Page 15 of Wasted

My eyes widened in panic, and I took an involuntary step backward. "Oh... No... I can't..."

"Cole's bus is the only one with available bunks. He used to travel with River and Kylie, but they stopped touring with us a while ago, and he prefers to be alone, so..."

I dragged a hand down my face, muttering under my breath. "Fuck my life." I was getting paid back for every bad thing I'd ever done. Being stuck in close quarters with Cole for days at a time was definitely going to be torture.

Wyatt glanced at his watch, his brow furrowing as he calculated the timing. "I'll bring Cole out around 11:30. Plenty of time for you to shower, eat, enjoy the peace and quiet, and tuck yourself away before he comes in."

Forcing a smile, I nodded.

"I gotta get back. Good night, Taylor."

"Night."

Chapter Eight

Cole

The noise from the crowd was deafening, and the lights were blinding. A bead of sweat streamed down my face as I stepped back, drinking it all in. It didn't matter how many times I'd performed. Every time I walked out on the stage, it was like a completely different adrenaline rush—like a drug, a high I never wanted to come down from.

When I stepped out on that stage, nothing else mattered. Everything in reality disappeared, and it was just me and my music.

The music started for the song I always closed my set with: Heartless. This was the first song I'd written after leaving Bridgewater when all the pain was still fresh, and singing it tonight with her in the building felt bittersweet.

I sang the chorus a little louder this time just to ensure that she heard every word wherever she was in the building. The memories flooded forward. Not the bad ones. Not the one where she told me she was marrying my brother. The ones where I fell in love with her and my chest tightened.

As I belted out the final lyric, my voice cracked with raw emotion. I thrust the mic skyward, my hand trembling slightly. The fans' roar washed over me, but I barely heard it through the thundering of my own heartbeat. I flashed a smile that felt more like a grimace and stumbled off stage, my legs leaden with exhaustion and unresolved feelings.

The concert was over, and it was back to reality.

"Great show." Wyatt thrust a white towel at me as I passed, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

I was still angry with Wyatt. Of all the people in the world, why did he have to bring her here?

"You can't ignore me forever." Wyatt's voice echoed through the backstage area, his frustration palpable in the air.

He had no idea how long I could ignore him because he had no idea what he'd done by bringing her here.

A group of girls with backstage passes hanging around their necks caught my attention. That was what I needed. My gaze shifted around the open backstage area.

"Go relax." Wyatt slid up next to me, his gaze darting between me and the group of girls. "We've confiscated phones, cameras, and anything that records video or audio. I'll come get you about eleven-thirty to get on the bus."

"Where's Taylor?" The words tumbled out before I could stop them. I scanned the area, my chest tightening with a mix of anticipation and dread. I shouldn't care, but for some reason, I wanted her to see me walk away with these four girls, knowing what we were about to do. It was childish, but the need to hurt her like she'd hurt me was real.

"I gave her the night off." Wyatt flashed his expensive smile. "Go have fun." He slapped my shoulder before strolling off. For some reason, that irked me. It shouldn't. I should be glad she was gone and out of my sight, but I wasn't.

My gaze shifted back to the girls, and the sudden need to disappear was strong. I wanted to be alone.

"Hey, Cole." The tallest girl twirled a strand of hair around her finger, her lips curving into a coy smile.

"Hey, ladies. Why don't y'all wait for me in my dressing room." I forced a smile as they erupted into giggles, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. "I'll be right there." More giggling, and I watched as they disappeared down the hall.

"Good show, man." I heard six times on my way towards the exit.

Pushing through the door, I sucked in a deep breath of the cold air as I flipped my white ball cap from back to front and adjusted it so it covered my face before pulling my black hoodie over my head.

A cold beer sounded good right now, but for the first time in years, I didn't want the crowds and loud music. I wanted solitude and quiet. Seeing Taylor brought up so many memories and feelings I'd worked so hard to forget.

When I first left Bridgewater for Nashville, I buried myself in my music, and when that wasn't enough anymore, I started drowning myself in alcohol. I stayed wasted because it made everything easier.

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