Page 5 of Never Again (Never Blue)

Jude

Tali Stripes DiPietrowas a sight to behold.

I knew she’d be here, had mentally prepared myself to see her, but all that flew out the window when I caught sight of her, getting closer than she’d let me be for a decade.

She looked different, but that's what happened—we grew up, life changed. She couldn’t exactly walk around in Docs and band T-shirts when she had this huge fucking job. Now, she wore a blazer and boots with a dangerous-looking heel. She had that same dangerous look in her eye, like my very presence had her reaching for her weapons.

I got that.

I’d been the pillager of her world more than once. Defenses were completely understandable.

Her face was just as exquisite, but she’d lost her baby softness. Her chocolate eyes were still round and pretty, but there were oceans of knowledge and worlds of hurt behind them. Her dark hair hung straight and tamed behind her shoulders. Lips, which had once been quick to smile, were now pressed into a hard line.

“Hey, Jude.”

Her voice was the same. I hadn’t heard my name from her lips in a decade, and the last time she’d said it, it hadn’t been with any kindness.

“You’re Hector’s new sound guy?”

I tipped my chin, holding up the cable on my arm. “I am.”

“Did you know I would be here?”

“Yeah, Tali. I knew you’d be here.”

Her dark brows drew together as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Then you shouldn’t have accepted this job.”

I reached out. I guess to touch her—to reassure her, but she recoiled so fast and hard, she nearly lost her footing. I didn’t know what kind of reaction to expect, but it wasn’t this one. If she’d been indifferent, I would have hated it, but I also wouldn’t have been surprised. It had, after all, been a long time. A lot of life had happened. But this? Seeing her physically recoil from me? It was a dagger to my fucked up heart.

“I didn’t realize—”

She held up her hand, halting my words. “It’s fine. What’s done is done.”

“I’m here to work, not cause you any problems. It’s been a long time, we should be able to share the same air without any drama.”

She straightened, pulling herself to her full height. With her heels, her eyes were level with my mouth. “Are you implying I’m causing drama?”

“No, I wouldn’t imply that.”

“Forgive me for being shocked to see you.”

I let out a heavy breath. “You haven’t done anything that needs forgiving.”

She paused, her eyes roaming over me. I let her look. I was pretty proud of how far I’d come. The last time she saw me up close—three years after Ben died—I’d been a bag of bones. A filthy, shithead junkie. I’d like to say that was another life, but I couldn’t.

“I don’t understand why you’re here.”

Chocolate eyes flicked to mine, imploring, questioning.

“Hector needed another sound engineer. My old buddy, Charlie, recommended me. I was between gigs, so I’m here.” I scrubbed at my jaw with my hand. “There are a hundred people working on this tour, at minimum. I honestly didn’t envision this. Seeing you like this.”

She shook her head, blinking back confusion. “But why are youhere? Where I am?”

Again, I reached for her, and again, she moved away like I was diseased. “Hasn’t it been long enough?”

Tali looked at me for a long time. Her chest moved up and down, faster than normal, her face devoid of emotion. Finally, she nodded decisively.

“I guess it has.”

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