Page 18 of Forbidden Intent

Robbie just stares affectionately at his wife, and something passes between them that makes me look away because it feels like I’m intruding on a private moment.My gaze lands on Kasen and Tristan standing next to me.Kase is once again rapidly texting before he mumbles, “I gotta head out.”He reaches into his pocket, pulls out his keys, and heads out the door with a wave.I look at Tristan, wondering if he’s as worried about Kase as I am, but his gaze is locked on Robbie and Jolie, an indecipherable expression on his face.

I pat him on the shoulder.“You okay, man?”

He pulls his gaze away from the happy couple who are now chatting with the other happy couple in the room.

“Yeah,” he says, but I don’t believe him.

It’s not often I see this lost look that he gets sometimes, but it almost always seems to be whenever he’s looking at Robbie and Jolie.I’ve wondered about it over the years—whether it was how his friendship with Robbie inevitably changed once Jolie came into the picture, or if it’s Jolie that’s the issue—but he’s never opened up.The man is so tight-lipped about it, I have no doubt he’d survive the worst interrogation techniques imaginable and still not give up what’s going on in that head of his.

“Wanna grab a drink?”

He nods and pulls his own keys out of his pocket.We both walk out with a brief wave and then silently get in his car.He drives us to a local place that’s always been great about keeping our presence on the down low.It also helps that we aren’t the face of the band.Trent is recognizable the second he steps out of his house, but the rest of us are more capable of flying under the radar.

When we grab seats at the bar and have beers in front of us, I finally break the silence.“Wanna talk about what that was back there?”

“Nope.”

I can’t fight back my smirk.“Fair enough.”

We take a few silent sips, both of us watching the game playing on the big screen TV behind the bar, comfortable with the silence.The graze of a hand on my arm pulls my focus from the TV to a woman who barely reaches my shoulders even though I’m sitting down on a stool.She’s a petite brunette with that smokey eye look and ruby-red lips.She licks them slowly and gives me a coy look that’s probably supposed to come off as bashful, but this isn’t my first rodeo.I can see a proposition coming from a mile away.

“Aren’t you that drummer?From Rapturous Intent?”

“Maybe,” I say offering her a soft smile.If she’s a fan, I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but I also don’t want to come across as too flirty.

Wait…

Why wouldn’t I want to be flirty?Maybe this is what I need.Another distraction to finally end these incessant thoughts of Tamsin.

Except the idea of hooking up with this woman makes my stomach sour.Doing anything withanyonewho isn’t Tamsin makes my skin feel tight.

What the hell is Tamsin doing to me?

The woman next to me bats her fake eyelashes and leans in to whisper near my ear.“I love a man who can keep a good rhythm.”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes, but Tristan doesn’t.He shakes his head while taking another sip of his beer and keeping his eyes on the television playing the game.

I need to shut this down.

“While I appreciate the courage it took to come over here, I’m not interested.I’m just here to have a beer with my buddy.”

Her shoulders stiffen, and the seductive smirk on her red lips instantly turns into a scowl.“Your loss,” she huffs before spinning on her heel and stomping away.

I sigh in relief that she didn’t put up more of a fight.The most uncomfortable encounters I’ve had to deal with are the times when the woman refused to take no for an answer.

Turning back to Tristan, I see him smirking but still not looking my way.“Not in the mood tonight?”

I shrug.“Not particularly.What about you?Anyone here catch your eye?”

He doesn’t even bother to look around.“Nah.”

I’ve known Tristan for over ten years, but some days I feel like I don’t know him at all.He’s always been quiet and reserved, with a single-minded focus on the band.He’s a brilliant songwriter and musician, but the man has never had a serious relationship.He fucks women indiscriminately—I’ve tried for years to figure out his type, but willing seems to be his only qualification—and never more than one night.

You’d think that would make him a total player, but he’s one of the nicest guys I know and rarely has any drama with women.I’ve never seen anything quite like it.It’s wild.

“Do you think you’ll ever settle down someday?”I ask, my gaze locked on my beer because I’m not sure why I’m asking or what I expect him to say.We don’t usually talk like this.

I can feel the weight of his gaze, so I glance up to see him watching me like he’s trying to figure out where I’m going with this.“No.”

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