Page 38 of Snared

In order to keep up appearances, I’d slipped on my platinum band right before stepping off the bus. No way in hell was I wearing that garbage gold band from the chapel and running the risk that my finger would turn green and fall off.

“As good as.” I paused. “Doing great, actually, even if plans changed. Obviously, keeping it on the down-low didn’t happen,” I said with a shrug. “But we’re really happy.”

Had that sounded as sickeningly sweet to her as it had to me?

“Can’t fight true love, eh?” she said.

Was she convinced? Her expression made me pause. I needed to be more believable.

“I know what people are saying, and I wouldn’t mind a nickel for every time I’ve heard drunken mistake lately. I know people are asking why Charlie would ever marry me, and I get that, I wonder too. But we’ve been together for a while, just trying to keep it quiet.” I paused and softened my expression to play the lovesick husband. “I’m honestly amazed that she agreed to marry me in Vegas, but I couldn’t pass up the chance. The wedding might’ve been sudden, but our feelings definitely aren’t. In time, everyone will see that.”

I was probably digging an even bigger grave for myself, but until the scandal faded, this was the best course of action.

“If you’re happy, and it’s real, then that’s all that matters,” she said. “So congrats.”

“Thanks.”

“I should go do a final check with the guys.”

“Yeah. Have a great show,” I replied before she turned and headed toward the band waiting in the wings.

“You better not be flirting with her,” Jax said, sidling up out of nowhere.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, I’m not flirting. I was talking to an employee,” I said.

Jax pointed two fingers at his eyes and then at me. “I’m watching you, CH.”

I rolled my eyes. “I have no interest in Molly. You need to get a hobby.”

“And you were supposed to have no interest in Charlie, but yet somehow you ended up married. Drunk or not, something doesn’t add up for both of you.”

“There’s nothing there,” I said. Jax played the part of dumb, obnoxious front man, but he wasn’t an idiot. Never had been. I had to watch myself around him because he would clearly be on me if I fucked up anymore with Charlie.

“If you say so.” He sauntered off toward the dressing room.

If I survived this, it would be a miracle.

I swiped through the alerts still flooding my phone. They hadn’t let up since the news had broken early this morning, and after we’d posted our statement and pictures of the rings, social media had gone even crazier. Everyone seemed to ask the same thing: was it real or a publicity stunt?

And, as expected, no one was dragging my name.

All the animosity was solely pointed at Charlie. It infuriated me, but I knew it was coming. Of course, some would say that this never would’ve happened if we’d gone for a male drummer. Adding Charlie to the mix increased the drama, but she hadn’t been selected as a gimmick, no matter what she thought about me personally.

She was the best fit, and she proved that time and again. The media was a bunch of assholes looking for drama and I’d handed it to them on a silver fucking platter.

I had messages from our rep at the record label giving me shit for not telling them about my impending nuptials, but I knew they were looking for an angle to spin the marriage into more album sales.

And my father had texted again.

Fucking hell. He never was this interested in my life, and maybe he stupidly thought this would bring us closer together. After all, he was constantly banging musicians, and I’d changed my tune from avoiding them at all costs to marrying one.

At least my mom wasn’t around to ask questions. I’d never been able to lie to her. Hell, she probably would’ve loved Charlie, which was another punch to the gut. She’d been gone for four years now. That woman had given me everything, and now that I could shower her with every luxury she never knew she wanted, she wasn’t here to enjoy my success.

Fucking cancer. The most amazing woman in the world had wasted away, and I was left with a piece of shit sperm donor who periodically remembered that he was my father.

I shoved my phone in my pocket and headed back to the dressing room to make sure everyone had what they needed. Like the good tour manager I was.

I probably should have stayed to hear some of Savage Night’s show since they were one of my newer bands, but I wasn’t in the mood to even glance at their bassist. It was his damn flirting with Charlie that had set the current wheels in motion. Not that I blamed the kid for my current situation.

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