Page 52 of The Chance

“Tell me about the rumor. You’re going to be working with Banger on their new album? Alongside Dare?”

Clearing my throat, I fiddle with my pant leg. “There’s something in the works for sure. Not much I can say about that until the ink dries.”

Fake, fake, fake a smile.

“I see that you’ve got a new security detail.”

Jesus, she’s giving whiplash.

She flips her hair over her shoulder, looking over mine to where I know I left Paul, my greener than green temp bodyguard, standing before I stepped foot on the stage.

I didn’t ask for him. I was plenty accepting of the idea that I had to share Peach with Fin.

But then Fin found himself in a jam with no security around, and I was assigned a brand-new asshole without my consent.

Here we go.

“Yeah. Paul,” I say, glancing back to see him standing proud just off the stage, but a few feet from where I left him, and I internally roll my eyes.He’s right in her line of sight.“He’s green, but so far so good.”

That was petty. Oops.

“Interesting that you ended up with someone new after all this time. Any comments on that, Mr. Thompson?”

I shake my head, keeping a slight smile plastered to my lips even though my eyes are tired, my arms ache from the show, my feet beyond done with the dress shoes I was politely told I must wear.

They’re constricting and I just want to go.

Be anywhere but here.

I haven’t had to talk about Jordan since we left, except with Dr. Surah. But it’s been so long that fans are losing their minds about Dare being so close to me, and now Paul following behind like the lost puppy he is.

“We’ve had to make a few personnel changes to cover some gaps.” I pick at my nail when her smile falters and Leo’s advicerolls around in my brain.Don’t walk into saying something you’re not prepared to say. “That happens sometimes.”

“But your former bodyguard will be back, right? You guys have been everywhere together. Like best friends.”

Former?

The thought shoots straight through my chest and makes my jaw clench.

With aching fingers, I bring my hands up to steeple the tips against my chin. There’s an ache in my chest and a forced lift to my lips behind the spasming digits as I speak the words I was told to come here and say.

“Jordan is still with the security team, and still very much a part of this family. He always will be.” I adjust forward in my seat with a clearing of my throat, leaning into my elbows on my knees, and tug at the shirt to get it to sit right again against my torso. “But, now, so is Dare.”

There. PR stunt completed.

My stomach rolls.

Oxygen leaves the studio, suffocation settling in when I feel the attention of the entire room focused on me. Even the host lady leans closer to me, her eyes unmoving from my profile as I swing my hardened gaze directly into the camera.

“And I can’t wait to get back on the same side of the planet as him.”

Him, who?They’ll speculate.

I clear my throat, feeling my Adam’s apple bobbing against the lump that builds.

I want my bodyguard back.

I want my best friend back.

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