Page 3 of Ever With Me

“Great. Can’t wait to hear more.” TJ gave her a thumbs-up, then turned toward Dottie again. “Any way we can get baby kangaroos at the petting zoo?”

As the conversation turned, Maddie’s bravado faded.

For his part, Josh continued to stare at TJ’s face—as though if he broke eye contact, his head might explode.

But Gina gave her a daring look.

Because she knows I’m full of crap.

Maddie didn’t look her way. She might fold if she did.

What the hell am I going to do now?

2

BROOKS

“Smile real pretty.This one’s going in the papers, for sure.”

The schmuck taking Brooks Kent’s mug shot smirked.

Brooks gritted his teeth, restraining thefuck offthat floated through his head.Not that the asshole is wrong.

This was about as far from the evening he’d envisioned when he’d shown up for his concert tonight in Baltimore, Maryland. His buddy, Cormac Doyle, had flown in from Nashville to sub the electric guitar for the night—this was practically Cormac’s turf.

Their plan to make a quiet exit to Cormac’s small hometown in Western Maryland, then spend the week fishing and boating at a lake, had all gone sideways when Kayla had shown up at sound check, though.

“Follow me, Kent,” another cop said, tilting his head toward a doorway.

A doorway that would lead him to jail for the night. Or at least until Darren posted bail for him. Who knew when his manager would show up, though.

Brooks rubbed the torn skin on his knuckles. Would the cops give him ice for his bruised face if he asked? Not that he gave a shit about how he looked. But the split lip was hurting like hell, and the worse he looked when the news leaked about his arrest, the worse the public would view his fight.

Plus, I don’t want anyone to think that motherfucker got anything other than one good cheap shot at me.

He decided against asking anyone here for anything. Better to keep his head down.Shut up. Don’t give them any more dirt to bury you with.

He’d learned that lesson about ten years too late.

The sharp squeak of hinges sounded as the officer opened the door to the jail cell. As Brooks slipped through it, the officer thrust a napkin and a Sharpie at him. “Can I trouble you for an autograph?”

Seriously?

The officer smiled sheepishly. “My wife was headed to your concert. Damn near crushed her when she found out about it being canceled, and she’s been texting me for the last hour complaining. I figure this could be a good consolation prize.”

Brooks hesitated, then took the Sharpie and signed the damn napkin.

At least they had the decency to put him in a jail cell alone. They’d also let him finish his phone call to his lawyer when they’d shown up to arrest him. Christine had promised to get his manager working on bail.

Not that he expected special treatment. Mike was pressing charges for assault, and the fact was, Brookshadwanted to beat the shit out of the prick.

He’d punch Mike all over again, too. He hated Mike Valders more than he’d ever hated anyone—even his own father.Which says a lot.

Brooks sank onto the bench, his shoulders drooping.

His bruised left hand was going to hurt like hell for at least a week.And he knew he’d catch all hell from not performing tonight.Fuck my life.

The shuffle of a footstep pulled him from his thoughts.

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