Page 84 of Of Heartbreak and Harmony
“Well, you didn’t tell me what you have planned, so I had to guess.”
“You guessed well.” I reach up and thread a strand of her hair through my fingers. “Except for this.”
She arches a challenging brow. “I wanted to wear it down.”
“Hmm.” I hum and fight my smile as I push her red hair over her shoulder, finding the bruise I left on her neck last night. I brush my thumb over it, loving the way her breath hitches. “I don’t know why not.”
Callie flicks her eyes over my shoulder to Sav before glaring back at me, lowering her voice to a hiss.
“Maybe because I don’t want pap photos looking like I was mauled by a vampire.”
“You’re the girlfriend of a rock star, Callie,” I say teasingly. “A few bite marks won’t shock anyone.”
I don’t bother lowering my voice, and Callie’s nostrils flare as a red flush creeps up her chest and colors her cheeks. Her jaw ticks with irritation and embarrassment as she flicks her eyes back to Sav once more.
“Yourfakegirlfriend.”
I smile wide and lean in closer, running her red hair through my fingers again.
“My fake girlfriend who enjoys having my mouth on her.”
Fuck, the way she blushes. The way her chest starts to rise and fall more quickly. It thrills me. Affecting her is an endorphin rush, and right now, I want it mainlined into my veins.
I turn to Sav. “We’re heading out. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, but I’m good.” She waves me off with a sleepy smile and heads back to her bedroom. “Have fun.”
For the first time in a long time, I feel like the ground under my feet regarding Sav isn’t quaking with uncertainty. It’s such a fucking relief. Heartless is my family. I don’t want to lose it again.
I turn back to Callie and offer my hand, smiling bigger when she takes it, then I lead her out of the room and through the lobby to the valet.
“Aren’t you going to ask me what we’re doing for our date?” I ask once we’re buckled into our seats.
She shrugs. “Wasn’t planning on it.”
I glance at her again. She’s still stiff, her hands fisted together tightly in her lap with her jaw clenched. It’s the polar opposite of the woman I had in my arms last night. The woman who had her legs wrapped around my waist backstage. Lust swirls in my stomach at the memory, but ice forms in my veins as I take in her body language.
Ham confirmed this morning that the photos of our embrace after the show are already all over the internet. That could be why she’s uncomfortable, but I thought we’d started moving past that.
Seems I thought wrong.
The whole silent, uncomfortable ride, I remind myself that the chilling attitude coming from her is preferred. Sure, I like her warm and pliant, I like her burning under my palms and eager, but this is better.
This issafer.
More images from ArtFusion have been clearing in my mind. Details of each encounter coming back into focus. I waver back and forth between being pissed and wanting to replay each memory over and over. One minute, I want to win her over, and the next I want to shut her out. I need to choose one and fucking stick with it, and it’s not lost on me what the smarter choice would be.
I tamp down the excitement I’d let build for today. I tell myself I put thought into this date simply because it would look good. I didn’t do this for her. I didn’t do this for myself.
I did it for my fucking job. For my band.
That’s all that has ever mattered.
24
CALLIE
The imageof him holding her is burned in my brain.
