Page 19 of Electric Touch

“He wasn’t.” She shakes her head and looks across the sea of people around us. “We’ve been best friends since we were six. We can say those things without it being hurtful or mean. There is a reason behind it.”

“The fifty bucks?”

“Yes,” she says, too fast. “You must understand that, being so close to your brother?”

Shit, I forgot people know about my life. I wonder if she knows about me and Riley. She must do, the whole fucking world does.

“I didn’t mean to insinuate anything about your personal life.”

“You didn’t.” I hold up a hand. “And you’re right, we talk to each other like shit sometimes. So if you tell me that is what it’s like with this Apollo guy, then fair enough.”

She nods once, like she’s happy about that. “Well, it’s getting late and I have a class to teach tomorrow. Sleep will not come easy with this.” She sticks her thumb out and points over her shoulder at her tattoo.

“You teach?”

“Yes. I’m a college professor.”

“Really? Let me guess, history?”

“Mathematics.”

“Clever and beautiful.” Fuck. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s okay. You’re talented, and beautiful.”

I throw my head back and laugh. “You realise calling a man beautiful is offensive.”

“Only if you’re an insecure man.” With that, she gets to her feet. “And you, Nash Jameson, don’t strike me as an insecure man.”

“That so?”

“You’re finding your feet in a new world. So it’s okay to be discombobulated. Things can only get better.”

My mouth stays closed as she gives me one last smile and walks away. I watch her all the way to the door, not sure if I want her to turn. How has she pegged me so quickly in just one conversation? I can’t get my head around it. And she makes me laugh. And think for fuck’s sake. She also took me out of my head. All the shit and hopelessness that enveloped me before I came out here, is gone.

I catch her eye as she turns back to look at me. She gives me a small chin dip before she disappears back inside the bar.

My heart thumps hard inside my chest. That is the single weirdest encounter in my life. I fucking loved every second.

Chapter Seven

Ciro is fuming in the corner. He isn’t looking at anyone, instead staring at the wall. His mood is permeating the entire room. It’s not only the vibe he is putting out, making it heavy in here. Everyone is subdued and no one is talking.

Jack sits on the table looking out of the window. He’s wearing sunglasses and his clothes are rumpled. Fuck knows where he came from when this call came in. Dylan is glaring at Riley with open hostility. And she looks guilty. Alessa is between me and Ciro. She’s drumming her fingernails on the desk. Each nail hitting the surface in a succinct beat, with a brief pause, then she does it again.

Her face is pinched tight, and I’m surprised she has had nothing to say. Alessa isn’t quiet when something irks her. Irritatingly, she drums her nails a couple more times while glaring at me.

Declan is sitting opposite me, his cane resting against the wall behind him, and he is pissed. He sent us all a non-negotiable order. Anyone who didn’t show up would face consequences. He ended the text saying if we want this band to work, we’d get our asses down here.

I catch Riley’s eye as the silence stretches. Her throat works as she swallows, then she looks down at the table. She can barely face me. I refuse to let that hurt my heart. I’m getting more pissed off the longer I sit here.

Earlier, before we came in the building, Ciro told me what he really thought. Alessa was there to hear it all too.

“This is on you. You should have agreed with us,” he says as we walked to the door to the building. “She should not still be here.”

“Ciro,” Alessa says, and he turns to her.

I assumed he would shut up. He does when Alessa steps in. Most of the time she lets him have his rants, but on this, Alessa is on the fence. She’s friends with Riley. This could be some kind of female solidarity, or something else. She’s not been as quick to want Riley out like everyone else.

---