Page 68 of Edge of Heaven

The smell of marijuana wafts through the air, sweet and heavy, and I wrinkle my nose in distaste. I would do anything to be back in L.A., at my mom’s house, curled up on the couch reading Toby a story. Or watching one of his favorite movies. Making popcorn together.

Despite Mick being a touring musician, I can’t help but think that he would enjoy being there with us too when he’s not on the road. He’s the kind of guy who has balance, and who knows when to turn off his rockstar persona and just be… Michael.

Someone’s calling my name, and I look over at Callum. He has a blonde on one side and a redhead on the other, motioning for me to join them.

Ugh.

I don’t know why he’s so determined to have threesomes and gang bangs and all kinds of other sex that includes multiple partners. Like having one person at a time isn’t enough. I’ve always been firm about that kind of thing, but unlike with drugs, he keeps trying. And now we’re in a big group where I’m going to have to turn him down in front of his friends—something I know he won’t like.

“All I’m missing is the brunette, baby!” he calls to me. “Come sit on my lap and show us a good time.”

“Now you know I don’t like to share,” I say, keeping my voice light. I eye the two girls he’s with. “Beat it—before I beat the shit out of both of you.”

The girls look surprised, but there must be something in my eyes that tells them I mean business because they scatter. Pretending to be jealous saves face for Callum and gets me out of an awkward situation as well.

“Now what’d you go and do that for?” Callum complains, but his head lolls to the side and his eyes flutter closed.

He’s definitely fucked up, drunk and high on who knows what.

Which bodes well for me since I have no intention of having sex with him in front of people or joining him in any of the shenanigans he talks about.

He seems to doze off, and I make a show of smoothing his hair back from his face and kissing the top of his head. The band seems to be constantly watching me and if they remember anything tomorrow, I want it to be of me being nice.

“Smooth,” Ryleigh whispers in my ear.

“Not my first day as Callum’s girlfriend,” I mutter. “I’ve had to learn some tricks to survive.”

“Someday, you’re going to tell me the real reason you put up with him.”

I nod. “I will. Promise.”

It’s nearly two in the morning, and I’m trying to decide whether or not I can escape back to our room. Callum will wake up soon—no way he’s out for the night—but then he’ll drink some more, smoke more pot, and pass out again. He usually starts the night with cocaine and ends it with weed.

“Taryn!” I hear my name and whirl to see Mick, a look of panic on his face. “Cops are on the way up. Someone complained—they’re going to raid the place, and there are drugs everywhere.”

Our eyes lock, and mine must be filled with panic.

“Let me get you out of here.”

“Yes.” I don’t have a choice because just then, someone yells, “Cops!” and everything goes wild.

“Come on.” Mick closes his hand around mine and pulls me out of the room, down the hall, and around the corner toward what appears to be a freight elevator. Angus, Ryleigh, and Tate are already there, motioning for us to hurry.

“Come on!” Angus hisses.

We run into the elevator and the doors close behind us.

“Fuck.” Tate shakes his head. “That would’ve been a disaster. Drugs fucking everywhere.”

“The head of security at this hotel knows my dad,” Angus says. “He texted me to give me a head’s-up.”

“Thank you,” I whisper. I’m not talking to anyone directly, just grateful they included me in their escape plan. Well, I’m sure it was Mick’s doing, but Angus and the others didn’t have to wait for us.

We exit in the shipping and receiving area, and there’s a guy in a suit who nods to Angus.

“There’s a taxi waiting to take you for a drive around the city,” he says with a smile. “I’ll text you when the coast is clear.”

Angus shakes his hand. “I owe you one, man.”

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