Page 17 of Wish You Once More
He rolled his eyes. “Remember you have to come back here, Bree. I don’t want you stinking of booze and scaring off customers.”
“When have I ever done that?” I tilted my head to one side. “I’ve always been well behaved.” There had been one incident a few years ago, when I had got too drunk to come back to my post and ended up sleeping off the booze under a bush near the backstage area. Bryan hadn’t been around then, but it seemed my indiscretion lived on in infamy.
“Have a break, get some rest and come back refreshed.” He jerked his chin in the direction of one of the drinks stalls. “Their smoothies are really good.”
“Message received.” I retrieved my bag from underneath the table and slung it across my body, then slipped on my sunglasses. “I’ll see you later.”
My instinct took me in the direction of the burger stall. There really was nothing better than festival burgers and dirty fries, preferably washed down with cheap lager. My mouth watered at the thought.
“Bree, have you got a minute?”
The familiar voice halted me in my tracks. Slowly, I turned to face Mat. Behind my sunglasses, I appraised him properly. Slightly long, scruffy hair grazed his shoulders, brown eyes as intense as ever, muscled body no doubt honed from rushing about a stage. New tattoos poked out from the arm of his t-shirt. He held his own sunglasses in one hand, making him seem more open and vulnerable, and stared intently at me.
I swallowed hard, thankful for the shades screening my eyes, otherwise every single one of my emotions would have been on show. The appetite I thought I had disappeared with short greeting.
Mat went on, not giving me the opportunity to say anything. “You told me to ask you if I had any questions.” His gaze locked on mine. “Well, I have one.”
I played dumb, pretending I had no clue what he was about to ask. His chocolate eyes were molten pools, searching, looking for answers.
“Sure. Go ahead.” I could barely trust myself to speak.
“Why didn’t you let me explain why I chose to go to LA with Scott?”
This was the question I dreaded, the one I always wanted answers to, it hung in the air between us. Along with, why the fuck did you leave me, you bastard asshole. The one question I dreaded, the one I had always wanted answers to. Mat reached out and the backs of our hands brushed. The contact was infinitesimal yet jolted me like a thousand watts of electricity.
“I-”
There wasn’t the opportunity to get any more words out as a woman from behind Mat put her hands over his eyes.
“Surprise!” she cried.
She wasn’t alone. Standing a foot away from her was Scott Lincoln and Rosie Tatton.
9
Mat
Iclawed at the fingers covering my eyes, then spun around to see Ellie, Scott and Rosie.
“What are you doing here?” The words came out a little harder than I intended, and Ellie’s smile dropped. I balled my hands into fists, desperately looking behind me to see if Bree was still there.
A flash of orange disappeared into the crowds by the food stalls.
Shit.
I’d been on the verge of telling her everything. Explaining everything she didn’t know and had always assumed the worst of because of it.
“Sorry.” I shook my head. “I wasn’t expecting you to be here, that’s all. I thought you had to work?”
“Rosie persuaded me it would be a good idea to surprise you.” She glanced over at her friend. “Scott told her about the house you’d arranged, that there was a spare room, and well…” She lifted her shoulders. “We had a nice time the other night.”
I honestly didn’t have any words.
Scott’s brow furrowed. “Was that Bree?”
“Mmmhmm.”
“She looked good.” Scott nodded approvingly, earning him a punch on the arm from Rosie.
