Page 69 of When We Fell Again
Suki shrank back into her seat. “I… I… “
Before anyone could say anything else, Arlo hauled Jordan away from his girlfriend, spinning him around so they were inches apart. “Don’t speak to her like that.”
“What? Talking sense to her? I bet she doesn’t get much of that from you.”
“She gets what she needs from me.” Arlo snorted. “And if you were half as attentive to the lovely Alexis, she wouldn’t have to come to me.”
Jordan’s face contorted at Arlo’s implication, even though there was absolutely no truth in it, and he knew it. Everything Arlo said was designed to provoke Jordan, to push him until he broke. I could see it coming, and I was fairly sure Jordan did too, but I didn’t know what to do to stop it.
“Jordan.” My voice was low in warning. “Step away.”
He turned, eyes blazing, fists clenched at his sides. “I can handle this.”
“I know. But you don’t have to right this minute. The band has a show and Arlo can’t go on stage with a black eye or broken bones. Think about what would happen if he let the fans down. Think about how you’d feel if the tables were turned. If you couldn’t do a show because of a stupid argument.” My heart pounded in my chest, scared of what might happen if it all went off. “Why don’t you go to the VIP area, and I’ll join you there?”
The tension in the air was so thick it was palpable.
Jordan’s jaw clenched, my words apparently sinking in. “Okay.” He stalked across the room, bumping his shoulder against Arlo’s on the way out. “Don’t think this is finished,” he spat.
Once he’d gone, I let out a breath and swallowed hard against the lump that had formed in my through, grateful that it hadn’t escalated further.
Arlo appeared in front of me, sticking his face right into mine. “Don’teverlet that prick talk to me like that again. You need to keep your boyfriend under control. He’s worthless.” He ran his gaze up and down my body. “I don’t know what he sees in you anyway. You’re nothing special.”
Jordan Bowie was worth a million Arlo Carmichaels, and I wouldn’t rise to Arlo’s bait.
“I don’t really care what you think about me, Arlo. All I need is for you to be on stage, on time, and put on a fucking good show.”
CHAPTER29
Jordan
“Excuse me,you’re not meant to be in here.” A burly security guard held an arm across my chest as I attempted to enter the VIP area. “Band members and guests only.”
I dug beneath my shirt and pulled out the lanyard with the access-all-areas pass hanging from it. “Alexis Jagger is my host.”
He scrutinised the pass, as if staring at it harder would make it more valid, then checked it against his list. “Come on through,” he grunted.
All I wanted was a drink. Or something stronger to get me through the night. The run-in with Arlo had me more riled up than I wanted. This visit had been about seeing Lex, making things up to her, showing her how much I cared, that I hadchanged.
So far, that hadn’t happened.
I swiped a bottle of beer from the table and stared at the stage where the support act was finishing up as I took a swig. They sounded like a talented bunch of kids and I made a mental note to check them out after the gig.
The lull between the end of the support set and the start of the headliners seemed unbearably long. Now I knew how punters felt, waiting for us to come on, supposedly the highlight of their night. Intrigue had me wanting to see what Arlo was like live, but another part of me wanted to get the hell out of there, preferably with Lex.
In those forty-five minutes, I wrestled with my conscience. Several times, I got my phone out, hovering over Felix’s contact details, but each time, I stopped myself. The slip I’d had a few days ago had to be enough. I couldn’t go back there, no matter how strong the pull.
An addict is always an addict.
Downing more bottles of beer instead, things started to get a bit hazy. I really should have eaten something before coming out.
Finally, The Dicers started to play. I wondered how long it would be before Lex joined me, hoping she hadn’t decided to watch from the side of the stage instead of finding me. I watched Arlo prowling around the stage, playing up to the fans at the front, slapping palms and blowing kisses. He cut a different showman to me. I preferred being in the moment with the band, and while I did acknowledge the fan base, it wasn’t in the same way as him.
“Hey.” Lex’s voice cut into my reverie.
Grateful to have a reason to turn away from the show, I faced Lex. She stood there, arms crossed over her chest, mouth set in a line.
“What the hell was that in there?” she snapped, with an angry gesture towards the dressing room.
