Page 62 of Teach Me to Fly

“I’ve practically been to all of them.”

I turn toward Terry now. He looks a little drunk, eyes glassy, but not completely out of it.

“How many times did you two come to New York together?”

“Angel,” Reign says in a low warning.

Terry waves a hand like he doesn’t even hear him. “Oh, I lost count. We went down every few months over the last five years.”

Five years.

My breath catches. That’s the entire time I was gone. The whole time he ghosted me. The whole time I thought he didn’t care.

“And each time… you came to see me perform?” My voice is quieter now, but shaky.

Terry nods. “Every damn time.”

I can’t stop staring at Reign, and he doesn’t look away as he watches me come apart, my throat tightening. The burn behind my eyes is sharp, but I blink it back. He didn’tspeak to me, but he watched me. Repeatedly. Even when I didn’t know he was still there…he was.

What the hell do I do with that?

“Let’s go,”Reign says, grumpily, standing from the table and looking at me, Terry, and Lando. “We have rehearsal in the morning with Volkov, and I don’t want anyone puking on me because they’re hungover.”

“I’m not even that drunk,” I pout, but I stand up, pulling Lando with me.

“Nuh-uh, no way am I getting in your car,” Lando says, holding up a finger in Reign’s face, moving it side to side. “I saw you take those tequila shots, and I don’t ride with intoxicated drivers.”

Reign slowly pushes Lando’s hand away from his face and pins him with an annoyed look. “I called us a cab.”

“Oh,” Lando says, pulling his hand back. “Forgot those existed.”

“I’ll need to crash at your place when we get there,” Terry says, standing up and stumbling to the side before he throws his hands out to steady himself. “There’s no way I’ll be able to drive myself home.”

“You can stay in the main house with me,” Lando offers.

Terry tuts before smirking at Lando. “Nuh-uh, twinkle toes. I don’t sleep with coworkers, no matter how good looking they are.”

Lando turns a deep scarlet but keeps his mouth closed as we make our way out of the lounge, waving goodbye to the others, and jump into the cab. Terry takes the seat next to the driver, and I sit squished between Lando and Reign.

Twenty minutes later, we reach the estate and aftersaying a quick goodnight to us, Lando makes his way toward the main house.

“Terry, you can sleep in my room,” Reign says, walking toward the guesthouse and unlocking the door.

“Mate, I know we’re best friends and all,” Terry says, walking in after Reign as I follow closely behind. “But I am not sleeping next to you.”

Reign turns around and narrows his eyes at him. “You can have my room because I’m sleeping on the couch.”

“Aww,” Terry says, placing a hand on Reign’s shoulder. “Such a gentleman.”

And without another word, he throws a hand up over his shoulder, waving goodnight as he walks down the hall and into Reign's room, leaving us alone by the front door.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay on the couch?” I ask as I slide off my shoes.

Reign smirks, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall. “Is this your way of inviting me into your bed?”

I don’t answer as I slowly rise. Do I want him in my bed? I mean, I did sleep next to him last night, and apparently, I’m okay with his hands on me now, too. But I know that if I have him in my bed, things might get heated, and I don’t think I’m ready to be touched like that. Not yet. Not to mention, we still need to have a conversation about him ghosting me.

And silently keeping tabs on me in New York too.

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