Page 96 of Dirty Rock

“Rhett?” she whispered.

“Yeah?”

Her eyes searched mine before she pushed my shoulders back, stood up straight, and pulled my hands away from her hips.

“Grow the hell up,” she said calmly.

With that, she walked away, offering me one parting glance before she let the door close behind her, and she disappeared again, leaving me standing there alone, cold, and utterly fucked up inside.

Chapter Thirty-Three

“Rhett, dude, what the fuck?” Hawk snapped for the third time in the space of an hour.

“Sorry.” I cleared my throat and stared down at the lyrics in my hand, trying to focus. Everything looked blurry. I was lightheaded and heavy-footed, unable to coordinate myself to do the most basic of tasks. Nausea turned my stomach over and over on a fast spin.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, man. Fine.”

“Maybe we should call it quits for the day?” Big D boomed to my right.

“I said I’m fine.” I turned to look at him, eyes narrowed.

“Who you trying to convince? You’ve been off for the last hour.”

“It happens.”

“Not to you.”

Telling me I was off around people I was comfortable with was one thing, but when that Joshua dick was in the room, I took it personally. I glared at Big D without having to say a word. I wanted him to speak first, because if he did, that would give me a reason to go off on him.

Yeah, I was off. They expected me to stand there and sing about love, feelings, and the good life while Jules and Joshua created so much chemistry, they were practically a house on fire in front of me.

“Let’s go again. Filtered, from after the first chorus,” Hawk chipped in.

I looked down at the lyrics. “Not the first verse?”

“No. Second.”

“You sure?” I frowned, scanning the sheet in my hand.

Hawk sighed heavily.

“Sorry. Got it.”

I stepped up to the mic, wetting my lips with my tongue and closing my eyes. Presley got the beat going, and the other guys dropped right in without fault or a trip in their flow. I could feel this energy building in my chest. Rage. Hurt. Jealousy. Things I wasn’t used to feeling. Emotions I had no name for. They all congealed together to make for something that closed my throat up tight. I was suffocating with so much air around me. Choking on my own damn thoughts.

Releasing a breath, I cleared my throat and went for it, keeping my eyes closed.

Those sepia tones on that pretty face.

Don’t hide the darkness.

Don’t hide your disgrace.

Give me your lines.

Show your mistakes.

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