Page 28 of The Drummer

“Hey, darling!” Jana says, blocking my path.

I lose Callie at the same time Jana’s arms fly around my neck. Before I know what’s happening, her glossy lips graze my cheek while her aggressive embrace drags me further from Callie. It wasn’t an accident. Nothing with her ever is. I could kill Luke for inviting this woman. He knows about our volatile history.

She’s clinging to me like we’re back at that infamous Oscars after party, not like a bitter ex who just blew up my life on a national scale. Lingering hope that was the final punishment for my betrayal evaporates. She’s never going to let me have peace.

“What are you doing here?” I snap, trying to pull away from her.

“Having a good… time! Unlike you, apparently.” Her flirtatious grin matches the glassy look in her eyes. She’s drunk. Fantastic. “What’s wrong, darling? Don’t want people thinking we’re back together?”

I try to extricate myself from her arms, but she’s too far gone in her revenge fantasy for subtle hints.

“I’m with someone,” I lie, motioning toward Callie.

Maybe it’s not a lie. Technically, Iwaswithher when I got abducted.

Callie’s confused stare is punctuated with a darker emotion. Is she… jealous? A hot surge of excitement rushes through me.

Huh. Wasn’t expecting that.

“Thatgirl? What, does she work here?”

I fire a cold look at Jana. Her malicious smile sends a chill over me.

“Wait,” she says, eyeing Callie with a devious glint. My pulse pounds in my ears. “She doesn’t know, does she? She has no idea who I really am. Whoyouare.”

“I have to go,” I grumble, ducking out of her arms.

She yanks me back and drags me in for a kiss.

Stunned, I freeze as her fingers lock in my hair and her tongue plunges into my mouth.

What the actual hell?!

I grab her wrists and wrench them off me. Her challenging look when I step out of reach leaves a sick feeling in my stomach, but I have no interest in playing this game with her. The last time was the last time. I made no secret about that, and I thought she finally got the message when she retaliated with those defamatory stories for Kara Corbin.

“Does she kiss you like that?” Jana taunts.

“Have a great night,” I reply with a tight smile.

We’re not doing this. She’s already done enough damage.

I’m having trouble reading Callie’s expression as I make my way back to her, but I’m not letting Jana ruin this for my new friend.

“Sorry about that,” I say, leaning close. “Ex-girlfriend.”

“Ex? Does she know that?”

Her gaze drifts to something behind me, and I can only assume we’re still being stalked.

I force a casual smile. There’s no way in hell I’m addressing that landmine right now. Hopefully never.

“Sometimes the lines get blurred,” I say in a dismissive tone. “Okay, enough stalling. Let’s dance!”

I take her hand and drag her into the sea of guests as far from Jana as we can get. I’m not ruining this night with the truth about what Callie just saw. Better she thinks it’s exactly what it looked like.

The crowd closes in around us, forcing us together, and I don’t hate anything about the feel of Callie’s warmth against me. Her arms slip around my neck, while my hands curl on her waist.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been this close to another person. Not since Jana in the latest (and last) “on” of our on-again-off-again cycle.

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