“What do you say, Shorty?” Clayton asked.
Shorty tipped his hat. “Already booked you in.”
Jamie and Clayton exchanged glances.
What the hell?
They were doing this.
“We’ve decided on the first single,” Doofus announced. “For your album.”
Jamie arched her eyebrow, bracing herself for disappointment. “Oh?”
“‘When We Two Parted,’” Arthur said smugly.
She blinked, stunned. After fighting to get that song on her record, she could hardly believe it. “I thought you didn’t like it.”
“I changed my mind,” Doofus said. “The crowd loves it.”
A rush of euphoria swept over her as she headed for the bus. They were releasing her favorite song on the album. And all that worrying about Derrick had been for nothing—he hadn’t even shown up.
CHAPTER 28
CLAYTON
Derrickhadshown up, and Clayton was pissed about it.
He dropped into the seat across from Nolan, arms crossed, his jaw still tight from the confrontation backstage. The bus hummed beneath them but he barely noticed. His mind was still back at the venue.
Nolan, stretched out with his boots kicked up, gave him a lazy once-over. “You look like you’re about two seconds away from putting your fist through a wall.”
Clayton exhaled sharply. “Jamie’s ex showed up.”
That got Nolan’s attention. He sat up straighter. “Backstage?”
“Yeah.” Clayton shook his head, his hands balling into fists on the table. “Security caught him trying to get into her dressing room.”
Nolan let out a low whistle. “That takes some nerve.”
“Nerve or stupidity.” Clayton leaned forward, his voice tight. “He was back there, acting like he had every right to see her. Saying he just wanted to talk.”
Nolan scoffed. “Right. Because nothing says ‘I respect you’ like ambushing you at work.”
Clayton’s fingers drummed against the table. “Told security to get him the hell out.”
“And?”
“And they did.” He clenched his jaw. “But not before he ran his damn mouth.”
Nolan’s brow lifted. “What did he say?”
Clayton hesitated, then sighed. “That she’d always come back to him. That she washis.” His voice dropped lower, rougher. “That I didn’t stand a chance.”
“What about his fiancée?”
Clayton shrugged. “Publicity stunt.”
Silence stretched between them. Nolan shook his head and let out a quiet laugh. “Well, no wonder you’re wound up.”
