She smiles. “I love what I do. I’m just saying, how could I have inspired this awesome night?”
“You made me think bigger. Made me ask how I could make my business stand out. And the idea came to me. So I have you to thank.” I press a kiss to her lips.
“Well, you’re welcome. Who knew that my niche would end up being party favors?” she muses, but she sounds pleased with the notion.
“Like I said, you make people happy. You do, Faith.”
She tips her head to the side. “And on that note, I’m going to excuse myself and go to the ladies’ room.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
She slips from beneath my arm and walks away. I can’t tear my gaze from the dip of material that exposes her back, the sway of those sexy hips, or the way her hair bounces against her back as she moves.
“Jason! You’re finally alone!” Charlotte comes up to me, pulling me into a hug. “Thank you for letting me perform tonight. I love live audiences in small venues.”
I extricate myself from her grasp. “Well, you and Lola make a dynamic team.”
She smiles at the compliment. “I’m trying to convince her we should record a song together.”
“I expect it would be a hit.”
“So…” She flips her hair over her shoulder, her gaze steady on mine. “You looked quite… domesticated with your girlfriend.”
“So what?” I ask, knowing both the description of my relationship and the fact that Faith is my girlfriend are true.
Here I am, celebrating my biggest success, and I wanted her by my side. Brought her to live with me. Introduced her to my family. Made her a part of my life, all the while proclaiming I didn’t want anything serious.
I was such a dense asshole, but I have my head on straight now.
“So I thought you didn’t do serious.” Charlotte sets her hands on her hips, clearly wanting an answer.
I’m not surprised Charlotte wants to discuss my relationship with Faith. At a glance, it is obvious what I have with Faith is deeper than anything I shared with the raven-haired beauty in front of me now. She might be gorgeous, but she didn’t do it for me the way Faith does, and what Charlotte and I shared? It was fun but superficial, like all my prior relationships.
I always thought she was on the same page, as she was busy building her career and traveling. Until I broke up with her and then she cried like we were engaged or something. Yet I prided myself on always being honest with the women in my life, Charlotte included.
“Look, people change. Circumstances change.” I met the right woman by chance on the side of the road, and my entire life spun upside down.
She stares at me, hurt in her expression, something I never ever intended to do to her.
I shove my hands into the pockets of my pants. “I’m sorry. But I was honest. I never lied to you.”
“Except about what you were capable of giving.”
The truth is, I didn’t know what I was capable of until I met Faith. I roll my shoulders. “When you meet the right person, you know.” I pull a deep breath. “Thank you for performing tonight and I wish you the best,” I say, wanting to end this conversation.
“Right. You, too,” she begrudgingly says.
Because there is nothing more to say, I turn and come face-to-face with Tanner. “Hey,” I say.
“Hey.” Tanner grins. “Wedid it.”
I nod. “That we did. I—” Before I can get the next word out, the sound of a piercing scream echoes throughout the room, andmy stomach plummets because I recognize the person behind the sound.
“Faith. She went to the bathroom,” I say, my heart pounding hard in my chest. I sent Renault home because the only people left were family, friends, and workers who were vetted. Because I have her back, the way I have for the last couple of months.
The hallway with the restrooms had an entry on either side of an island-like wall. “I’m going that way.” I point to the nearest way to the ladies’ room hall. “You take the back. Call 911,” I yell out to everyone who is suddenly panicking.
Tanner nods and we take off at a run.
