Page 10 of Crash
Ren elbowed him. “Right,” he said. “I still want the two most important people in my whole life on my arm tonight, though.”
Smiling, I said, “Stop sucking up.”
Threading his left arm through mine and his right through Ren’s, we wandered around the corner and into the fray. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but when he’d mentioned there would be a little carpet photo op, I had kind of thought there’d be maybe four or five people and a reporter or two. Nothing major. Except reality was standing right in front of me, looking like twenty cameras, two TV crews and a bunch of people with phones in their hands, waiting to record interviews.
As we stepped onto the carpet, my heartbeat sped up, thumping erratically in my chest. Breathing deeply, I concentrated on setting one foot in front of the other, ignoring my sweaty palms. The snap of a dozen cameras going off made me shy away and Ash wound his arm around my waist, holding me against him. Ren stood on his other side, posing like a fighter. I suspected she was taking thepissas she was never one for photos on a good day. I began to wish with utter ferocity that Iwasas fearless as her.
“You’re doing great, Vee,” Ash murmured.
There was a cacophony of voices yelling out questions to him and a few even began calling to me for a photo. I squinted as more flashbulbs went off.
“If you don’t want to answer any questions, I’d go inside,” Ash said, giving me a tiny push toward the door.
I swallowed hard and nodded, making a beeline for the entrance. I shoved open the door with the flat of my palms, and the sound of rock music blared from the speakers within. Trying not to let the unknown overwhelm me, I ventured inside.Bigger steps.
I’d been to Pulse once before while it was under construction. I’d seen the shell, but now that I was here for the opening, it was the first time I’d seen the completed masterpiece. My eyes widened as I took in the scene. Posh didn’t do it justice. Even at a simple glance, I could tell Ash had created his dream fighter gym and should be very proud ofhimself.
The moment the door closed behind me, I was offered a drink by a waitress at the door. She was a busty woman in a sports bra and tiny shorty shorts. Taken by surprise, I flinched backward and shook my head. She glanced at me with a quizzical expression before turning to serve the person who’d entered behind me.
“Don’t ask me about the cage girls,” Ren declared standing beside me, her voice raised so I could hear her over the music. “It was Ash’s idea, the pig.”
I laughed, instantly at ease. “Sounds like him.”
“I’m going to get a drink at the bar. You want?”
I shook my head. “I think I’m just going to ease into this,” I replied.
Ren placed her hand on my arm. “Well, I won’t be far.”
“Okay.” I gave her a smile, more to reassure her than myself. People had started to notice us standing by the door and soon enough they’d begin to wander over and want to talk.
Ren gave me a wave and disappeared off toward the bar while I sucked in a deep breath for courage. Stepping forward, I began to melt into the crowd of finely dressed people, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. The further I went, the more isolated I became.Alone in a fucking crowd.
As I progressed, more and more people turned to look at me. I felt their eyes and saw the hushed whispers. I could read their lips and hear their thoughts.There’s the sister who was raped.
My throat began to constrict, and my vision became blurry around the edges, waves of nausea rising to the surface. Fuck, I felt like I was going to pass out. Turning sharply on my heel, I fled back the way I’d come. There was a staircase dead ahead, and I clattered upward, pushing through the first door at the top. I found myself in the office, the noise from the music below instantly cut off into a dull boom of bass. This must be where I was going to work on Monday.
“Violet?”
I paused at the sound of the deep voice, my heart beginning to flutter. I’d recognize it anywhere, but my name on his lips sent everything into overload. Should I run? Should I turn? Should I smile?
Deciding to turn, my gaze met his, and I felt like everything was about to explode. If it was a good thing, I was too frightened to understand.
Lincoln smiled, his green eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. He held his mobile phone in his hand, the screen lit. He must’ve been on a call when I busted in on him.
“Sorry,” I blurted.
“It’s alright,” he said taking a step forward. “I was just talking to Dean.”
“Oh.” I fixed my gaze on his shoes. They were pretty nice shoes.
“I was hoping I’d run into you,” he said, making me glance up. He flashed a heart-stopping smile, and I think I might’ve actually died for a beat or two.
I never had trouble telling the Twins apart. When I was a shy sixteen-year-old, I’d watched them training as much as I’d watched Ash and had fast learned the differences. For one, they fought differently, and Lincoln had this dimple in his right cheek that Dean didn’t have…and I noticed it right now. I’d seen pictures of him online, and I knew he was good looking, but in the flesh? I flushed and glanced away.
“I thought you were in Sydney,” I said, my voice wavering.
“Ah, well, I was…” He trailed off, looking uncomfortable.
