Page 29 of Loved Out Loud
“Because I’m intrigued.”
“I thought you weren’t supposed to get into relationships until you’ve been sober for at least a year.”
“My counselors haven’t said anything about that.”
“Isn’t it just common knowledge?”
“I think it’s more of an AA thing. Besides, I’m not proposing. She’s smart and gorgeous.”
He nods, not that I particularly care what his opinion is. “Fair enough.”
“Have you figured out who tipped off the press that I’d be at her signing?”
“Not yet. I have a feeling it was just someone who worked at the store.”
If that’s the case I’m going to have Darren make all the employees sign NDAs. I was enraptured by her last night. The way her voice lent emotion to the words she wrote gave me chills.
The only reason I didn’t follow her into her hotel room last night was because I knew how exhausted she was. As soon as the car door closed behind us and she was tucked safely into the vehicle, I could see her melt against the leather seat. The crush of fucking paparazzi didn’t help either.
My knee bounces in agitation just picturing the fear in her eyes and the way she froze at all the flashes of light. If I thought it would help, I’d reach out with a statement telling them she’s off limits. But, for starters, that would only encourage their shitty behavior. She’s a novelty. Someone to watch and pick apart because I’m not feeding them with my own antics.
“Ready?” Adam asks from the door as he slips his earpiece in.
“Yeah.” I grab my acoustic and walk through the door he holds open for me. Part of my new pre-concert routine includes leaving my phone in the hotel, so there’s no temptation to reach out for booze or drugs. All the dealers I typically used were deleted from my contacts, and I have a new number so they can’t reach me, but it’s as easy as slipping into the right person’s DMs and giving them a backstage pass. Not having access to a phone eliminates the possibility.
So now I drink a fuck ton of water and warm up my vocal cords while playing a few easy songs. Thankfully, I’ve only vomited once, but that was more than enough of that.
Tobias and his bodyguard meet us at the elevator.
“Where’s Xan?” I ask him.
“Arguing with Jade.” He shrugs a shoulder. “The usual.”
“Did you hear what it was about this time?”
“Nope. Don’t care as long as they both show up and do their jobs.”
Tobias has zero tolerance for their fights after so many years together. I get it, it can grate on your nerves the way Xan picks at her constantly. I’ve tried talking to her about not being so reactive to his taunts, but I swear to fuck, they’re each other’s kryptonite.
“Saw the picture of you grabbing Hazel’s ass last night,” Tobias smirks from across the elevator. “Does that mean she’s off limits?”
“I didn’t grab her ass.”
“Looks like you did.”
“It was the angle of the photo.”
“Right,” the word is laced with disbelief. “You haven’t mentioned if she’s off limits.”
He’s goading me. The level-headed, rational part of me knows that. I also realize she’s a grown woman with her own agency. Calling dibs on women is childish. I shouldn’t do it.
But fuck it.
I hit the emergency stop button on the elevator and close the distance between us. “She’s mine. Try anything, and I’ll take your drumsticks and shove them so far up your ass, you’ll choke on them.”
He smirks at me, not affected by my threat in the least. “Touchy, touchy.”
Our bodyguards exchange a look while Tobias blows me a kiss.
