Page 39 of Veiled

If he’d have punched me right in the heart, it would hurt less. “Wow.”

He walks closer to me but doesn’t touch me, though for a brief moment, it felt like he wanted to. “This is a good thing. You’re on the right path. This is what I came to do. I’m sorry I can’t stay.”

“You should go,” I say, trying my best to keep all emotion out of my voice.

“Justin...” he starts, but I school my features into an ugly scowl.

“Go. I don’t want you to miss your flight. You’re right. I’ll be just fine.”

He studies me carefully for what feels like an eternity, but then gives a reserved, clipped nod. “Okay, you have my number. Call me with any questions, and I’ll get more gigs just like tonight scheduled.”

I don’t say anything. I can’t seem to. I’m afraid I might throw up if I open my mouth. I can’t believe I let this happen.

I thought I was smarter than this.

Clearly, I’m not because watching him leave feels like he’s taking a piece of me with him.

Chapter Twenty

WAYLON

“Oh, you look like shit.” I resist the urge to flip her off when Jenny answers the door because I know she’s not wrong. I just got back to Kansas City from Nashville, and I feel as bad as I look.

I didn’t want to leave.

I didn’t ever want to leave him, and that’s when I knew I needed to leave. It wouldn’t have worked out anyway. He’s my client for one, which was stupid enough, hooking up with him, but catching feels for a client is unacceptable.

It never works out.

“Where’s my dog?” is all I can manage as my dog takes that moment to run right to me, yipping away excitedly. I scoop him up into my arms, cuddling into his soft fur.

“Nope. You aren’t hiding behind Cujo.” Her fingers wrap around my wrist, and she pulls me further into her house. “Get in here.”

I follow her, still carrying my dog before I sit down on her familiar sofa and don’t let him go, cuddling him to my chest. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

I hear her heavy sigh, and I’m sure she’s judging me. I’m judging me too. It was stupid. Really fucking stupid. “Are you still his manager?”

I nod numbly. “I think so. He didn’t officially fire me.”

There’s silence for a long time before she sits next to me on the couch and pulls me into her, letting me lay my head on her small shoulder. “I’m sorry, Waylon.”

I sniffle a little, and I can’t look her in the eyes. “It was for the best. You were right. It never ends well.”

I can feel her wanting to say more, but blessedly, she doesn’t. She’s quiet as she hugs me to her, which means I must be even more pathetic than I feel right now. I’m smarter than this.

I know better. I did fall for him. I know I did. It was real. But I only would have hurt him, or he would have hurt me, or we would have just epically destroyed one another. My life is here. I love the life I’ve built. I’m so damn proud of it.

I can’t give that up.

And he’s finally happy. In his little cabin in Tennessee, touring only to large bar gigs that he approves of. He’s calling the shots now. I went there for one reason and one reason only, to make sure he was settled and okay.

And he is.

I think he’s more than settled now. I watched him on that stage, and I saw the peace on his face. And I knew it was time to leave.

“We need wine,” Jenny declares and jumps up from the couch, my dog climbing off my lap to follow after her. I don’t argue. A good glass or two of wine will fix me right up.

Maybe.

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