Then a door creaks open, and Annie steps out.
Quickly, Alex backs away, slapping a too-friendly hand to my shoulder. “Good chat,” he says. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Swallowing, I glance over at Annie in her retro blue dress, her eyes red andswollen, complexion ashen. A frown creases. She looks between us, searching for the context. The missing pieces.
But I have nothing to give her.
I drag my eyes away, pull up from the wall, and make a swift exit out the front door.
You don’t bring your heart to a battleground and expect it not to bleed in the same way you don’t bring a stick to a swordfight.
It only ends one way.
You lose.
Chapter 19Alex
The front door snaps shut behind us.
Annie.
A roar fills my head, waves surging through an angry sea.
Far away, a voice fights to be heard.
Don’t lash out. Act rationally. Stay fucking calm.
But the waves are louder. A stormfront edging closer. I can’t stop it, can’t keep it at bay. One man against a storm is nothing but a piece of driftwood.
Dead in the water, doomed before it ever reaches the shore.
My hands curl into fists.
Fury surges through my veins, my only friend.
I whip around, locking on her tearstained face as she sags against the door. “What. The. Fuck.”
She cowers, a frightened hermit crab who lost her shell. “I just…had a moment.”
“A moment?” I stiffen and vibrate all at once, my words weapons. Thunderclaps. “Yeah, I’m aware of your fuckingmoment. You paraded itonstage for an audience. Dangled it in front of me like a carrot on a stick. Were you trying to make me jealous?”
Her eyes lift, confused. Like she’s realizing we’re talking about two different moments. “Chase?”
“Don’t say his fucking name.” Holy hell, I sound demonic.
“That was nothing. That was just—”
“Now you’re gaslighting me. Beautiful.” I drag my hands through my hair, spin, then pivot back, inching closer. “Do you think I’m an idiot? What aren’t you saying?”
“There’s nothing to be said.” She swipes a piece of hair out of her eyes and moves away from the door, her chin glued to her chest.
Avoiding eye contact.
Because she’s lying.
I follow, tight on her heels. “We’re not done here.”
“I’m tired, Alex. I just had a breakdown at a karaoke bar, for God’s sake.”
