Page 16 of Wicked Rockstar

She nodded and gave me a wistful smile.

I couldn’t help but feel like I’d unknowingly stepped onto a broken rollercoaster, and my designated car was about to get thrown off the track.

Chapter Five

TRISSA

I’d barely said goodbye to Peter before he started texting me. He’d already sent a hundred messages—okay, well, that was an exaggeration. But after my conversation with Killian, my emotions were a jumbled mess and I was feeling off. And each new message rubbed at those raw nerve endings.

Which was ridiculous. This was my job. A job I loved.

PETER

Did you get a chance to pick up my laundry today?

PETER

Nevermind.

PETER

When are we scheduled to record in the studio this week?

PETER

I had a great idea for my SM posts.

Needing the texts to stop, I dialed his number.

“Hey, Tris.” His smooth baritone rumbled through my earpiece.

I sighed. His voice usually soothed me, but it didn’t tonight. And that irritated me because it meant I was letting Killian get in my head. He didn’t know what he was talking about. Peterdidcare about me. He showed it in little ways. Ways that most people didn’t see.

Besides, Peter hadn’t meant to hurt my feelings with his gift. He’d had a lot on his mind lately with Jareth breathing down our necks and the tension with his band members. And wasn’t it just as much my fault for not saying something about my fear of birds? For not reminding him?

“I’m sorry about running off. I wasn’t feeling great and needed to get home.” I hated lying to him, but I didn’t know what else to say. There was no way I’d tell him I ran into Killian again. I didn’t want to rock the boat between us and that information would likely flip that boat straight over.

“Shit. Are you okay now?”

See, this is what I was talking about. He cared if I was okay. “Well, yeah?—”

“Oh, thank God, because I can’t have you sick. I need you tomorrow.”

A little thrill swept through me, knowing he needed me. I cleared my throat, my voice thick with my lies. “Yeah, I’m starting to feel better already, but might go to bed early. Talk later?” Right now, I needed some time to gather my thoughts and decide what to do if Killian decided not to help me.

And to put the disappointment from tonight behind me.

Jareth wanted to see us bright and early tomorrow morning, and I needed to be at my best.

Back at my building, I watched the lighted numbers above the elevator bank slowly tick downward until the L lit up for the lobby level. The doors opened, and I was grateful to find the space empty. I was too agitated to share the ride with anyone else.

“Yeah, of course.” Peter said a few other things that I half-listened too, and we ended the call.

I leaned against the wall, waiting for the doors to close. Just as they did, a voice rang out, “Wait! Please hold the door.”

I sighed. For a quarter of a second, I debated on pretending I hadn’t heard her, but my good manners and the fact that she likely saw me step inside made me press the button to keep the doors open.

A pretty plus-size woman with sleek and wavy auburn hair slid inside. “Oh, my gosh. Thank you so much.”

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