Page 24 of Forbidden Billionaire Rockstar

“The things I do for you guys,” she grumbles. “Anything else?”

I smirk and throw an arm over her shoulder. “You know, now that I think about it… you could take it a little easier on Donny.”

She stiffens in response to my words and shakes her head. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“Carm, everyone can see the daggers you point at him every single day. I’ve watched you smile at each of us, but as soon as your eyes land on Donny, it’s like you think he’s the reaper coming to take your soul.”

“Whatever.”

I arch a brow. “What’s up with that, anyway?”

“Not important right now.” She steps away from me and shakes her phone in the air. “I’ve got some work to do.”

Donny's laugh, usually a booming sound that fills any room, falters as Carmen walks past. His eyes, normally crinkled with mirth, follow her with a mix of confusion and hurt.

There's history there, unspoken but palpable. Carmen, for her part, stiffens as she passes, her clipboard clutched to her chest like a shield. The tension between them is a tangible thing, at odds with Donny's usual easy-going nature.

As she disappears around a corner, Donny's shoulders slump almost imperceptibly before he plasters on a smile and rejoins the conversation. But the light doesn't quite reach his eyes,and I'm left wondering what story lies behind their strained interaction.

I haven’t been around as long as the other guys, but I’ve been here long enough that I know Donny is always smiling. He’s the one we can all go to when our moods are down, knowing he’ll be able to lift us back up. There’s really no reason that Carmen should feel negatively about him, yet that hasn’t stopped her.

That’s a different issue for another day, though.

Mallory perks up from her spot against the wall, phone clinging to her ear, and she nods with a smile on her face. When the call ends after a few moments, Mallory throws a fist into the air and shimmies her hips before smoothing her outfit out. She glances around, locking eyes with mine, and even from a distance, I can see the pink tinting her cheeks.

She quickly disappears behind a curtain, one that leads toward the stage, and I wonder what Trevor might have done after our conversation earlier today. Did he end up asking her out on a date, anyway? The thought makes my vision grow red, but a hand landing on my shoulder calms it, and I look over at the culprit.

Brent arches a brow. “Everything okay?”

I nod, then clear my throat. “Yep, great.”

“Seems like you’ve become quite the radio whisperer,” Brent says, his tone a mix of curiosity and suspicion. “Carmen’ssinging your praises about some last-minute interview setup,” he says, eyeing me curiously.

“She seemed to think it was my idea, you know anything about that?”

“Not a clue.”

He nods, smirking. “Interesting because I saw her talking to you a few minutes ago, and it looked pretty serious.”

“Talking about Donny, still trying to figure out what her issue is with him.”

“Ah. It’s best we just keep our nose out of all that,” he mumbles. “We should get ready. Sweet Surrender will be finishing their set soon.”

With that, he walks off and claps our other bandmates on their backs before heading down the long hallway to the edge of the stage. Evan quietly follows his trail, Donny falling into step behind Evan, and I wait a few moments longer before finally heading toward them. Carmen is leading a younger guy toward a room in the back, talking animatedly with him, and I can tell when she breaks the news to him because his shoulders deflate slightly.

It doesn’t take long for him to perk back up, though, when Carmen pushes a wad of cash into his hands and pushes him into the room with a smile.

Maybe there’s a chance that Mallory won’t figure out what I did here tonight.

As I mull over this thought, the backstage erupts into a flurry of activity. Sweet Surrender's set is ending, and it's our turn to take the stage. Crew members rush past, carrying guitars and adjusting earpieces. The energy is electric, a stark contrast to the weight of my thoughts.

I shake my head, trying to clear it. There's no time for this now. I grab my guitar, feeling the familiar weight ground me. The roar of the crowd filters through, growing louder as the opening act takes their final bow.

Brent catches my eye, grinning with pre-show excitement. "Ready to rock, brother?"

For a moment, everything else falls away. This is what I'm here for. This is what I know. I nod, a genuine smile spreading across my face. "Let's give 'em a show they'll never forget."

As we move towards the stage, I push thoughts of Mallory to the back of my mind. For the next two hours, there's only the music, the crowd, and the rush of performing. It's a welcome respite from the turmoil in my head. But as the first chords ring out and the crowd erupts, I know it's only temporary.

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