Page 18 of Snared

But as much as I wanted to, hiding under the covers wasn’t an option today. We had press this afternoon and a show tonight.

I shuddered as I thought about what the press would be like if they knew about last night.

I finished getting dressed, took another deep breath—I’d been doing that a lot in the last few hours—and headed downstairs. The hotel had set up a private room for some of the bigger bands to use, so we could enjoy our meals away from all the fans. The VIP treatment was still a bit strange to me, but I was definitely grateful for it today.

“’Bout time you showed up,” Jax called out when I entered the room. “You’re lucky I saved you some bacon. CH needed the grease for his epic hangover and almost hoarded it all.” Jax chuckled. “You must’ve had a crazy night, CH.”

I froze, refusing to look at Josh.

“Crazy night, huh?” Tristan’s voice cut through my addled brain.

“Yeah. CH, Spides, and I got pretty wrecked last night. I think CH was still drunk this morning when I banged on his door.”

“Because it was fucking early and you woke me up just to fuck with me,” Josh said.

I still refused to look at Josh and instead made my way to the buffet table.

“I do what I can.” Jax shrugged. “Spides isn’t looking so hot this morning, either.”

“Leave her alone,” Cassie said.

Wait. Cassie was here.

I spun—which did not help my head—and spotted her next to Bash. And my “husband.”

Fucking hell.

Why couldn’t he look more like shit? More like how I currently felt, nerves churning in my belly.

But no, he looked stupidly and gorgeously pulled together.

Bastard.

I shook my head. “Cassie? What are you doing here?” I asked, focusing on my friend.

Her grin was blinding. “Flew in late last night to surprise Bash, of course. Looks like I missed a fun night.”

“Ouch. That’s gotta sting, Wolfie. Cassiopeia knows the fun is with me, not you,” Jax taunted.

Cassie twined her arms around Bash’s neck.

“Oh, Ellie, the kind of fun I have with Bash is way beyond a night on the town. Totally different level,” she said, her eyes never leaving Bash’s.

He tugged her close and kissed her obscenely. I grinned as I looked away. I was used to their over-the-top affection.

“I just ate, Cassiopeia. Why you gotta turn my stomach like that?” Jax moaned.

I filled my plate while they continued their antics. At least something felt normal this morning. And I was grateful to have Cassie here. Sometimes I needed her to cut through all the testosterone swirling around me.

“So, what happened last night?” Cassie asked when I took the seat next to her.

I couldn’t help looking up, my gaze crashing with Josh’s across the table. There was an intensity in his eyes that I didn’t understand. It was probably his attempt to silently warn me to keep last night a secret.

I bit back a snort.

Like I would confess that nightmare to anyone. There was never a secret that could be safer with me than our idiotic nuptials.

Hopefully, his lawyer would get this disaster cleared up ASAP.

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