Page 84 of The Second Deal

Shannonwaves me off. “Ijust need to know if you’ll come back,Steph.”

Istare long and hard at the floor for a moment. “Y’allhave done better without me.”

Zaksighs audibly.Hiseyes are still closed, face aimed towards the ceiling with his head resting against the back of the couch. “Youknow how much better we could’ve beenwithyou?”

Adriannods in my periphery. “Thelast album was great, but it wasn’t as great as it coulda been if you were still here.”

Ibite down on my bottom lip, chewing asIpick at my nails and begin to shake my foot. “Doyou thinkRobbiewill calm down ifIcome back?”

Ittakes a long moment beforeAdriansays, “Hemight.ButI’vegot a feeling he’s still gonna stick his nose where it don’t belong.”

Shannonhuffs. “Bet.”

Imake a face. “Thehell does that mean?”

Thesilence that descends in the room is eerie.Shannonpicks at the label on his bottle of beer.Zakkeeps his eyes closed and arms crossed.Dreevapes, sending a fresh, thick cloud out into the middle of the room.

“He’sblaming y’all for me leaving, right?”Iask, glancing betweenZandDree.Mypalms spread open and turn towards the ceiling. “I’llcome clean and tell him what really happened.Hecan’t be pissed at y’all whenI’mthe problem.”

Adrianswings his legs over the side of the couch and sits upright, his intense focus burning solely on me. “You’renot the problem,Steph.”

Zakfinally uncrosses his arms and sits up, opening his eyes.Theylook so dark against the paleness of his skin.Hegrimaces and huffs. “Justcome back to the band,Steph.We’llfigure it out.”

I’mnot too sure what he means, but whenIglance between the guys, my skin crawls and my arm aches. “Idon’t know,”Isay softly.

“Comeon, princesa.Weall want you back.Thefans want you back.”Adriangestures towards me. “Iknow damn well you miss it, too.”

Heholds my gaze asIgnaw on the inside of my lip.Justlike last night, and probably like all the other times,Idon’t want to tell him no.

And, hell,Idon’t want to say no.

“Okay.”

Agrin bursts onto his face the same timeShannongrunts a victorious, “Fuckyeah.”

Zak, however, scoffs loudly. “Seriously?Aftersix years together you still can’t say yes to me, but you’ll say yes to my brother just fine.”

Mybrows furrow. “Z, what the fuck do you want from me?Youwant me in the band or not?”

Thesavage heartbreak that shatteredZak’sexpression on stage atNewYear’sBallreappears. “Iwant you back in the band, andIwant you to be my wife.”Zakshakes his head and looks away. “MaybeI’lljust give him your engagement ring and you’ll say yes then, huh?”

Mychest bottoms out—Ican’t breathe.Tearssting my eyes.

Mylips part, but nothing comes out.

Zakhas been crying out for me this whole time.

Mydry tongue attempts to wet my bottom lip.Thecrack that reopened splits my chest in half, letting almost two years’ worth of pent-up agony bleed out.

Ican’t muster anything above a whisper. “Youstill have it?”

Thefront door swings open and bangs against the wall.

Robbie’sglare sweeps over us. “What’sup?”

“Perfect,”Shannongrumbles.

Robbiecrosses his arms. “Fuck’sgoin’ on?”

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