Page 28 of Rebel

“Good. What can you see?” she questions.

“You, I see you.”

Her lashes flutter for a moment, and when her voice comes, it’s husky. “What can you feel?”

I search her gaze.

“Trav, what can you feel?” she asks, her voice drowning out the one inside my head.

“Your soft hands on my skin, your dress brushing against me, the slightly itchy fabric of my shirt,” I trail off.

“That’s it, keep breathing,” she says.

It takes me a minute or so, but when I can finally breathe again, shame fills me so badly that I step back, letting her hands fall. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, avoiding her knowing eyes.

“For what?” she asks.

“For being so stupid. For making us late. For you having t?—”

“Stop. You never have to apologize, and definitely not to me. It’s not stupid at all. I know anxiety well, Trav. I suffer from it every day of my life. Take a minute, okay? I’ll be outside making sure no one bothers you, and if you can’t do it today, then fuck them. We’ll come back. We’re Dead Ringers. They can work around us.” She pats my shoulder and marches outside like a soldier heading to battle, standing outside of my door.

Maybe it’s the out she gave me, the ability to feel my anxiety, but a small smile flirts on my lips as my shoulders relax.

I look back at the mirror and blow out a breath. Wiping down my face, I push my hair back into place and slow my racing heart. I have to get it together.

I won’t let it beat me. I can’t.

If Beck can do this, then so can I.

I emerge with my casual smile and slouched shoulders. No one will ever know anything happened apart from Beck, and she says nothing as she walks beside me back to the guys.

“Where the fuck were you, man?” Chase asks.

“I couldn’t find my mic,” I lie.

“Yeah, it took us a while, sorry.” Beck pulls their attention to her. “So who gets to flirt with the interviewer?” She wiggles her eyebrows.

“Thank you,” I mouth as they turn away, laughing and joking as we wait for our cue.

“Anytime,” she whispers, nudging my elbow with hers.

“Many might remember our next guests as the band reaching for the stars—the up-and-coming rock and roll stars intent on stealing your hearts, and probably your panties. With a tragic past and some questionable actions, everyone has been wanting to know if they will ever make it work. Will they come back swinging, or will they falter under the pressure? Well, it seems like we have our answer. With a new lead singer, a whole new look, and a sold-out tour, they are planning on rocking. It seems our heartthrobs are back and better than ever.”

Taking a deep breath, I stand taller, refusing to show one ounce of weakness under the stage lights.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the one, the only, Dead Ringers!”

With a wide smile, I follow the guys out. We bow and wave. Chase winks and Kolton blows kisses as we sit. The music kicks up a notch, and the crowd gets to their feet as Beck makes her big entrance.

I was so lost in my own head earlier, I didn’t even notice how beautiful she looks.

She is always beautiful, even dressed in rags, but now she’s even more so, and she owns it.

She strolls onto the stage and poses for the crowd before heading our way and draping herself over our laps. Hiding my grin, I hold her leg and slide her dress down to protect her modesty.

“Wow, what an entrance! You must be Beck Danvers!” Sonita, the interviewer, remarks as the crowd eats it up.

“We just call her hot stuff,” Chase teases as Beck throws her head back and laughs.

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