Page 23 of Ordinary Secrets

“Thanks again, ladies,” Trey says halfway through Kevin’s solo. “I appreciate the support.”

It’s obvious that he’s trying to close the conversation, but the ladies don’t take the hint. They keep fawning over him and praisinghim, not his music. I can’t tell if he likes it or not.

Patiently, I wait until Trey presses a finger against his earpiece. The fangirls are still blabbing as he listens to whatever is being said on the other end.

With a groan, he takes a step backward toward the stage. “Sorry, ladies. I gotta go before my manager chews my head off. It was great to meet you both.”

Finally, the ladies say their goodbyes, then depart into the sea of people around us.

Trey turns back to me. “I’m really sorry ’bout that. I gotta go back up. We’ve got a meet and greet right after this. Would you mind coming to that for a bit? I won’t make you stay long. I promise.”

I don’t know what possesses me to do it. Maybe it’s because I know the answer he wants to hear, or because I’m a people pleaser. Maybe it’s because throughout the show, I’ve been in awe of him and I want to keep being awed. But I say, “I’d love to.”

The bright smile that spreads across his cheeks makes my heart swoon and confirms my decision. After he thanks me, he sprints off behind a door markedbackstage. authorized personnel only.

The moment he’s gone, those two fangirls materialize on either side of me.

Blue Tips speaks first. “Do you know Trey Grant? Like, personally?”

“Uh . . .” I don’tknowhim. Not really.

The other girl doesn’t wait for me to respond before she asks, “What’s he like in real life? Is he like what they say online?”

“Um, what do they say online?”

“You know, that he’s charming, mysterious, and really good in bed.”

“Oh. I—I suppose I don’t know him likethat.”

“Does that mean you’re not on his list?”

I scrunch my face together. “His VIP list?”

“No. Hislist. You know...” Blue Tips nudges my arm with her elbow and waggles her eyebrows up and down. “Of people he’s fucked. I’ve heard he’s into doing it with his fans.”

“And sometimes with multiple at the same time,” the other girl adds.

Are these ladies trying to have a threesome with him?Wait...Is that why Trey invited Javina and me here tonight? Was he trying to entice us into his bed? If so, he chose the wrong woman. I’m not interested in being anyone’s plaything.

“No,” I say firmly. “I’m not on his list.”

“In that case,” Blue Tips says, grinning, “can you get us into the meet and greet tonight? Tickets were sold out, and we really wanna go.”

“Uh...” I don’t know how to respond. Thankfully, I don’t have to, because a thick guy with a long scruffy beard comes up behind the girls and speaks for me.

“Ladies, leave her alone. If you wanna bang the guy, find your own way. You’re making her uncomfortable.”

That’s putting it lightly.

Blue Tips shoots Scruffy Guy a dirty look. “Mind your own business.”

The man uses his large body to stand in front of me protectively. “Walk.”

The girls glance at each other, then silently agree to leave. They mutter foul words under their breath as they slither away.

“Thanks for that,” I say once they’re gone.

“No worries.” The towering man sticks out a hand with a smile. “I’m Dex.”

---