"Don't say that," I groan, turning toward the bank of elevators at the opposite end of the hall."I might actually break one."
Brielle's laughter floats after me as she heads down the hall toward her room…which is basically the room she's sharing with Asher at this point.I can't believe they're together!I mean, I can believe it because Brielle is amazing.Why wouldn't Asher fall for her?But I can't believe I missed it!
I didn't get to join the fun until this morning.Thanks to my internship, I've missed the first half of the tour.Shelby has been keeping me updated, but it's not the same.I missed all the good parts!
It's been a whirlwind for my sister and our friends, that's for sure.
Resa is glowing.Brielle is happier than she's ever been.Chastity has a permanent smile on her face.Shelby swears her relationship with Jameson is fake, but, well, I know my big sister better than anyone.She's lying to herself and has been since the beginning.Besides, New York kind of changed everything.As it turns out, even from half a continent away, I still know her better than she thinks I do.
Never in a million billion years did I think followingSoul Obsessionon their reunion tour would turn out like this for the people I love most, but I'm so freaking happy for them.
They're madly in love.I'm getting the interview of a lifetime.Life is good.Actually, it's great.If my journalism professor could see me right now, he'd lose his mind.
I giggle at the thought, pressing the button for the elevator.I peek over the balcony, watching water spray up from the fountain in the lobby.The hotel is seriously nice.Way better than my tiny little dorm room at Northwestern or the room I've been renting for the last couple of months.
The doors of the elevator slide open, and I bounce inside, a bundle of raw nerves and anxiety.I'm going up to Crue Blake's room.As soon as the doors slide closed, I bust a move, dancing in the elevator like a crazy person.I don't even care if security is watching me right now.
My first interview is my dream interview.No one is dulling my shine today.
"Jesus."
I squeak, spinning around so fast my laptop bag smacks me in the knee.It buckles and I stumble, nearly falling on my face.I catch myself on the handrail, meeting Crue's gaze.Humor dances in his hazel eyes, softening him.For just a moment, I see traces of the boy he used to be…the one who drove the whole world crazy with his crooked grin and insane talent.
The man he grew into is something else altogether.Young Crue was a mere hint of what this man would become.There's a hardness to him that was never there before.He's all sex and sin and control, with tattoos climbing up his neck and down his arms.I don't know what story they tell, but they're etched into his skin like armor.
I think he hides behind them, holding the whole world at bay.Just like he's hidden from the world for the last ten years, disappearing to Nashville and pretending the seven years before that never happened.He's an enigma, a beautiful puzzle.And he's haunted my mind for far too long.
Now, he's haunting my elevator too.
"Hey, sweet girl."He smirks, looking me up and down.
"You're supposed to be in your room."
"Missing this show?"His smirk grows."Not a chance, Éire."
"The doors are supposed to be closed."
"You didn't feel the elevator stop?"
"I was busy."I narrow my eyes when his lips twitch."You better not be laughing at me, Crue Blake.Not all of us are basically choreographers, you know."
He thrusts his arm out, halting the elevator doors as they start to slide shut."Basically a choreographer?"One brow rises."Baby, I hate to break it to you, but I'm notbasicallyanything."
"You worked on My'khail's first tour."
My'khail hit the music scene three years ago and blew it up.Not many know that Crue choreographed most of the tour that put him on the map.I don't think many know that Crue's one of the best dancers around, period.It's just one more piece of the puzzle that is this man.
He eyes me silently for a moment."You going to dance on the elevator all day, or are you coming with me?"
"I'm coming."
"Not yet," he mutters and then shakes his head as if to dispel a thought."After you, Éire."
I duck under his arm, grazing his body on my way out of the elevator.My entire system sings.Lord have mercy.He smells like bad decisions.You know, the kind you want to make over and over again.
"You changed," I murmur, a little disappointed the gray sweats are gone.I liked those sweats.It's not even gray sweats season and he's winning all the awards.
"Believe me, it was necessary," he growls, something hungry in his gaze.
