Page 92 of Cadence
I’m in a daze, standing off to the side as Beau and Eli finish off the call and the screen turns black. No one moves, and for asecond, the only sound is the low hum of the road beneath the bus wheels.
Beau blows out a breath, leaning back like Thea’s news has finally hit him. “Holy shit.”
Eli’s smile is slow, and then he’s barreling into Beau’s side, laughing, the two of them wrestling like kids. Maddox stands, mouth tight, eyebrows pinched, nudging past me and pacing the few steps to the back of the bus, disappearing into the single room.
I watch him go, catching that final look on his face before the door closes behind him. He wasn’t smiling, didn’t even look excited. This is his dream; a record deal, and he isn’t even pretending to be happy.
And that’s how I know that this matters more than anything. More than touring with Reign or some dumb-ass radio interview, because old Maddox is back, the one who needs to be alone, in control.
Quietly, I return to my spot, throat thickening as my eyes drop to my tablet, the last of the content I have left for @BehindTheSnare ready to be uploaded.
I swallow, trying to ignore how my heart wishes I could go into that room and talk to him. I slump down into my chair, leaning my head against the back and closing my eyes.
This was never just a fling. Sure, we haven’t said the words, haven’t defined it, but we’re not stupid enough not to know it could be more. Not when Maddox is closer than ever to getting what he wants, and one wrong move could cost him everything.
But I know you don’t get everything.
No matter how much I’m starting to want it.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Maddox
Myfeethittheasphalt, the warm Vegas sun rising on the horizon as the quiet road stretches out in front of us. My breath comes in steady bursts, syncing with the rhythm of Beau’s and Eli’s footsteps beside me.
It should be calming. Running’s usually when I think best on tour, when my brain settles into that place where it’s just blood and lungs and muscles burning. But today, my thoughts won’t shut the fuck up.
Thea’s call from yesterday still loops through my head, and hasn’t let up since.
A rep’s been asking questions.
This is it. What I’ve worked toward for the last ten years. Back when it was just Beau and me, chasing the dream of makingit big. A label rep doesn’t “sniff around” unless something’s happening, unless someone important is listening.
This should be the best news of our lives, but instead of the relief I thought I’d feel, doubt starts to creep in.
Eli runs a little ahead, earbuds in, bouncing like he’s jogging for fun. Beau keeps pace beside me, steady, too quiet not to notice. I push harder and focus on running, trying to breathe past the worry.
“Who do you think it is?” Eli asks, pulling out an earbud as he slows his steps. “The label guy? I can’t stop thinking about it.”
“No idea.” I shrug. “Not really thought about it.”
“Yeah, right.” He scoffs, calling me out. “Think it might be someone from Deveraux Records?”
I stumble, feet catching on nothing. That was my first thought, but Paige would rather eat glass than be linked to them. Nepotism isn’t her style, and there are plenty of other labels. Raiders, Punkline… It could be anyone.
We keep running, and I keep my attention on the burn in my calves, the ache in my lungs. Anything but the hollow thud in my chest that’s been there since last night or the way that Paige fills my head every time I close my eyes.
“Dude, are you alright?” Eli asks, concern creeping into his tone. “You’re acting weird today. I’d figured you’d have a bounce in your step or something.”
“I don’t fucking bounce.”
Dismissing me, he slices the air with his hand. “Whatever. This is the biggest thing we’ve ever had. It’s right there, Maddox, like, close enough to touch.”
“He’s just pissed he needs to stop fucking Paige.”
Eli skids to a halt, eyes wide in horror, mouth parted. “Wait—What?”
I stop too, spinning to face Beau. “Excuse me?”
