“Ours,” Kai answers. And I don’t correct him.
FOUR
Fuck,she’s even more beautiful than I remember.
My memory did not do her justice. The one photo I kept was of her and I during my sophomore year. That was eight years ago. Melody was just a girl then; a girl I desperately wanted to be mine.
She’s all grown up now. And fucking delectable. A pale, beautiful wraith in a black miniskirt and fishnets.
Adam and I talked her down from leaving after Louis’ incredibly insulting speech, but honestly, how was the guy to know? He’s had to have that same conversation a few times with women who found their way backstage and tried to sneak peeks they shouldn’t.
I’m not saying I’m perfect, because I’ve definitely indulged in the crazy groupie dish once or twice, but never for longer than it takes to get off.
Louis saying that to a groupie? Acceptable.
Him saying that to Melody? I want to cut off his fucking hands.
After Reis and Kai got Louis out of the room, we wasted no time corralling Mel into the SUV waiting for us outside.
There is absolutely zero chance we’ll be letting her out of our sight. Not until we figure out all this bad blood between us. I don’t how the other guys feel—well, other than Reis, because everyone can see how he feels—but I need to know what really happened back then. I need to know why she would use and mock us like she did.
But more importantly, I need to know if… if these feelings are just something from the past. I need to see if I can get them out of my system; if she really is just a backstabbing bitch, then I don’t want to spend any more time thinking of her.
And if she is… then Reis can do whatever it is he’s planning. I won’t object.
But I’ll be damned if I don’t try to get some fucking answers.
Adam climbs in the far back, Kai in the middle row, then I help Melody into the middle seat before climbing in myself. Reis usually sits in the middle, but there’s no way I’m putting Mel up front. I want her back here with me, where I can make her squirm and figure her out.
“I guess I’ll sit in the front,” Reis grumbles, and I just smile darkly at him.
You snooze, you lose, fucker.
Besides, he’s the one that’s been cursing her name for eight years, even though every single song he’s written has to do with her. What possible reason would he want to sit next to her?
Ohhh, right.We all know he still loves her.
Sitting beside Melody, I’m hit with the intoxicating smell of her. Is she wearing the same perfume she wore in high school? I don’t think it is, though.
I take another sniff and bite back a moan. Vanilla with some kind of floral overlay. It’s fucking delicious. The one she wore in high school always made me want to lick along her neck to see if she tasted as good as she smelled.
I lean in closer and try not to be too obvious with the third inhale I take.Fuck, it’s like she sends a direct hit to my dopamine receptors. She’s better than any high I could chase.
Speaking of that, it’s surprising I’m not itching for a hit right now. I usually am after a show. Just a little something to take the edge off.
But not today. Instead, I sneak another dose of Melody and smirk.
“So, dearest Melody…” I throw my arm around her, turning to better face her as the car starts to move. It’s dark in here, with the ultra-tinted windows and absolutely no light inside to make sure fans can’t see us as we leave the venue.
We’re private and like to keep it that way, but fame is a fickle thing.
“Tell me, what brought you to our concert tonight?”In other words, what mythical force brought us back together? What deity do I need to thank—or curse—for sending her back to us?
“I mean, seeingOn The Edge. It’s the first time they—I mean, I guess you guys—have come this close to Haven.” Her voice is confused and breathy as she speaks, and I so badly wish I could fully see her face. I’m sure she’d be looking at each one of us like she couldn’t believe we actually made something of ourselves.
“Couldn’t get too close to home,” Kai explains darkly in his deep voice. Almost like a monster in the darkness, waiting to pounce on her the moment he can. For good or for bad, I’m not sure.
They might not realize it, but we haven’t been the same since we left her. We’re still best friends and have each other’s back, but each of us has changed. It’s poorly hidden behind different vices or behaviors to cover up the fact we aren’t healed from the hurt. Adam’s obsessed with tattoos and piercings, spending more time boxing than sleeping to keep from the dreams that haunt him. Reis built our empire with his bare hands anddetermination to keep from thinking about her, all the while thinkingonlyof her. Kai’s always been a little psycho, but now? Now he’s quiet and fractured. Breaking into pieces and putting on masks depending on what is needed from him. And me? I’ve taken to getting high and drunk more often than I’d like to admit. It’s the only way I can make the pain lessen. Even if it's for a moment.