Page 78 of Before Now

“Hmm. He photographed raptors in Pennsylvania not long before he died. He sent a video from a park in the small town he stayed in. Three tiers of chipped concrete, but he focused on the etched designs and explained why he found the fountain beautiful. I watched it so many times, listening to his voice and the melody of the water. There was distant music, too. He said there was a band competition?—”

“Are you talking about Pleasant Park?” I ask, lips turning up. “Benches on three sides of the fountain and trees everywhere?”

“Yeah. I couldn’t remember until you said it. How did you know?”

“I went there last summer. They host a battle of the bands called Sound Clash. A lot of agents circle around, so I wanted to get a feel for what it was like. The stages are on the east end, but dead center of the park is the fountain.”

Her smile softens. “Now that I know, maybe I’ll go.”

“You should. It’s wasted college kids, shitty riffs, and pure magic. Once I have a band, I want to enter. A lot of managers find opening acts there, too.” Then I add, “When we go, I’ll show you your dad’s fountain, and we’ll watch the bands.”

“Oh,” she says, the brat back in her tone. “You think we’re going together? Who said I want to share my dad’s fountain with you?”

I smirk as I round the fountain once more. “No one yet. But you’re about to.”

She bites her lip like she might not but then releases it. “I think I’d like you taking me to Sound Clash.”

Walking to the sign posted near the fountain, I focus on the number. “If you text it, they’ll write your message in the water.”

Her phone moves, telling me she’s sending one, so I tap out and write my own. Neither of us asks what the other texts, and I’m fucking grateful she doesn’t, so I won’t have to lie.

I’d more than like taking her. I’d more than like a lot of things when it comes to her. And I’m already thinking how I can make every single one of them happen.

It should worry me how sideways she’s turned me. How my direction suddenly seems pointed straight toward her. I’m not one to let others have access to the organ in my chest in the way she’s demanding. I let it beat for music and experiences. People don’t take enough care to not crush something as delicate as a heart. I know this, and yet, not only has she taken part of it, but right now, thethudof mine sure is starting to sound a lot likeRemi.

22

REMI

Now…

It’s different.

When I meet Foster’s gaze as I enter the dressing room, seeing him for the first time since he left me in his bunk, he rakes it over me. The smirk that follows reignites tingles and a fluttery sensation he used to always elicit. Only now they accompany thoughts of him kissing me and touching me. Memories of his gorgeous face and heavy-lidded eyes staring down at me while he fucked my mouth.

The space between us hasn’t lost a fraction of the tension, butit’s different.

My pulse picks up as he projects an all-out erotic replay of us on the bus from across the room. The back of my neck heats, and I break eye contact before everyone else notices the blush spreading over my cheeks. But seriously, it’s indecent how he’s looking at me.

I set my equipment off to the side, near where the guys tossed their own bags. The next time I glance, he’s still eye-fucking me from the armchair, but his smirk’s more amused.

Asshole.

But I never want him to stop.

“Who’s got the glasses tonight, Cam Girl?” Felix grins, man-spreading on the sofa.

I ignore the twist in my gut, the same one from earlier when I overheard him and Christian. I knew about the coke. But I didn’t want toknow.

Drugs are unavoidable in most of the music industry. Even on a sober video shoot I worked on last summer for an artist in recovery, her manager was zooted by the time Heath wrapped.

Being around it rarely affects me, other than a tug on the web of memories I have to shake off. Felix using more often is bothering me, though. Likely because he’s not a random musician on a set.

Before I can answer him, Foster says, “I got the glasses.”

He basically causes a record scratch in the room.

My brows slant. Colton has a V form between his. Christian looks up from his phone. Dev blinks rapidly like he misheard. Felix drops his head back to see Foster upside down.

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