Page 102 of The Chance

“—daddy.”

I growl and walk away to hide my snicker.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Come on,” he whines, following me and slapping lights I miss. “Introduce me to your beefy friends then. The old security buddies.” He puffs up his tiny chest as he walks, his arms lifted up like he’s got muscles. “Be my wingman for once.”

“I don’t think—”

I pause.

Were any of the other guys bent like me?

I scrub a hand over the five o’clock shadow I’ve let grow in and shake my head.

“No way.”

“There can’t have been just you, Jay. Get real.”

There wasn’t.

But that’s not up to me to tell people.

My stomach rolls over at the reminder.

Peach is the only one that knew about any of it.

“Uh-oh. Where’d we go?” I blink and rear back when Lemon waves a hand in my face. We’ve made it back to the front of thehouse where the storefront windows let the sunlight in, casting little rainbows across the floor.

I sigh.

“Will you shut up if—”

He squeals and hops, clapping.

“You didn’t even hear myif.”

“You said yes! Doesn’t matter.” He’s pulling on my arm before he even gets the words out. “Let’s go get your man back.”

“Nooooo, no.”

I grab his bony shoulders and pull him to a stop.

“I will only goifyou steer clear of the band.Andsecurity,” I add the last part when his eyes glitter with mischief. “Okay? I see any of them and I’m leaving.”

“You’re no fun.”

“I’m serious, Lemon.”

It’s been almost a year since I saw my former coworkers. Longer since I saw the band.

And it’s been too long to go back now.

My heart won’t be able to take it.

Chapter Sixty-Two

Mac

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