”
“Viktor, if you don’t get him out of my sight within the next five seconds, I will kick your ass.”
“Pax, mate, let’s go.” He pulled me down the hall by the crook of my elbow, his height and weight overpowering me. “I don’t know what you did to piss her off,” he whispered, “but trust me, she will do exactly as she says. That woman is a bit of a psycho.”
He stopped at a door and cracked it open, peeking his head inside.
Quickly, I turned my gaze back to the front.
Terri’s eyes met mine, and for a second, the fiery blaze of anger had been snuffed out and in its place was raw pain before she twisted away.
I’d never felt so small in all my life.Idid that to her. Somehow, like me, she still felt that connection we’d shared and what I’d done had left a gaping wound in her heart, too.
I needed to make it right. Even if she never wanted to speak to me again, I had to at least be a man and apologize for my selfish actions.
“All right then, here we go.” Viktor yanked me inside. “Time to get ready for your interview, Paxton, and break your radio cherry.” He leaned in. “Just don’t piss her off or she will chew you up and spit you out.”
“Huh?” I glanced at the woman sitting at a microphone, a slight smile curving her lips.
This must be Angela.
“Fuck, mate. Concentrate.” He pushed me toward a chair.
After shaking hands with Angela, I tried to gather my thoughts and focus on Neverstorm’s upcoming record release. Viktor had found me through the Macabre Maniacs and said he wanted to help, and I’d be an idiot to screw this up.
With a deep breath, I cleansed my lungs and cleared my mind, fighting an urge to pop one of the pills in my pocket, and pretended this was where I wanted to be, not down the hall begging for Cotton Candy’s forgiveness.
Chapter twenty-eight
Terri Kingston
Myeyeskeptstrayingto the closed door behind me. Being face-to-face with Pax after all these years brought everything back all over again. I fought with an urge to listen in on the interview. Hearing his voice, deeper and raspier than when he’d been sixteen, had brought all those nights he’d read to Lana and me crashing down around my heart, threatening the still waters deep inside.
Did fate put him in my path again, or is it just a really weird bout of coincidence he and Viktor seem to know each other?
I doodled as I let my mind roam the hallways of my memories, wondering how different my life might’ve been if things had been different between Paxton and me, if he’d truly loved me.
“Hey, Terri. Can we talk?”
I jumped at the sound of his deeper, rougher voice.
He stuffed his hands into his front pockets, the counter drawing a line between us.
Viktor opened his mouth and moved his gaze from me to Paxton. “I’ll uh, I’ll be outside waiting.” He motioned to his guard. “Seems you two have some unfinished business so take your time.” With a small wave, Viktor sauntered outside to the black SUV parked in the VIP spot, his guards flanking him.
I crossed my arms over my chest, keeping my eyes from his, not willing to be pulled in by his seductive spell. “Make it quick.”
“I’m sorry.” He hitched a shoulder. “For everything.”
Closing my eyes for a second, I willed my temper not to flare and turned to my laptop, clicking into a spreadsheet.
How many times have I wished for this exact moment, to hear his apology and then tell him exactly where he can shove it?
“Whatever, Pax. You got what you wanted—my family’s money, your music career, my heart—” I clamped my mouth shut and leaned closer to the monitor, fire licking my cheeks. Why the hell did that slip out of me? I didn’t want him to know how hurt and broken I’d been after he left.
“I didn’t have a choice.” From the corner of my eye, I could see him move his arms to the counter and grip the edge, his fingers turning white. “You think Iwantedto leave?”
