Tyler turns to him, then looks back at me.
Cameryn seems unfazed as she continues to chow down her food.
“Your friend seemed a little interested in this guy,” Chase states, jerking his head toward me.
The smirk is still hard pressed on my lips when I add, “Can’t say I didn’t like it either.”
Cameryn makes a gagging sound, like my comment just made her throw up in her mouth.
I flip her off, and she returns the gesture.
“Don’t even think about it,” Tyler warns, his expression stoic, snatching up a second baked good and taking an aggressive bite.
I don’t know what possesses me when I raise my eyebrows and reply curiously, “Why, exactly?”
He shakes his head as he steps away, moving across the kitchen to the pot of coffee I almost left empty.
“You only think with your dick. Just stay away from her.”
I find myself smiling at his turned back, licking my lips. Cameryn watches me carefully, and I send her a wink. She shakes her head, her dirty blonde hair a little greasy when it moves with her as she jumps off the counter.
I choose not to reply, because little does Tyler know that she’s already mine, that what happened at the club during her show was pent-up aggression, anger, revenge, lust…desirefrom the past.
He will find out sooner or later.
Three Days Later
It’s the creak of the spiral staircase and the sliding of the flooring clicking back into place that announces we are now alone. Ty and Ash have ascended through the hidden hole for lunch. I’m in the studio with Chase while he quickly tweaks some dials on the glowing deck.
“Fuck, wait.” He hits a button and throws down the headphones he was holding to his ears. “I’m going to do that last scream again. Can you track me in?”
I snatch them up, falling into the large leather seat he just departed. “Yeah, man.” Chase strides into the box with determination, popping his knuckles and cracking his neck.
The fucking perfectionist.
I raise my hand and count him in before sending the track down the line. He pushes his mouth right into the microphone as he roars, and I already know without listening to it back that he hit the target right where he had intended. I tap a couple of buttons as Chase hangs up the black headphones and heads back into the flight room.
Leaning over, I rest my elbows on my knees, shoving my hands back through my hair when he taps around on the deck and pushes it through the speakers. Chase kicks back in the seat he fell into and throws his head around as he listens to the take, and when the scream hits, he slides his chair over to mine and wraps his arm around my shoulders, shaking me with excitement.
“Fuck yes!” He is tapping my chest hard, and I already know that the prick is at it again, bruising me with his joy.
I’m grinning, though my fist is at my mouth becausewhat a fucking track.
He cuts the sound and leans back in the leather seat, spinning to look at me. “Wooooo,” he exhales excitedly, his tattooed hands threading through his hair as he pushes it back from his face again.
“That’s fucking sick,” I tell him, shoving up from my seat when my stomach groans. “Now, let’s go eat. I’m fucking starving.”
I move toward the door but can tell that Chase has made no effort to follow me. Turning back around, I see him still in his chair, staring at me, his brown eyes narrowed, now serious.
“What are you going to do about her?” He clears his throat, then leans forward, his elbows finding a place on the faded black jeans wrapped around his legs. His voice is low when he continues, “The minute Tyler finds out that we left that night, he’s going to see no fucking reason,only red. You know that, right?”
“I don’t fucking care,” I retort, resting the weight of my body against the wall at my side, a deep breath rattling through my chest. “If he wants to throw a fucking tantrum without hearing the full story, then that’s on him.”
I told Chase what happened between me and Cherry at the club, in her office. He wasn’t surprised; he was expecting it too, and he knows I’m not going to fuck with this opportunity.
This is the second chance I never got, and the one I have every intention of keeping.
I’m sure as fuck not going to let Tyler skin it from my bones.
