Page 94 of Cadence
“I want this.” Swallowing roughly, I lower my voice. “All of it. The band, the label… Paige.”
Regret lines Beau’s eyes, and for a brief second, he almost looks sorry for what he needs to say. “You know that’s not possible, Mad. No band ever survives hookups. You have to choose.”
The finality in his voice is worse than any fight. It’s a warning, a goodbye if I ignore it.
I look away, turning my back on them, tugging my hair hard enough to hurt. The wind rustles through the trees lining the road, like it’s the only thing still moving. Beau sighs, the sound of his footsteps taking off behind me as Eli lingers, hand on my shoulder in an offer of support.
I nod, not looking at him as he runs to catch up while I stay where I am, alone on the road, the sun now fully up and blinding.
But all I can feel is the cold cast of the shadow settling in my chest.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Maddox
Vegassucked.
Not the crowd, they were fucking lit. It was me.Isucked. Because all I did was watch Paige, memorize the slight furrow in her brow when the drums were heavy in certain songs, the way her head bobbed, hair hanging over her face, eyes closing when she was really feeling it.
But even through all that, every time she lifted her eyes to mine, it was only ever Beau’s voice in my head.
Choose.
I left the venue feeling like someone had reached into my chest, squeezed their fist around my lungs, and forced me to breathe through it. And even walking into another hotel lobby, the sensation’s still there.
“Nightcap?” Eli thumbs toward the bar.
I shake my head. “Gonna head up.”
“Boring.” He looks at Beau. “What about you?”
Beau’s eyes dart to mine before he nods stiffly. His shoulders are tight as he walks across the tiled entryway, disappearing into the bar. He hasn’t said more than two words to me since this morning’s blow-up, and honestly, I don’t blame him.
This thing with Paige? It was never going to stay a secret. It was foolish to think it ever could.
The elevator doors slide open with a dull thud, my floor empty and quiet. I don’t move right away, standing in the lonely car, fingers curled around the gold rail behind me, the silence louder than any crowd.
Eventually, I step out, keycard in hand, every muscle wound tight, ready for a night of being stuck alone with my thoughts. I turn the corner toward my room just in time to see a door across the hall swing open.
Paige steps out, hair twisted into a knot at the top of her head, an oversized vintageSip Stationtee hanging loosely over a pair of cotton shorts. Her eyes go wide for a second before her expression shifts, a small smile tugging at her lips like she wasn’t sure she’d see me. Or maybe hoping that she would.
The strangled squeeze in my chest returns, it’s vise-like grip painful. I know we can’t keep this up, yet part of me is already splintering at the thought of letting her go.
Now’s your chance.
“Hey,” she says, catching her door with her heel as it starts to close. “I was just coming to find you.”
She lifts my notebook in her hand, chewing on her lower lip, and I’m desperate to know what notes she’s left me. We just stand there, for a beat too long, like we’re both pretending this is casual.
I glance down at it, swallowing around the lump in my throat. “Yeah?”
She steps back into her room slowly, her eyes never leaving mine in silent invitation. I should walk away. Now is not the right time to talk about my lyrics, or go inside with her, because as soon as that door closes, I know I’m not strong enough to resist her.
But my feet move forward anyway, walking toward her as she clutches my book to her chest, something vulnerable in her eyes as she watches the door click shut behind me, her chest rising with a slow, shaky inhale as the lock engages.
“Maddox.” Her gaze drops to the floor quickly before meeting mine again. “This was…” Her thumb brushes the edge of the cover. “No notes.”
I blink, hating the way she’s looking at me, like she knows exactly what the song is about, like sheknowseverything because she’s lived it with me from start to finish.
