He pauses and tilts his head to the side. "Would you have been okay with it if it wasn't behind your back? Like if she joined us? Because, yeah, that would work."
"No it wouldn't." My dressing room is so close. I just want to get to my phone to call Duncan.
Mike continues, jogging to keep up with me. His hands come up to land on my chest and when my eyes narrow dangerously he pulls them back. "Fine, fine but like think about it."
"No." I shove past him.
"Alright, we can table that for later."
I spin on him and he stutters to a stop. "There is no later. This is done. I don't even understand why you're back now."
"I, umm." He looks over my shoulder. Glancing back I see his publicist watching us.
"Spit it out,Meek." I sneer his ridiculous pronunciation at him. It's the most forceful tone I've ever used with him. It makes me feel strong, and purposeful. Things I felt innately with Duncan. Our hard and soft places fit together like puzzle pieces. It was a push and a pull between us. Equals, no ulterior motives.
"I was just hoping to reconnect, is all."
"Bull shit." Zara says as she comes up to stand next to me, scrolling. She turns her phone to the both of us showing an industry announcement headline with his picture under it. "His next role is as a deaf man."
If I wasn’t already convinced the man in front of me is human trash, this confirms it.
"Unbelievable. So what, you thought you'd just snuggle up to me again and get me to endorse your role because my parents are deaf? Get the fuck out of my sight."
I turn my back on him and storm into my dressing room where I slam the door.
My phone is full of notifications and I scroll through them hoping, praying, for one from You Know You Want It but there's nothing.
My knees buckle, tears gather. Breaths saw through my lungs. I slide to the floor as my call to You Know You Want It rings out over and over.
Chapter forty-five
Duncan
Get Rafiki-ed
EverytimeIblinkI see it. Rhys kissing "Meek Car" under the sparkling lights. A midnight kiss after singing a song he wrote about falling in love.
It's disgusting.
I'm sick with jealousy.
My phone buzzes again. Delilah called the moment it happened last night and I sent her to voicemail. Texting her to say I was at a party and couldn’t talk.
Then about eight minutes after midnight Rhys started calling.
I left my phone in the kitchen last night and when I got up to get ready for the gym today I saw his calls ended around three.
Tomorrow we fly to Nashville, of-fucking-course. Why couldn’t we go to L.A. or Vancouver instead of literally the one place in the country I don’t want to be.
My workout playlist is interrupted by a text notification. Then two more.
I finish my set of trap bar deadlifts and check my messages as two more roll in.
DELILAH
Oh baby brother where are you?!
Sad boy isn’t a good look on you.
