Page 51 of The Dom

“Was your brother one of the original members of Unraveling?” I asked, keeping my voice down so that no one else could hear me. “Is that what happened between you two?”

“This isn’t the time or place for that particular story.” Nate didn’t look at me as he spoke.

“All right,” I agreed. “But I’ll want to talk about it later.”

He nodded, then went back to his professional demeanor to greet an older man who came over with an outstretched hand.

I understood him not wanting to talk about it at a work function, especially if it wasn’t something that was common knowledge. I just hoped he realized I was serious when I said I planned to bring it up later. I didn’t like being caught off-guard like that, especially not by Zed Hipwood, of all people.

At some point during the evening, I lost track of names and the faces they belonged to. Other Manhattan Records artists were here, so those I remembered, but all of the people in the music industry outside of the label started blurring together after a while. Then there were the hundreds of media representatives milling around. Everyone from vloggers to reporters from actual newspapers, and all of them wanting a piece of Nate’s attention and time.

I didn’t mind fading into the background, content to watch and listen, to learn. I wasn’t here to make my name known. In fact, now that I’d connected with Finley, I was beginning to wonder if I wanted to be a part of this world after all. Maybe I’d be better off doing something like what my mother did. In fact, now that I thought about it, I realized that the position Nate had set up for me was perfect for going the self-employment route.

I filed those thoughts away as something we’d discuss at some point this weekend. I didn’t plan on venturing out on my own right away, but one of the first things I needed to do was make sure that I wouldn’t be stepping on anyone’s toes when I went.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that, when I realized I was alone, I had no idea where Nate had gone or what he’d said before he’d left. I went up on my toes – which was pretty much pointless thanks to my heels – but still couldn’t see well enough above the crowd to spot him.

Dammit.

I scanned the people closest to me, looking for a familiar face to ask if they knew where Nate had gone. The moment I spotted one coming toward me, however, I had to swallow a curse.

“Ashlee, I was hoping I’d get a chance to talk to you without Nate around.”

Zed was clearly one of those guys who oozed creep even when he was sober. Not that I thought he was completely sober now, just not drunk. I didn’t have a lot of experience with people on drugs, but I was pretty sure he was high.

“I don’t really have anything to say to you, Mr. Hipwood.” I crossed my arms and prayed I wasn’t glaring at him. The last thing Nate and I needed right now was a reporter snapping a picture with the caption ‘Nate Lexington’s girlfriend in spat with Unraveling front man Zed Hipwood.’

“It’s what I’ve got to say to you that you’re going to want to hear.”

“Is that so?” I said dryly.

He nodded. “First, I gotta apologize for my behavior when we first met.”

My jaw dropped.

“I can be a real bastard sometimes when I’m drunk. Get all handsy and touching things that aren’t mine to touch. Anyway, I’m sorry about that.”

“Apology accepted.” I was still wary of him, but I wasn’t going to be rude enough to reject an apology that seemed sincere.

“Thanks.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked from heel to toe. “I figured you had to have a forgiving nature, considering you’re dating Nate.”

“What, exactly, is that supposed to mean?” I tried to keep my voice from sounding defensive, but I didn’t quite manage it.

“It’s just that a guy who could betray his brother like that, I don’t think I’d be able to trust him in anything but a professional capacity.”

“Betray his brother how?” A sick feeling settled in my stomach. I should have told Zed to go away, but I’d seen it on Nate’s face. There had been something he hadn’t wanted me to hear about Joshua. I wasn’t going to automatically believe whatever it was Zed was about to say, but I had to know.

“Shit. You don’t know.” Zed rubbed the top of his head as if he felt awkward, but I didn’t believe that for a second. He’d found me because he wanted to tell me whatever Nate didn’t want me to know.

“Just spit it out,” I snapped.

“When I auditioned for Unraveling, Joshua was their keyboardist. He’d joined a couple weeks before me. By the time a few months passed, we’d replaced most of the rest of the band, but we sounded good enough for Joshua to get us a meeting with his big-shot brother.”

The noise from the rest of the guests faded into the background as I listened.

“We were still in the negotiating stage when the shit hit the fan. Turned out, Nate slept with Joshua’s girlfriend. And that wasn’t the worst of it.”

My stomach was churning. I wasn’t sure what could make that any worse.

---