Page 8 of Heartbeat Highway

But he steps away. Of course he does. He’s my friend, and friendship hugs are different from boyfriend ones.

I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly cold and well aware of the numerous interested stares Bo’s getting from men and women in the lobby. He seems completely immune, but I feel their scrutiny. It’s the same when I’m with K.What is he doing with her?

Bo’s mouth curves and he taps my chin. “What’s up, Lily? Where’d you go?”

“Nowhere.” I set my gaze on the elevator. “Which floor is K on?”

A shadow passes over Bo’s features, but he covers it by drinking his coffee. “We’re all on fourteen. Dan’s idea of a joke. Come on. I’ll ride with you.”

He takes the handle of my suitcase without me having to ask, and I roll my aching shoulder gratefully. All that hunching over textbooks and stress over exams has only made me feel like my grandmother. Maxim’s really into yoga. Maybe he can give me some pointers.

“You guys are looking great.” I follow him into the waiting elevator and he hits the button for the fourteenth floor. I try not to think of the fact that since most hotels don’t have a thirteenth floor, fourteen is technically thirteen. It’s a good thing I’m not superstitious. Really. I rub the goosebumps on my arms, wishing I’d brought a sweater. “I saw the livestream of the last couple concerts. You’re amazing.”

Bo really is a fantastic drummer. Not that I would ever tell K this, but I find it difficult to look away from Bo when he’s playing. The drumsticks become more than tools; they’re extensions of him. He’s so beautiful, it’s impossible to look anywhere else.

“Thanks.” His smile is crooked, and he bumps my hip with his. There’s that little frisson of pleasure that always flows through me when we touch. “Wait until you see us perform live.”

“I can’t wait.”

“Maybe one day, you’ll join us up there.” The elevator doors ping open. “Don’t think for a second that I forgot how amazing you are when you sing.”

My cheeks flush as we walk together down the hall. “I can’t believe you remember that.” Like me singing will ever happen. K is right. I’m a backstage girlie, not front material. Besides. I’m going to be a lawyer.

“I can’t forget it.” Bo shakes his head and tosses his empty coffee cup into a trash can. “You have a gorgeous voice. No reason to hide it.”

Now my entire body heats. “I don’t have time to sing. I have law school. And K. I’m lucky to have him.”

His jaw clenches. “Right.” He stops before a door, key card in hand. “This is me. K is two down. See you on the tour bus?”

“Okay.” I linger, and he does, too, the pair of us staring awkwardly at the carpet. Leaving Bo always feels like this, like there’s a thread running from me to him and if I take one step too far backward, it will snap and send me into a free fall.

He raises a hand toward me then enters his room.

I swallow, walk the few more steps to K’s door, and knock.

“Hold on,” I hear K say through the door. My heart pounds in my ears. He pulls open the door, and he’s dressed only in a towel slung low around his waist, his chiseled chest and abs—that he works on obsessively—on full display.I’m lucky he wants to be with me, I remind myself. His face freezes when he sees me, then it’s the old K, the one I fell for. “Lily! What a surprise.” His voice cracks on the last word, and he still stands in the door frame, arms bracketing both sides.

“Hey!” I point to my suitcase because his posture makes it impossible to wrap my arms around him. “I’m here. I’m so happy to see you.” Am I? This whole thing feels super awkward all of a sudden. Like in the moment of a horror movie where the girl’s about to go down into the dark basement, and all you want to do is yell,Don’t go in the fucking basement.

But this isn’t an ax murderer’s basement. It’s my boyfriend’s hotel room. I have a right to be here.

He runs one hand through his hair, and little drops of water from his shower fall over me. I’ve always liked the scent of K’s shampoo and body wash but something about it today is off. Almost acrid.

“Can I come in?” I jut my hip to the side, hoping I look somewhat sexy. Lianna does this all the time and men fawn over her. “I missed you.”

His eyes widen. “Right. Um…”

My posture stiffens, but not at his hesitation. It’s the sight of a thin red-haired woman with a full snake tattooed down her left side coming out of his bathroom. I can see every detail of the snake because she is completely naked.

The realization hits me like a tsunami.

My whole body contorts with rage. Without thinking, I swing my purse down off my shoulder and hit K, square in his stupid, over-exercised chest. “You lying, fuckingcheater!”

Then I turn and run.

CHAPTER 3

Bo

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