Page 54 of This Side of Beautiful

“Oh.” I looked out the window, hating that I’d already grown accustomed to her presence after six days. What would I be like at the end of the tour?

Cedrick glanced at Janae and then at me. “What happened between you two?”

“Decided to chill.” I shrugged.

He chuckled under his breath. “Her idea.”

I didn’t respond.

“She feeling herself, and you’re not good enough anymore?” Cedrick chided me.

I held back my sigh. “No. I said some shit that upset her.”

“Like what?”

I didn’t want to share something that personal, so I improvised. “You know how I do. Say things without thinking it hurts.”

“Then apologize. It’s never too late.” Cedrick nudged my shoulder.

I shook my head. “Better this way anyway. Stop before either one of us is hurt.”

“You sure?”

I lifted a brow. “Leave it.”

“Forever done talking about her. But I am telling Del it’s a go.” He quickly rose and walked away before I could protest.

Once we arrived in Atlanta, all I wanted to do was crash in my hotel room. The last thing I wanted was to be social. I slapped my hat on my head and walked past everyone to rest in my bunk. I felt Janae’s gaze as I eased into my space. I refused to look her way. I would get over her. I would just remember what I didn’t like about her.

Except I’d gotten to know her enough over the past month to know she’d changed.

I groaned and turned over to try to sleep, since I wouldn’t be getting any in Atlanta.

As usual, I was the last one to join the group for dinner at the hotel restaurant. The longer I lingered in my room, the less time I spent around others. We were meeting up with Del over a meal to discuss our appearance and other promotional stops between our concerts. We’d discovered during our recent fame over the past year or so that fans didn’t bother us as much if we ate at whatever hotel we were staying at, especially the luxury ones.

I leaned against the elevator, grateful I was alone in such a confined space. The elevator opened on the tenth floor to a sensual Janae. I straightened up, and my hungry gaze devoured the beauty in a red strapless dress that hugged her curves. She wore a long, straight black wig that shaped her oval face. Her light makeup didn’t cover the freckles across her pierced nose, elevating her allure. My resolve to leave her alone evaporated in the air.

She clutched her silver glitter handbag and said softly, “Um… I can catch the next one.”

Wordlessly, I took her hand and pulled her inside with me. When the door closed, the fire between us blazed high. “Wow.”

Janae blushed. “You can let go of my hand.”

“Maybe I don’t want to until you and I are good again. I’m sorry about what I said this morning.”

Her forehead puckered briefly, and she looked down at her feet. “We’re fine. Just realized you may be right, and we should only be friends.”

My heart dipped, and I tugged her closer. “Maybe I was wrong.”

She tilted her head, wearing a smile that didn’t connect with the sadness in her eyes. “If I didn’t know better, I would think Landon Hayes was flirting with me.”

“Or being honest.” I couldn’t look away from her. “Damn.”

“Stop gassing me up.” She giggled. “It’s a good thing we’re doing different things tonight, or we might forget that we’re better off as friends.”

“Where are you going?” I asked. “Maybe I can pass through later.”

Janae’s gaze slipped from mine. “Doubt you want to go. It’s a fundraiser at the Loews Hotel. Del been on me about going for a while now, and I decided to attend at the last minute. The ladies are waiting in the car for me. They want to meet up with the guys later. Think I’ll come back here and finally get some rest.”

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