Page 88 of Before Now

“Message me who to talk to, and I’ll make sure it gets handled. I’m sorry about all the assholes. If you ever need anything else, skip them and let me know. Directly.”

She laughs. “Deal. You can make it up to me by playing an unplugged ‘Haunted’ for an incentive.”

I can’t help a hint of a smile at the request. “I can make that happen.”

We say goodbye, and Sav sends me the coordinator’s info as I swing around the corner of the bus. But I barely shove the phone in my pocket, let alone track down Felix and Dev, before reality crashes in. Remi steps off the other bus, turns, and we immediately lock onto each other.

Fuck.

She looks exactly the same as when I saw her earlier. Right here in the parking lot. Except nothing feels the same, like a filter flickered out, revealing what it covered. I clearly see again. My armor’s been reforged and reinforced.

I stride toward the front of the bus, her steps erasing the rest of the concrete until she’s right in front of me, both of us in front of the open door.

“Can we talk?” she asks, eyes flicking inside.

I shrug. “Does it have to do with filming?”

She shakes her head. “No. Did Christian tell you what happened? Foster?—”

“Adams,” I interject.

Remi jerks back like I slapped her. “What?” When I don’t respond, she blinks up at me. “You can’t be serious. You think I complained to the label about you guys? You know me. I’d never…” She trails off when my gaze lifts, and she glances over her shoulder to Xander, grinning like a douche as he exits the other bus.

“Your assistant looks like he might need you. Maybe you guys can talk about how much he missed you.” Before he reaches us, I add, “So we’re clear, Idon’tknow you—not anymore or ever. And you chose to not know me. It’s time we both remember it.”

Sad, sad eyes, but I can’t bring myself to care anymore. If she didn’t complain herself, I can guess who did on her behalf. The guy who steps beside her, looking down at her, then up at me.

“Holy shit, you’re Adams North,” he says. “You have no idea how stoked I am to meet you. I’m Xander Salvatore.” He sticks out his hand for me to shake, and I stare at him until he withdraws it. “I, uh … The fact I get to work on this project with you and the band is insane. I really lucked out.”

I huff a disbelieving laugh, returning my eyes to Remi as she shifts uncomfortably. “The luckiest man, I’m sure.”

“Especially getting to work side by side with Rem again.” He edges closer to her, her arm overlapping his now. Another clear message from the wannabe. And she doesn’t move away.

On a slow inhale, I tick through all the reasons not to break his face. But it might happen if I don’t get the fuck away from them.

“Speaking of work, Rem.” He glances down with a smile. “We decided to grab dinner while you all catch me up.”

His skin brushes hers, and I bite out, “Is there anything else, Sinner?” I cock my head at her, and after a few seconds of studying me, searching my eyes for something she won’t find, she shakes hers.

I board the bus without another word to either of them. Without another look. Because it doesn’t matter who he is or what she says he is to her. It doesn’t matter how many times she casts her sad eyes up at me or drags unwanted memories out of me.

The lies stay lies. Our past remains.

What broke is still broken.

I won’t let myself forget again.

Because the truth is, I fell in love with Remi Saint and emerged loathing Remi Sinner. She can’t be both, and I should thank her for reminding me which one’s on my tour. It’s not the one who ended up being an illusion. Now I wait it out until she disappears from my life again. Only I’m not going after her this time. I learned my lessons the hard way.

25

FOSTER

Before…

“If we miss our flight,I will push you into traffic.”

Chase chuckles and winks. “I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

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