Page 88 of Destined To Fall

“Or you charge extra?”

“Har dee har har. Just shut up and walk me home, would you?”

“Lead the way.”

I stop outside my apartment building and pull gently on Jeremy’s arm, stalling him.

“This is me, but I’m ravenous. Let me change real quick, and then I’ll buy you dinner. I kinda owe you after making you go through that.”

“Deal, but don’t bother changing. You smell fine.”

“Gee, thanks but—oh, god!”

“Vivienne!” Marcus hollers, coming at me with all the speed of an express train as he scoops me up, spinning me in a tight circle before putting me back on my feet.

Fuck. Me. Sideways.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were still on tour in Seattle?” My heart is racing, for all the wrong reasons.

“I am. I mean, I was. The last show is next weekend, but I found myself with some free time…” His unspoken words linger between us, and I can practically feel Jeremy turn to stone behind me. The animosity radiating from him is ridiculous.“Who’s your friend, Vee?”

Shit, shit, SHIT!

“Oh, uh, Marcus, Jeremy. Jeremy, Marcus.” I wave my hand back and forth between them and try not to vomit. This is bad, oh, so bad.

Jeremy’s eyes widen to dinner plates.

“TheMarcus?” He looks at me, his eyes frantically searching my face.

“The?” Marcus raises a bemused brow at me, and I pray for the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

“I may have mentioned you in passing.” Like the fucking idiot I am.

“Is that so?” His obvious delight at that grates on my nerves. Cocky bastard.

“We were…ah, just getting a bite to eat, so—”

“Oh, brill, I’m starved.” Marcus smiles brightly, clearly ignoring my tone.

I sigh, shaking my head as I walk into my building, the boys hot on my heels.

“Vivi, love, I thought we were getting some grub.”

“I need to change first.”

“Why? Your arse looks great.”

“When does it not?” I laugh, but wish he’d lay off the remarks just this once.“But maybe we should just stay in. I’m sure I’ve got something I can whip up.”

“You,‘whip up’? Now this I’ve got to see,” Jeremy titters, making Marcus grin like the Cheshire Cat as we get in the elevator.

“Oh, shut up. I can cook.” I really can’t, but whatever.

“He’s got you there, love. The only thing I’ve ever seen you‘whip up’comes in a can.”

Jeremy seems to choke on his laugh, and I want to sock the pair of them.“You can both bloody starve,” I mutter.

“We will, if you’re cooking,” they both say in unison. Jeremy seems taken aback, whereas Marcus just laughs.

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