“You didn’t say please.” He dips closer, and I push him away, but the man is as solid as the wall behind me.
Hic!
Noah goes still, his brows contracting.
I take the opportunity to push him again while he’s not expecting it. “Getoff!”
“Hey!”
Noah’s head whips around. Austin’s at the end of the hallway, gaze shifting between the two of us. He runs toward us and barrels into Noah, shoving him.
27
AUSTIN
I chargeinto Noah like I’m a battering ram, and he stumbles sideways. Mia hurries toward me just as Gemma, Tori, and a few others appear down the hallway.
“You okay?” I ask Mia, my heart pounding.
Before she can respond, Noah charges me right back—like adrunkbattering ram. I intercept him, and our arms lock. We push against each other until Noah pulls back, cocks his arm, and throws his fist at me.
I try to dodge, but it hits my cheekbone, sending pain through my skull.
Eyes watering, I shove him, and before he can react, I hurl my fist into his jaw.
Someone pulls on my arm, and Paul grabs Noah and tears him away.
Mia and Tori drag me backward as Gemma and Rose help Paul.
Satisfied I’m not getting charged again anytime soon, I turn to Mia.
Her wide eyes fix on my cheek. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say tightly, even though my knuckles and cheek burn. “Areyou? Did he do anything to you?”
“I’m fine.” She looks shaken up, though.
My jaw clenches. I can’t get the image of Noah boxing her in out of my head.
Why didn’t she listen to me? What would’ve happened if I hadn’t checked on her?
I need to get out of here. If I don’t, I’ll say or do something I’ll regret.
I push through the space between Mia and Tori and head for the exit, satisfied Mia has enough people to keep her safe from Noah.
“I want him gone,” I say to Paul as I pass him and head for my bus.
Head restingon the arm of the couch, I toss the stress ball into the air, seeing how close I can get it to the ceiling without hitting it. I haven’t even looked in the mirror yet to see what damage Noah did to my face. I don’t want to think about him. It makes me want to go ape on everything within arm’s reach.
This tour has gotten completely out of hand. What started as my big chance, the thing I’ve been dreaming of for years, somehow morphed into a Noah Hayes/Austin Sheppard joint concert.
It’s not just the tour, though. Seeing Mia with Noah woke a crazy beast inside me. I’ve never felt that way before—like I would tear a guy limb from limb if he hurt her.
It forces me to admit something to myself: I’m in love with Mia. Out-of-my-mind, can-barely-think-straight in love with her.
How did I get here? I never wanted this. I never wanted to fall in love withanyone.
There’s a knock on the door of the bus.
