Page 124 of A Duet of Darkness and Dreams

“I never thought you guys were,” I say.

“Yeah.” He nods. “You always were too nice for your own good. I’m happy good things are happening for you.”

I take a drag on my cigarette to hide the tear that slips down my cheek. “I—” I break off then cough to keep my voice from betraying me. “Thanks, man. You don’t know how much it means to hear that.”

He grins wide again, that same boyish smile I grew up with. “So, Carnal Sins, huh?”

I release a breathy laugh. “Yeah.”

“You really made it.”

Shrugging, I look back at the theater, then at the bus. “I got lucky.” But as the words tumble past my lips, I don’t believe them anymore. Standing here with Sam and thinking of the girl I may have lost forever, it finally hits me that maybe it was never about luck. Maybe it really was my own work and the help of friends. That this time, it can’t be taken away from me. That the only thing standing between me and the future I’ve been terrified of losing . . . is me.

“You living that rockstar life?” he asks, jolting me from my thoughts. “I bet being backstage is wild.”

“You wanna come backstage tonight?”

“Seriously?”

I grin widely. “Of course. Here.” Digging around in my pocket I find a stray wristband and hold it out for him. “This will get you backstage.”

“Yeah?”

“They’re usually for girls, but just tell them you’re an old friend.”

He pockets the bracelet. “A groupie pass?”

“It wasn’t my idea.”

“It’s brilliant.”

I laugh. “Yeah, maybe. If I was using them.”

“What do you mean? I figured you’d be drowning in pussy.”

“No.”

Sam twists his face disbelievingly. “You mean to tell me you haven’t been screwing around?”

“It’s not like that—”

“Oh.” He smirks. “You’ve got a bang buddy?”

“Nah, dude. I love her.”

His eyebrows lift. “Damn, seriously?”

“Yeah, but I may have fucked everything up last night.” I see Isabella walking toward the theater from a distance, her signature cup of coffee in hand. “Listen, I have to go, but I’ll see you tonight.” Without thinking about it, I wrap my arms around him in a brotherly hug. “I’ve missed you, man.”

He squeezes me tight. “Yeah, me too.”

Backing up, he smiles then turns and walks away as Isabella approaches, her dark hair bouncing with each step. She’s watching her feet and as she gets closer my heart beats faster, my palms sweating. When she looks up at me, the indifference painted on her face morphs. Her eyes narrow. I think even her lip curls.

“Izzy,” I say, ready to fight for her to listen to me.

But she says nothing, merely brushing past me and running up the steps into the bus. I follow her up and past the curtain.

“Can we talk?” I ask.

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