Page 93 of Hinder
Trent, Lexi, and Opal stand at a high-top table, chatting to a woman and three men. I don’t know who they are, but by the designer suits and tight posture, they remind me of people my parents socialize with. Deep pockets.
As we cross the room I get a better glimpse at the woman. She’s familiar, like maybe we’ve met before, and the fear that she might know my parents, and in turn who I am, causes me to fall behind Sean. Shit.Why do I know her?My mind races but I can’t place her face.
“There they are! Sean, Leighton, these are the top executives from WMI.” Worldwide Music Industries. Only the largest distributer and producer of music. They’re as big as it gets and they’re talking to us. Trent tips his chin to Sean. “Where the hell did Austin run off to now?”
“Last we saw him, he was at the bar.” Sean shrugs before holding out his hand to the woman. “Sean. It’s nice to meet you.”
The woman shakes his hand. “You boys made quite a splash tonight. It’s nice to finally meet you, Sean.” She turns to me next. “You must be Leighton. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the new Three Ugly Guys drummer, and after tonight I can see why.”
I place my hand against her palm and a sense of déjà vuhits me square in the chest. “I’m sorry, but have we met?”
“Surely not.” She glances over my shoulder before returning my gaze with a bright smile. “I never forget a face.”
“She doesn’t. Vicky is as savvy as she is smart,” one of the suits says.
“Aw, Brent, you don’t have to suck up. I already like you.” She laughs and there it is again. That familiarity I can’t seem to shake.
“We’re going to grab another round,” Lexi interrupts, and my gaze darts to Opal.
Pain. It flashes in her eyes, but before I can decipher the cause of it, the girls are gone and we’re pulled into conversation with the execs. I try to focus. Smile when appropriate. Laugh and nod, too, but I’m totally distracted by the fact Opal isn’t with me. I want to turn around, scan the room and look for her, but I know my uncle’s here, too. Watching and scheming like the shark he is.
I don’t want to make her any more of a target than she already is, but I can’t take it anymore. “Hey, I’m gonna grab a drink,” I say to Sean. “I’ll be right back.” At his nod I work my way through the crowd, but there’s no sight of Opal. Her long red hair usually makes her easy to spot.Fuck.Where is she?
“Hey, Lexi!” I catch Opal’s sister on her way back to Trent. “What happened to Opal? Where did she go?”
“Why should I tell you, dipshit?” She pushes past and practically checks me with her shoulder.
Whoa.I hold up my hands. “Because I need to see her.”
“I don’t think she really wants to see you.” Her hands rest on her hips, and if I weren’t so determined to find Opal I would walk away.
“Why?” I shake my head, dumbfounded as to the reason Lexi’s being so rude.
She raises her brows. “Maybe she’s not keen on the fact you were checking out another woman for like five minutes straight.”
“What? Who? I wasn’t checking out anyone.”
“The CEO of WMI. Vicky, or whatever the fuck her name is.” She shakes her head. “Is Opal just a game to you? A conquest?”
“No!” Is that what she thinks? Fuck. I need to find her. “Look, I care about Opal, a hell of a lot, which I think you already know. I thought I recognized Vicky. I was only trying to remember from where. I can’t believe Opal thought I’d be into anyone other than her.”
She stares me down, long and hard, before she finally relents. “Then go find her. She went to use the restroom.”
“Thank you!” I say, my legs already moving toward the doors. Inside the restaurant, I spot Opal coming out of the restroom near the bar. Her gaze is cast downward and she doesn’t look up until she notices me blocking her path.
“Oh, hi,” she says.
“I want you. Only you.” The declaration flows freely from my lips.
She glances around before meeting my gaze and the question is clear in her eyes.
“That woman back there, I thought I recognized her. Thought maybe she was someone I knew before. But if she is, I don’t know from where. But I don’t care about her. I care about you.” I lay out my heart and reach to brush my fingers along Opal’s hip. The hardness in her eyes softens.
I take a small step forward, closing the distance between us even more and drop my voice so only she can hear. “It’s literally taking everything in me to not follow you around, hold your hand, and kiss you tonight.”
“I want that, too,” she says.
I nod, take a step back, and shove my hands into my back pockets so I won’t be tempted to reach for her. “Do you wanna maybe get out of here soon?”
