Page 126 of Tate
The man waggled his eyebrows but pocketed the ring.
Senator Jackson stepped back up to the mic, clapping, but Glo put her hand around her mother and leaned in, taking her spot. “How about if we get this party started with some real music while bussers clear our tables.”
The senator appeared a little startled but stepped back in a moment, clapping.
“Where’s Tate?” Ford asked, turning to face Scarlett.
She didn’t have to answer. Tate’s heavy breathing sparked through the earpiece.
“It’s the sound guy! I’m in the stairwell. He’s getting away!”
He’d had a choice—storm the stage or track down Plunkett.
Tate’s brain had stopped for a full second when the man came onstage because he’d glimpsed, from his vantage point, Glo standing in the wings, and…
She was so beautiful it hurt. Just clawed at his chest, like his heart might be ripping from its moorings. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, and nearly ignored the sound guy.
Nearly. Might have missed him altogether had the man not turned and walked back offstage just as Glo stepped forward.
He wore a gray collared shirt with the logo of the sound company on the front, neatly buttoned all the way up. He must have tried to hide the tat with makeup, but the uniform had smudged enough off for Tate to spot bright orange lipping above the neckline.
Please let him be right.
He started to make his way to the door as Sloan stepped up to the mic.You know how it is. When you meet the right one, the one you’ve been waiting for your entire life?
Yeah, he knew.
Because he’d never loved anyone like he loved Glo. Needed anyone like he needed Glo. Yeah, her smile, her laughter, but also the way she believed in the good, the hero in him.
And right then, he’d wanted to rush the stage. Scoop up Glo and make off with her like he might be a crazed fan.
True fact.
But that would be impulsive and fanatical, and he’d not only get tackled by Rags, doing his job, but Plunkett would get clean away.
His words to Glo in Montana found him.I promise you right now—I’m not going to let anything happen to you…or me.
He was keeping at least one of those promises.
He was pushing out the door when Sloan said,In fact, what do you say I ask her right now?
No—what? The blood drained right out of him as he’d glanced at Glo.
She was smiling.
And for a long, painful second, Tate watched his hopes crash and burn onstage.I love you, and I know you love me. I think the only way to kick off this victorious campaign is one way…
He couldn’t watch this, the betrayal like a knife through his chest. Wow. Just, really,wow. How had he gotten sucked so far in that he hadn’t seen that coming?
Maybe he had. Maybe he just hadn’t wanted to.
Just like Jammas, he’d wanted to believe the best.
Tate pushed out the door and into the hallway.
He ran around to the main hallway and spied a bouncer near one of the exits. “Did you see a sound guy come out of here?”
The man frowned and shook his head, and it occurred to Tate how often people never noticed the people behind the scenes.
