Memphis
I glare at Storm’s vacant bathroom. “I told you to watch her.”
“Man, I tried but…”
“But what?”
Appearing sheepish, he shrugs. “She was crying and shit.”
Snarling, I elbow past him. “Fucking pussy.”
The dude could give an NFL linebacker a run for his money and a few waterworks was all it took to make him fold like a cheap lawn chair.
“You weren’t there,” he yells as I dip out of his room. “There was begging and pleading…and snot.”
I don’t have time for his play-by-play. I have an emotional and high girl to babysit.
Gritting my teeth, I bang on the door of her hotel room. “Open up.”
“No!” she screams.
“You have five seconds, or I’m kicking it down.”
Either way I’m getting inside.
Fortunately, it won’t require force because it swings open, and I come face to face with a furious Skylar.
Despite her puffy eyes and blotchy face, she doesn’t appear nearly as distraught as Storm alleged.
“I’m not leaving, and you can’t make me.”
I could inform her I’ve had a change of heart, but we need to get something straight. I’m the one who runs the show. Not her.
I don’t give a fuck who she’s dating.
“I can and I will.”
Balling her hands into fists, she scowls. “Why do you want me gone so bad, Memphis?”
I don’t say shit, which only makes her angrier.
Unleashing a string of expletives, she shoves me as hard as she can. Too bad for her, I don’t budge. “Man up and grow a pair, asshole.”
Keeping my expression impassive, I step into her space. “You’re about as intimidating as a puppy, Meadows. The shit you’re pulling right now is exactly why I don’t want you here. The last thing the band needs to deal with is your relationship drama and emotional outbursts. It’s fucking us up.”
And by us? I mean me.
The tough-girl facade she mustered up before she opened the door vanishes. “I didn’t ask you to rescue me tonight.”
Yet, I did. Because I’m a chump.
But like hell am I going to stand here and let her throw my moment of weakness in my face, so I spin tonight’s actions to my advantage.
“Once again, you got the wrong idea about my intentions. I wasn’t rescuing you. I was protecting the band.”
She wanted to poke the bear—see if she still had him wrapped around her finger—but this isn’t the same bear she used and tossed aside.
This bear doesn’t poke back. He goes for the jugular.
Confusion spreads across her face. “What—”
“You sat on my brother’s lap and flaunted your tits to a roomful of his bandmates and crew members.
Then you left with the intention of fucking the one guy he’s supposed to have the strongest relationship with.
” I level her with a punishing look. “I didn’t go in there to save you.
I wanted to stop Storm from making the same mistake I did. ”
Clutching her chest, she lurches back, like she’s been sucker-punched.
I’ve felt anguish, but I’ve never seen it appear before my eyes as a real living, breathing thing.
Until I looked up one night and saw that crying girl in the window…
And right now.
Her reaction should please me, but somehow, I’m the one left feeling like a knife was plunged into my chest.
To Skylar’s credit, she recovers from the blow, lifting her chin and squaring her shoulders. “Congrats, you officially lost your title. You’re no longer the most honest and upstanding person I know.”
Before I can turn that over, she grabs my hand, inspecting my reddened knuckles. “Despite what you think, I’m not stupid…or deaf.” She drops my hand. “You didn’t threaten Storm because you thought he fucked me, you threatened him because you thought he hurt me.”
She’s wrong.
I don’t think she’s stupid. Far from it.
If I’m being honest, she’s the most intelligent—and strongest—person I know.
But her perceptiveness is putting me in a position I can’t afford to be in.
“Don’t flatter yourself, Sky. It’s embarrassing.”
Her gaze travels down my bare chest, stopping when she reaches my zipper. “As embarrassing as the erection you had while you were in the bathroom comforting me? You know, so you could protect the band.”
“I—”
“Save it. I’m not interested in hearing whatever else you have to say.
” The anguish is back on her face, causing the muscles in my chest to knot up.
“I thought we could put our past aside and find a way to coexist, but it’s clear that can’t happen.
” She grips the doorframe, like she’s bracing for an impact.
“We’ve hurt each other too much. The only difference is, I never wanted to hurt you. ”
But it didn’t stop her from doing it anyway.
Whether she took pleasure in destroying me or not, the result was still the same.
“There you are,” Josh calls out, running down the hall.
Bulldozing into Skylar, he crams himself between us. “Phoenix found me and said you needed me. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
You weren’t going to find her inside another chick’s snatch.
Grabbing her shoulders, he looks her over. “Are you okay?”
“I have a headache and I’m a little nauseous, but I’ll survive.” Her gaze turns scrutinizing. “What happened to your face?”
“Bumped into something.”
Yeah, my fist.
Skylar’s stare cuts to me, but he hauls her into his arms. “I’m sorry, baby. I wasn’t thinking.”
About anyone but himself?
“I’ve never heard of anyone having a bad experience on E before.”
“I don’t want to get into this right now.” Twisting out of his hold, she retreats to the bed. “I’m exhausted. I just want to go to sleep.”
I can’t help but notice she’s still wearing my t-shirt.
The one she said smells like home.
“Yeah, okay,” Josh says over his shoulder as she curls up on the mattress. “I’m staying in, too. I want to keep an eye on you and make sure you’re okay.” His sympathetic expression changes to one of animosity when he turns to me. “You can go now. I’ve got it from here.”
I want to ram my fist through the door he slams in my face, but I’ve already caused enough damage to my hand—and pride—for one night.
Learn your lesson yet, asshole?
I head down the hall, chastising myself for getting involved in this bullshit.
It was a lot easier when I put up an invisible wall and pretended she didn’t exist. Easier, and far less stressful.
Because she isn’t my Sky to touch.
She’s his.