Page 34 of Every Now and Then
“I’m Anna. It’s nice to meet you, Rowdy. Congratulations on the new contract. But truly, I feel like I’m the one intruding. Please kick me out anytime, so you can celebrate privately as a band.”
Josh slings an arm around my shoulders, and I aim a smile his way. “Told you she was cool as hell. Anna, let me introduce you to the rest of Outlaw. This is James. He’s my older brother and our drummer, and this is Ruston, our lead singer."
With a smile, I raise my eyes to nod hello to James and Ruston.
And I freeze.
The breath flees from my lungs. The smile drops, and my eyes widen in shock. “Hayes,” I gasp.
He stares at me, silent, and an embarrassing realization dawns on me—he might not remember me. I may be just one in a sea of many faceless one-night stands he’s had.
Because he’s a freaking famous lead singer of a band.
Of course, he won’t recognize or remember me.
Heat flames my cheeks. I idealized my memories of Hayes and allowed myself to believe this fantasy,this delusion,that our night together was special. Thatwewere special.
Sensing my obvious loss of composure, Josh jokes to ease the tension. “Oh sure, you recognize the lead singer of our band, but not me, the lowly bass guitarist.”
But then Hayes murmurs, “Annabelle.”
One word. I hear that one word and my lungs begin working again.
He remembers me.
He remembers me.
Sometimes the past doesn't stay in the past. Sometimes it walks in through the front door wearing a cowboy hat and a lopsided smile.
Just then, his eyes, that steel blue color that haunts my dreams, capture mine, refusing to let go.
Josh steps away from me, dropping his arm from my shoulder, murmuring in disbelief, “Holy shit. You’re… you’reHayes’ Annabelle?”
I feel everyone’s eyes upon me. I stand, paralyzed, unsure of what to do or how to react.
Hayes’ eyes drag up my body, from my stiletto heels to my face, in a slow, consuming study. When his gaze meets mine again, my heart beats double-time. His expression flickers with emotions I can’t read.
Did our night together mean as much to him as it did to me?
But as soon as that optimistic thought crosses my mind, I stop myself. The reality remains that we occupy very different worlds. Hayes is a famous multimillionaire musician. I’ll bet he has women falling into bed with him all the time. Josh probably knows about me only because they swap stories about their sexual exploits.
The idea that Hayes may have crudely rehashed our night together with his buddies is powerful enough to cut me off at the knees.
I’ve got to get out of here.
I can’t stand here another minute, pretending that what I experienced with Hayes didn’t mean something to me. Fumbling for my purse, I turn to Josh to issue a brief apology when I hear someone else call my name.
“Anna? Anna Morris, is that you?”
Confused, I glance behind me, my mouth dropping open. “Aiden?”
What is Kyle’s colleague doing here?
This is more than I can handle. My need to escape becomes overwhelming. I push past the group, rushing to the exit. I can’t stay. I can’t be there to witness the look on Hayes’ face when he realizes the truth.
When he remembers everything he told me, and when he realizes everything I withheld from him.
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