Page 26 of Contrition

Theo growled. “Probably because she doesn’t have our numbers, dumbass.”

Right.

Ouch.

Derek laughed. “Bro to bro, she only sent the text five minutes ago. You can probably still find her lingering around somewhere.” I was moving towards the exit instantly. Except, Derek gripped my bicep tightly as I tried to pass him. Somehow, he stood even taller over my 6’2 frame, and his beefy stature forced me to shrink back mildly. “Hey. Don’t hurt her again, alright? I may not know you. I may not even know her that well. But I am a broken man myself, and broken people recognize those who are hurting even more than others. She doesn’t deserve it.”

I swallowed roughly and nodded my head as he let go, only for him to turn to Theo next. “That girl is a fucking saint that neither of you deserve, regardless of whatever odd polyamorous shit you have going on. And believe me when I tell you—if she dropped you both on your asses tomorrow, I’d be another man in que, begging for even a lick of attention. Fix your shit before someone treats her better.”

Theo’s voice was soft. “We’re not gonna hurt her again.”

Derek nodded before wiping at his forehead and trekking towards his band mates. “Better not. I’ll kick your asses myself and let my daughter score it. I’ll let our agent know they’ll be hearing from you, though.”

* * *

Fucking finally.

Black and green split hair.

Standing in line at some random corn dog stand, right next to a Ferris wheel that illuminated itself brightly in the darkening sky.

Of all things to eat after an entire day of working on an empty stomach, she would be the girl to choose a damn corndog. I shook my head as Theo and I both jogged towards her, ignoring the murmurs around us entirely. We were probably fucking stupid for walking around the festival without any security guards, but at the same time, it certainly wasn’t the dumbest thing we had ever done, either.

Once next to her, I slung a heavy arm across her shoulders casually. She flinched at the contact and I was almost surprised she didn’t swing at me as I spoke. “Man, are you a hard one to find with your height. If it weren’t for this pretty hair, I never would have found you. Especially because I was looking for braids.”

Theo laughed as he showed up on her other side, forcing her to flinch yet again. I bit back a smile that time. “Seriously. I like it, though. Your natural curls have always suited you.”

She threw her head back against my arm exasperated. “Great. My men are stalkers. That’s just wonderful. How did you even know I left?”

We both ignored that question. We weren’t throwing Derek under the bus so soon. “Awe. We’re your men? That sounds so much more official when it’s coming from your lips instead of ours.”

Her eyes rolled. “I'll take it back. Can you both go find something to do? I’m tired, horny, and hungry. I just want my hotel room now. And the nap of a lifetime.”

My eyebrows quirked up immediately. “I mean, I can help with that, ya know.”

“Hey, now,” Theo said slyly. “Team effort, bro.”

Estrella scoffed and immediately shrugged her arm off me. “Ya know what? No. No, I’m not done being angry with either of you, actually. I was trying to be nice and offer an olive branch with being at least nice and flirty, but you justhadto go gross caveman-y on me when I’m still processing whatthiseven is.”

“Oh, c’mon! That was a test?” Theo exclaimed in a pout.

She whipped her head towards him in anger. I watched, expecting her to tell him off. Instead, I found myself shocked when she grabbed the neckline of his t-shirt, pulled him down roughly, and forced her mouth on his. His eyes went wide, looking at me for confirmation. When I merely tugged at my beard and shrugged, his eyes closed, and I watched as one of his hands went to cup her ass. Though, he hardly got to enjoy it for long before she was pulling away and tapping at his cheek with her hand. “Feel better?”

He swallowed, but kept his hand on her ass. “Not one bit.”

“Hah! Too fucking bad.” She turned her head back towards me then, while Theo stared at her dumbstruck. “Maybe I will keep this brother after all. You know my mom told me to do that on our wedding day? I should have listened.”

I shook my head as I stared at her, still tugging on my beard for some sort of grounding.

I should have been marginally upset that she had just condoned us to a PR stunt of the century. But I was far too concerned about keeping a boner down instead.

That was way too hot.

She watched me quizzically. “You’re not jealous?”

My face scrunched up in confusion then. “Uhm. No. Not over him, at least. Why would I be?”

She took a step back as if someone had shoved her. “Woooow. You actually meant it.”

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