Page 113 of Play Fast (Brooklyn Dawn 2)

I’d never been anywhere really. Sure, I’d made my way through the five boroughs of New York bouncing around salons and working for on and off Broadway plays. Beyond that I’d kept to my home turf. To see other parts of the US with the band had been something I’d never regret.

Maybe not doing the European leg of the tour. That kind of sucked.

But I couldn’t deal with these yo-yo feelings for Oz. To make me want him—no, want wasn’t a heavy enough word. Yearn might be better. Because I’d known since I was a teenager that he was different. That what I felt was bigger than a crush.

And now after being close to him. To see what we could be and how easily he threw us away? No, I couldn’t live with that around me day in and day out.

Not if I was supposed to get over him.

Like that was a possibility.

I washed my hands and tried to block out another surge of screams from the arena. I dried my hands and moved to the counter full of makeup and hair accessory shrapnel. I slapped the eyeshadow palettes into their slots. I traveled light, but my gear had to be packed up for the trucks.

“Oh, man do you hear that?”

I glanced over my shoulder. “Oh, hey. How was your show?”

“I thought it was killer until I heard the crowd out there.” Elle leaned against the door. She’d changed out of her concert gear into a pair of ripped jeans and an old Eagles T-shirt. I’d added a pink rinse to her hair giving it an ombre effect. She was forever asking me to do something crazy with her hair and loved letting me try new products on her.

Said it kept things with Mal exciting.

If they got any more exciting, their hotel room would go up in flames.

“I heard the crowd, they were just as pumped during your set.”

“You’re sweet. However, we didn’t have an 80’s party going on. Did you see what Jamie found in wardrobe?”

I laughed. “Who do you think sewed her into that jumpsuit?”

“No shit. Glorious. You are the best addition to this tour, girlfriend.”

I looked down at the blush brushes I was gripping. “Thanks.”

“Hey.” She came further inside. “You okay?”

“Yeah, just recovering from hurricane Jamie.”

“Well, that requires some partying.”

“I’m beat.” I snapped the lid on my brush case.

“Nah. You just think you are.” She hooked her arm through mine. “Come out into the pit with me.”

“I definitely don’t have that in me tonight.”

“Come on. Look how cute you are? I need you to do that thing with your eyes for a photo shoot we have next week. Maybe I can have purple flowers though.”

“It’s a stamp, I’m sure we can figure it out.”

“Whatever it is, it’s cute. And you are giving off primetime vibes. This is not to be wasted.” She tugged me toward the door. “Please? I really want to go out there but don’t want to go by myself. And Mal is too conspicuous.”

“And he said no.”

“Well, that too. But seriously he’s no fun for these things. He’s just growling at people to back away from him. It’s way more fun with a pal.”

I swallowed down a lump. Everyone was so friendly. It wasn’t the cutthroat salon where everyone was trying to outdo each other. Here it was more like a family. And dammit, I was going to miss it.

“Okay.”

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