Page 74 of Snared

Like she belonged there.

“And now that Josh and Charlie are hitched, you’re the only one left, Jax. How’s that going for you?” Dave asked, leading us over to a private booth in the corner.

“Still living life and fighting them off with a stick.” Jax paused, raking his hand down his body. “They can’t get enough of this.”

We all groaned as we slid into the booth.

“Some things never change,” Dave said, grinning as he shook his head.

But things did change and there was a tiny kernel of panic starting up in my chest that took me by surprise.

Chapter 15

CHARLIE

“Something’sdifferent.Youokay?”Tristan asked, sitting down on the couch next to me. We’d finished our sound check and were all hanging out in Bash’s suite at the hotel.

I couldn’t go back to Josh’s condo right now. To the scene of the crime. Not that what we’d done was a crime. My entire body tingled. I shouldn’t have wanted a repeat, but fucking hell, I did. At least he was at his office at the moment, so a repeat would have to wait. But if I went back to his condo right now, I might end up back in his bed, sniffing his sheets or something. I needed a break from being so close to him.

I could still smell his aftershave on my clothes from when he’d been pressed against me in the booth at Dave’s earlier. Every time I turned a certain way, I got a whiff, and it was not helping my focus. All I could think about was images of us in bed and how much I wanted that again.

I’d even slipped up a few times during sound check, getting a look or two from the guys.

“Uh, I’m fine. Just a little on edge,” I said. Truthful for the most part, except I was completely on edge. I wanted someone I shouldn’t want. I fucked someone I shouldn’t have fucked. Oh yeah, and he was my husband, but only for a short time. It was enough to scatter anyone’s brain.

“I’m sorry about all this, Charlie—Josh, faking the marriage, everything. If it’s too much, end it. We’ll figure something out. Don’t worry about the media and fans. We’ll spin it whatever way we need to. Josh is good at that,” Tristan said.

I didn’t want to be reminded about how good Josh was at spinning stories to fit his needs, to give fans what they wanted to see. It made me question everything we’d done together and wonder if there’d been any sincerity on his part or just lust.

I pushed that line of thinking out of my head. It wasn’t doing me any good to put any additional energy into what might be going on. We were two consenting adults giving into our lust.

That.

Was.

It.

“Charlie?” Tristan asked, drawing my attention back to him. He quirked a brow at me. Fuck. He couldn’t have guessed what we’d done, right? It’s not like Josh’s name was stamped on my forehead after we’d fucked.

“What? Oh no, it’s fine. Another month or so to go and we’ll be back at your place recording the album, and Josh and I will be able to end this charade. The fans won’t care when they hear new music is coming,” I said, brushing him off.

But I knew, regardless of what happened or when we ended this, that the gossip and the judgment would still come for me. People would still question my motives, but no one would think twice about Josh marrying one of his clients and then quickly divorcing her. There would be no ramifications for him. Sure, the record label had been a bit pissy about not getting a heads-up—or that it had happened at all—but in the end, I would be looked down at more than Josh ever would be.

It grated. How could it not?

“I know you’re nervous about the fallout at the end of all this, but you’re an integral part of this band and you’re also family. We’ll always stick up for family, no matter what anyone comes at us with,” he said, fierce determination in his eyes.

“Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me,” I said.

“It’s the truth, Charlie. We will always have your back. You’ve earned your place behind that kit and we’re lucky you walked through that door to audition two years ago.”

“You’re great at pep talks, you know that?”

He shrugged, tucking a long strand of wavy hair behind his ear.

“What’re you guys talking about?” Jax asked, plopping down on the couch arm next to me.

“How annoying you are and how grateful we are that Charlie decided to join us in spite of you,” Tristan teased.

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