Page 77 of Of Heartbreak and Harmony
My eyes go wide with surprise before I narrow them at him. “Good. You’re not forgiven. Now go away.”
He doesn’t budge, and I clear my throat, gesturing to the door behind him.
“You can leave,” I say, but he still doesn’t move. His big blue eyes bore into mine in a way that has me pausing so I can stare back.
“You want to know why I did it?”
I start to say no but I stop myself. “Why did you do it?”
“Because I wanted to.”
I roll my eyes and start to shut my bedroom door on him, but he puts out his hand, stopping the door from closing. The move puts him farther into my space, and his scent overwhelms me. Something darker than Torren. More moody. Even in the moment, when my head is swimming, I can appreciate how fitting it is.
“I did it because you’re special, and he’s got his head too far up his ass to see it.”
I arch a brow. “What the hell does that mean?”
“If he’s not going to take you to lunch, why can’t I?”
“Maybe because you’re not my boyfriend?”
“Fakeboyfriend, and I don’t see him doing anything more than the bare minimum.”
I scoff. “Because, like you said, it’sfake. He’s not required to do more.”
“But he should.”
Jonah takes a step closer to me and leans in, his long blond hair creating what feels like a curtain around our faces. Something in my head shouts for me to step away, but I don’t.
“He hasn’t taken you out since Glendale. Didn’t show you any of Vegas. Two weeks and nothing but pap walks from the bus to the hotel, and from the hotel to the stadium.” His eyes drop to my lips, lingering there as he speaks. “Tell me you’re not bored.”
I bite the inside of my cheek and shake my head, but he smirks.
“Torren wants to keep you all to himself. Wants to keep youhidden.” He looks back into my eyes, then reaches up and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. “But I think you should be seen.”
My brows furrow as he drops his hand and steps backward.
“It’s all up to you, Calla Lily.”
He doesn’t say another word. He just winks at me, then turns and walks out, leaving me staring a hole through the door.
Jesus, this just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
The crowd roars as The Hometown Heartless take the stage for their second encore, and there’s something even more magical about watching the show from backstage.
Getting to see the faces of the fans in the pit. The way they sing along with all their hearts. The way they cry and laugh. It makes me miss my band. Makes me miss being front and center on the stage. Our crowds were never even a fraction of this size, but the energy is still just as enthralling. And even now, years after I decided to hate The Hometown Heartless forever, I can’t help but want to sing along. I can’t help but want to dance and laugh and even cry with the crowd. They’re just...
Magic.
This band is magic. It makes me regret everything.
When the last song is over, I walk to the pre-determined spot for our photo op. I plaster on a happy smile, and in full view of the crowd, I wait. The only thing Torren and I have spoken about since the sushi restaurant yesterday afternoon was this little show Hammond had planned for the media. A quick photo op to keep the press happy. I keep thinking about what Jonah said yesterday.
Two weeks and nothing but pap walks.
This is certainly not a pap walk, but it’s just another version of the same old song and dance. I just want to get it over with, but I force a smile anyway.
Gotta sell it, after all.
