We stand and head toward the band’s dressing room, but my stomach knots the closer we get.Why do I feel like I’m about to walk into a place I don’t belong?
As soon as we step inside, Johnny’s face lights up. His eyes lock onto Anna, and within seconds, he’s across the room, sweeping her into his arms. He spins her around, making her laugh—reallylaugh—for the first time in days. When he sets her down, he kisses her, deep and unrestrained, like he’s making up for lost time.
I smile at them, warmth flickering in my chest, but it fades as my gaze drifts around the room.
Colt’s not here.
A dull ache settles in my stomach. Instinctively, I wrap my arms around myself—a habit I thought I’d grown out of. The room suddenly feels too loud, too full, toonot right.
Needing a distraction, I make my way to the back of the room, grabbing a Coke from the refrigerator. As I crack it open, Dingo pats my shoulder in a way that feels too much likesympathy. Our eyes meet for a brief second, and he swallows hard before turning away, heading straight for Sia.
And just like that, the uneasy feeling twisting in my gut gets even worse.
What the hell was that about?
Laughter echoes from the hallway, light and carefree, the kind that twists something sharp in my chest.
I turn toward the door just in time to see Colt walk in…
WithJessihanging off his arm.
A lump lodges in my throat, stealing my breath as I struggle to swallow.
The second Colt sees me, he instantly pulls away from her, his expression shifting. But Jessi? She smirks—fucking smirks—before rising onto her toes and pressing a kiss to his cheek, slow and deliberate. Like she knows exactly what she’s doing.
“Thanks, Colt, that was amazing,” she says, straightening out her top and tousling her hair like it has been messed up by a round of raunchy romping in the sack.
Chapter Twenty-Three
I feel sick.
Like I want to vomit,sick.
My body tenses when Colt looks at me, shaking his head while I inadvertently begin stepping back away from him.
How could he do this to me?
And withher?
How long’s this been going on behind my back?
My whole world is crashing down around me.
I can’t hear anything except for the ringing in my ears.
I know I’m breathing too fast because I’m hyperventilating.
My back meets the wall, and I slide down to the floor.
I can’t focus on anything.
My head is spinning.
Colt and Jessi.
Jessi and Colt.
No wonder he’s not sleeping with me.
