Page 38 of Where Happiness Begins

“Yeah,” Lexie says, fanning herself with her hands. “Been a while since I danced that much.” She was right there with me taking videos of the show and posting them on her social media, which is going to be a win for the band since she has even more followers than I do.

“You’re more than welcome to join more shows during the tour.” I hook my arms with theirs as I lead them toward the backstage area, where the band’s planning to host an after-show party.

“Might take you up on that,” Wren says. “Also, if I wasn’t happily married, I would comment on how hot that lead singer is.”

“And if I wasn’t getting married in a few weeks, I’d be telling you the same thing,” Lexie adds as we make our way through the rapidly filling VIP room, all of our eyes finding Ethan, a cocktail in one hand and the other resting on some girl’s thigh.

“What about you?” Lexie asks, taking a sip out of her vodka soda. “Isn’t your marriage…open?”

I did tell her that—and told Wren too, when I ended up confessing the whole thing during one of our regular phone calls. I trust her and Aaron as much as I do Lexie and Finn.

Ethan’s boisterous laughter resonates through the room. He’s sitting with the rest of the band, in the middle as usual, a leader with them just like he is on stage. With his boyish features and easy personality, he has everything needed to be the face of a band that’ll make it big. However, when I look at him, I feel nothing, except maybe a sense of friendship. Nothing about him makes me catch my breath or feel even an inkling of lust.

“That’d be a very bad idea.” I grab a water bottle from one of the ice-filled tubs spread throughout the room.

“Why’s that?” Wren says, doing the same.

“We kind of work together, for one.” Carter might be the one who officially “hired” me, but every member of Crash & Burn considers me the band’s media person. “And I don’t think I could do it while being married.” It doesn’t matter that everything about the arrangement is fake and I don’t owe Carter faithfulness—especially sincewedon’t even sleep together. As stupid as it sounds, I made vows and I don’t think I could break them in goodconscience. Plus, I haven’t been with anyone in almost two years. What’s two more?

With a devilish smirk, Lexie asks, “Why? Think your husband might be jealous?” Then her gaze moves to a spot behind me, and that is when I feel it: that telltale pressure on my back as if my skin has been grazed.

I glare at Lexie, who’s still grinning like a cat before peeking behind my shoulder, and sure enough, there he is. The one man who actually makes something flip inside my stomach with a single look, no matter how annoyed it makes me. He’s standing alone in a corner of the room, back leaned against the wall, posture almost casual, but not. I’ve spent enough time with him in the past weeks to know when Carter is truly relaxed and when he’s trying to appear so. And now, with his gaze straight on me, I know this is pretense.

Not knowing what the protocol is for meeting your fake husband out into the wild, I settle on a smile and a wave, which he doesn’t return, only giving me a barely there dip of his head.

My ponytail flies as I whip around and ask, “How long has he been here?” He wasn’t even supposed to come tonight. Or at least I assumed he wasn’t. I attended the last two local shows on my own, so I didn’t think of asking him if he was planning on being here tonight. He has no reason to attend the shows unless the band’s planning on recording right before or after them.

Wren and Lexie both shrug, but while Lexie only gives me a shit-eating grin, Wren answers, “A while.”

I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean, and I don’t think I’m going to ask.

“And here he comes.” Delight coats Lexie’s voice.

“Time for us to leave anyway,” Wren says, bumping Lexie. “Aaron and Finn are waiting for us.”

“Traitors,” I hiss before giving them both a big hug. “I still love you.”

They turn to leave right as Carter says, “Looking at anything interesting?”

I turn, only to find him much closer than I initially thought. I have to crane my neck to see him in full, all furrowed brows and tight jaw—the man’s going to have the deepest frown wrinkles when he’s older.

I smile at him, not even having to fake it. I don’t know when having him around went from being awkward and tense to like I was hanging out with a good acquaintance, but I’m so glad it did. Then I process his words and follow his gaze, which is stuck on Ethan, who’s cackling once again.

My forehead creases at the way he’s glaring. Is he…is he jealous?

Do I want him to be jealous?

“We were just commenting on how loud he is,” I lie for some unknown reason. The girls were right. I did say we could date other people. Carter probably has. He might even have hooked up with some in my home. Still, I don’t feel like telling him about the conversation we were having.

Carter hums, attention still lost somewhere in the room, and to make sure we can move on from the subject of Ethan, I say, “Didn’t know you’d be coming tonight.”

He shoves his hands in his pockets. “The house felt lonely.”

It takes a second for me to wrap my head around his words, and my face lights up. Four words that are so simple, and yet I think it’s the most true, personal thing he’s ever said to me.

“You ready to go?” he asks.

“Oh.” We didn’t come in the same car, so I’m not sure why he’s asking. “No, I’m gonna stay a bit.”

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