Page 90 of Cadence
Tying off the condom, Maddox pulls up his jeans, freezing at the sound of footsteps and voices approaching. He moves fast, ducking into the shadows and shoving the used condom into his pocket. I press my back against the wall, hidden behind the flight cases, heart thundering as Beau’s frame fills the end of the hallway.
I watch as Maddox meets his eyes before lowering to his undone fly, shrugging, casual as ever, like nothing’s wrong.
“Just needed a minute.”
I hold my breath, waiting for the questioning, the accusation, when Beau replies dryly, “Right…”
Just when I’m about to breathe out, Olive appears beside him in a whirlwind, hand latching onto Beau’s arm with a sly grin. “I didn’t think watching would’ve been your kind of thing.”
Beau jerks backward, mouth opening and closing like he’s lost for words, but I can see the way he’s looking at my best friend, like he wants her and fears her in equal measure, not sure what instinct to follow.
“Relax, baby,” she purrs, voice dropping to a teasing whisper. “Play your cards right and maybeIcan giveyoua show.”
“Oh my god,” I whisper, catching Beau’s hard swallow as she drags him away, looking behind her and mouthing,You’re welcome.
I don’t move, don’t suck in a much-needed breath until Maddox exhales, his shoulders dropping like he’s already regretting everything. I’m still trembling inside, my orgasm high intensified by almost being caught.
He turns slowly, glancing over his shoulder before closing the distance, his mouth finding mine again in a kiss that leaves no doubt. He doesn’t regret a thing.
But I think I might.
We know what’s at stake, we know we shouldn’t do this, but we can’t stay away.
And if this keeps going, I’m going to fall for Maddox Knox… If I haven’t started to fall already.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Paige
I’mtryingnottolook at him as I text my mom back, filling her in on yet another amazing show. Vancouver, Seattle, Denver…each one louder than the last. Our set is slick, our fan base is growing, and the buzz online has been wild after a video of us on stage went viral.
I still can’t wrap my head around it.
Twelve months ago, I was in New York writing songs for other people. Now I’m on stage, being apartof it. And it’s everything I thought I wanted, only louder, messier, and way more complicated than I ever imagined.
“Who you texting?” Eli asks, sinking down across from me, holding his chin in his hands.
Narrowing my eyes, I cradle my phone closer to my chest. “Why?”
He shrugs, missing the innocence he’s going for. “Is it Olive?”
“No,” I say, unable to keep the suspicion from my voice. “Why?”
“No reason,” he chirps, which makes my hackles rise.
“Eli…”
“What?” he asks, his tone a pitch higher than normal. “She was nice, that’s all.”
“Sure,” Maddox says from across the bus. “That’s why I saw her and Beau sneaking out of your hotel room at three a.m. that night she came to see us play.”
Beau splutters as I gasp, jaw dropping, eyes bouncing between our bassist and guitarist.
“What the hell? Now her text telling me not to wait up makes so much sense.” I think back to the night she wasmeantto stay with me after our New York show. “She was with you two.”
“She…uh…” Beau mumbles, cheeks growing redder and redder. “We…uh…were talking.”
“Til three a.m.?” I ask in disbelief.
