Page 88 of My Favorite Sin

I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh. Maybe I fucked up and didn’t realize things were more serious between us than I thought.

I send Liam a text, asking if we can talk when the band finishes performing.

The song ends and another starts. Despite wanting to be by Dan’s side, I keep my distance for appearances’ sake and make my way to Felix, knowing it’s safer this way. When I arrive, I realize Felix isn’t alone. He’s talking with Harper, which is a sight I’ve rarely seen. Whatever they’re discussing has Harper worked up. Her face is as red as her scarlet hair. Their conversation comes to an abrupt stop the second they notice me. The brutal looks they’re giving each other smooth out.

“Ally, hey.” Harper smiles at me, though I can tell the smile is an act. She’s distracted by whatever she and Felix were talking about.

Felix leaves the two of us, muttering, “This family photo better make Amabella happy,” before disappearing into the crowd.

I nod in his direction. “What was that about?”

“Nothing. What song are you performing tonight?” Harper’s subject change is anything by subtle. I don’t push with the many questions I have about her and Felix. She clearly doesn’t want to talk about it, and I don’t have a good enough rapport with her to ask. Instead, I answer her question, and we settle into a conversation about music.

An hour later, after chatting with Harper about her job in the ballet company, Tyler’s busy work schedule in hotel development, and how they hope to take a vacation within the next year if they can get time off, the band announces they’re taking a break.

Surprisingly, Liam approaches me.

Harper gently squeezes my arm. “I should see what Tyler’s doing. I’m not far if you need me.”

As soon as she’s gone, Liam digs his hands into hispockets. The look in his eyes is a long way from pleasant. “You wanted to talk?”

Nausea creeps over me. My mouth turns dry and it’s hard to swallow. “Yeah. I’m sorry again for hurting you. I have little experience with relationships, not that that’s an excuse. I just wanted to see how you are. So… how are you?”

“What kind of a question is that?” Liam’s voice is harsh. He sighs, attempting to cool his frustration, and scratches his jaw. “Something has been playing on my mind. You said there isn’t anyone else, but it feels like a lie. Things were good between us. I can’t see why you would end it unless there was another guy.”

My chest tightens, nervous over what to say. If I answeryes, not only does it hurt him but also leads to the question ofwho.

“There’s no one, Liam. You’re a great guy?—”

“Don’t give me that generic crap. Fuck, you girls are all the same.”

He groans and walks off, and I’m left hot and flustered, my muscles seizing up at his anger. That sick feeling in my stomach intensifies, and I’m in more of a panic when I realize I have to perform on the piano in ten minutes.

Harper returns to my side. “Hey, that sounded pretty nasty. You okay?”

“Not really. I need a moment to calm down. I’m going to find somewhere quiet.”

“Do you want company?”

“No, thank you.”

I rush off, slipping through the crowd and out of the main hall in the museum. This doesn’t feel like a panic attack, but I need silence and somewhere private to center myself and focus on my breathing, otherwise I’ll be a wreck playing the piano.

The first few doors I try to escape into are locked. The fourth one opens and I rush inside, finding myself in a small office. I shut the door and switch the light on, then lean against the desk, closing my eyes and taking a few deep breaths to calm myself.

The door opens, and when I look up, Dan is standing in front of me with concern. “You all right? Harper told me you had a rough conversation with Liam. I saw you come in here and wanted to check up on you.”

I brush my hands through my hair, pulling at the nape of my neck. “I’m fine, I’m just worked up and stressed because I don’t know how I’m supposed to perform in this state of mind.”

Dan locks the door and steps right up to me, stroking gentle patterns along my arms. “Maybe I can help you calm down.”

I let out a long breath and close my eyes again, focusing on the light sensation of his fingertips running up and down my skin. His lips brush along my jaw, making me shiver. I laugh softly.

“I know, I’ll stop,” he whispers.

“No. It’s helping.” I look up at Dan, at his lips, and suddenly don’t feel so tense. “How am I going to survive this next week without seeing you?”

“I have no fucking clue.” He lifts me onto the desk and pushes himself between my thighs.

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