“How about spending time with our fans instead of standing on the sidelines batting eyes at girls?”
Colton narrowed his gaze, his posture straightening as he grew angry. But he knew as well as I did, that he wouldn’t cause a scene. At least not here. “Yeah. Alright.”
There was no stopping the victory dance I did in my head.Just because I couldn’t have her didn’t mean I wanted anyone else to.
As the crowds thinned out, the day’s stress came back and hit me with full force. I took a sip of the beer someone had brought me, trying to get rid of the numbness settling in mylimbs. Not that it helped. I knew alcohol would only make it worse.
“Think we should start packing up?” Shane asked.
“I don’t see no harm in it.” Hudson shrugged.
Colton leaned up against the wall with his arms crossed, glowering. “Might as well. We need to head out soon.”
Jeremiah nodded in agreement.
The patrons that remained in the bar were more focused on getting their alcohol fix than visiting our merch table. So, we began the excruciatingly mundane task of packing and taking loads to the trailer.
The humid air clung to me uncomfortably as Colton and I placed the last totes inside, when someone touched my shoulder.
“We are heading out. It’s getting late.” Jade reached for me as Cadence walked into Colton’s arms. I watched as he rubbed her back and ran his hands over her shoulders. He smiled down at her with that crinkle in his eye.
The next thing I knew, Cadence stood before me while Jade hugged Colton. She looked as uncomfortable as I felt.
“Um…” She pulled her bottom lip into her mouth and stared at her feet. “Bye.”
It was weird going from the constant eye contact she’d given me on stage to her not even wanting to look at me.
It made me angry.
I grabbed her arm and tugged her against me in a quick hug. She was warm and soft, and I was instantly aware of how seamlessly her curves fit against me. Like two pieces of the same puzzle. Despite our embrace being brief and completely innocent, it held the promise of something more, something profound, between us.
I let her go, eager to cut that magnetic connection. But whatcould I say? She was abeautiful brunette, with golden eyes and an ass worth worshiping.
If someone were to put in a dictionarysomewhere, ‘Damien Walker’s type of girl’ there would be a picture of Cadence next to it.
“Yeah. See ya,” I said, moving away. As if pretending she wasn’t there would actually help.
When they finally left, Colton turned toward me.
“The fuck is your deal, Damien?”
I closed my eyes before facing him and standing to my full height. “I’m not sure what you mean, Colton.”
“Yeah, you do. You’ve been extra pissy lately. And can we talk about what is happening with you and Cadence? You treat her like shit but then stare at her like a fucking creep. Everyone can see it. If you want her, then grow a pair. If you don’t, stop being a bitch when someone else wants to give her a chance.”
“You know I don’t sleep with fans.” The words burned like acid in my mouth.
Colton scoffed. “At least not anymore.”
I grabbed Colton’s shirt and threw him up against the side of the trailer in a blind rage. “You better watch what you’re saying. You don’t know what tree you’re barking up.”
And he didn’t. I’d never shared intimate details about my relationship with Vanessa and how it ended. How she stole not only the love I had to give, but made it so I no longer had the ability to receive it ever again. “Besides,” I said. “Cadence has a boyfriend. She’s off limits.”
Colton pushed me away before walking toward the door. “So? When has that ever stopped any of us before?”
I clenched my fists and grit my teeth as Colton disappeared. Was he saying that just to piss me off or did the bastard want her all to himself?
Fuck.
