Page 56 of 4-Ever

“Stop,” I interrupted. “He’s had a rough time with his brother lately, okay? I don’t want to see him get hurt. I’m just looking out for him.”

“Well, as far as I can tell, Faise is all grown up and he looks after himself. And I can assure you that a relationship is the last thing I’m looking for. Like I said before, relax. You have nothing to worry about.”

That didn’t calm the storm in my gut. Not at all. I hated the idea of him and Faise together. Even if it was just a casual screw.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to do the rounds. Enjoy the rest of the party.”

Averell dismissed me and walked away.

“So, you got it bad for your BFF bandmate?”

Jesse’s question startled me since I all but forgot he was standing on my other side.

“Not you too,” I groaned.

Jesse rubbed a hand over his face. “I told you, I’ve been there. It happens a lot. Band members share a bond that’s like nothing else. It makes for heady chemistry. But you better be sure you want to go there. Cause once you let them know, there’s no going back.”

Jesse patted my shoulder and gave me a sympathetic look, then headed out into the crowd to join Averell.

I shook off his warning and headed back to find my sister. I expected to find her and Faise sitting together, talking.

But she was nowhere in sight. And neither was Faise.

CHAPTER 16

FAISE

Icouldn’t wait to call an end to this day.

Ronin and I could hardly talk without it turning into an argument. It had me fighting the urge to run right the hell out of the venue. To get high. To do anything to take away my frustration. Add to that, Averell’s attention, though flattering, was making my anxiety spike. It should be exactly what I wanted. Averell should be who I wanted. Easy, no strings sex.

Why couldn’t I just cut off these feelings for Ronin and focus on someone else?

But the longer I talked to Ciara, the more I realized that my problems had to take a backseat. I knew her almost as well as I knew Ro, and something was painfully wrong. She was way too quiet, and along with the boyfriend making disturbing comments, warning signs flashed in front of me like pyrotechnics on stage.

“Ro’s just being a typical big brother,” I reassured Ciara. “He misses you. And he worries.”

Her phone vibrated and she pulled it out of her pocket. “I have to take this. I’ll be right back.”

I watched her get up and head to the exit. I flagged down a server for another drink.

Booze in hand, I looked around for Ronin, but he was nowhere in sight. So, drink in hand, I did my bit and made the rounds of the room while I continued to search him out. I’d become more comfortable in the PR area with each passing year. It helped that I was a familiar face to music fans, so they often came up to talk to me. In a room with other musicians, or with fans, no worries, I could talk shop all day. But with suits and sponsors? Not my thing. Not for any of the guys, but me least of all.

Halfway through my drink, I headed back to where I started from.

I found Ronin sitting by himself, head down, checking his phone. While we had a moment alone, I considered opening pandora’s box by asking Ro about what happened at the photoshoot.

Did I really ready for his answer?

“Hey.”

“Where’d my sister and her boyfriend go?” he asked me.

“Uh, her phone rang when I was talking to her. I assumed it was work or something, I think she went outside to take the call. I have no idea where Dallas is.”

“I’m going to find her. I need to know why she’s dating that douchebag.”

“No shit. That guy gives me the creeps.”

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