Page 23 of The Second Deal

Adrian’sjaw clenches. “Youshoulda stayed.Wecould’ve figured things out.”

Apained scoff blows past my lips. “Whatthe fuck was there to figure out, huh?”

Adrianfollows, footsteps rushing behind. “Stephani, wait.”

Idon’t.Ihead straight for the door and fling it wide open.

Iflinch the same time a girl jumps in front of me, staring with wide blue eyes under dark bangs.

Sheblinks, regaining composure as she gathers thatI’mnot one of the twins.Then, recognition lights up her eyes. “Holyshit,StephaniWade?”

“Uh, yeah,”Iconfirm unsurely.

Sheglances between me and the body drawing closer behind me. “Areyou back in the band?”

Iswallow the lump forming in my throat. “No.”

“Dang,” she pouts pitifully. “Ithought it was a lot cooler whenTimelesshad some estrogen.”

“Yeah,”Adrianagrees. “SodidI.”

Herexpression turns curious. “So… you’re back withZak, then?”

Thatquestion shouldn’t send blood rushing through my veins in a boiling rage. “Sorry, who are you?”

“Oh, my bad!GuessIshould introduce myself.”Sheshoves her hand towards me with a smile. “I’mNorma.Adrian’sgirlfriend.”

FuckingPLAYITCOOL,STEPHANI.

Itamp down the shock so it doesn’t reveal itself on my face when my heart plummets all the way to my ass and threatens to upchuck right ontoAdrian’sgirlfriend’sfeet.

It’scovered up, instead, by mimicking her asIreach out to shake her hand. “Niceto meet you.”

Don’tfucking look at him.

“Well, sorry to cut things short, butIreally gotta git.”

Islip past her and all but run to my car, sucking in the shakiest breath whenIdare to steal a glance at the front door.

Normaleans in to kissAdrian, and he quickly angles to where she lands on his cheek instead of his mouth.Shewaltzes through the front door like she’s been here a million times before.

Mybrows furrow when a pang plummets through my stomach.

Hisdark eyes sharpen on me, staring far too intently.Theonly thing that breaks it is my phone buzzing in the cupholder.

Aslew of texts and missed phone calls clutter the screen overMomcalling me.

“Hey, hi,I’msosorry—”

“Wherethe hell are you?”Momshrieks. “We’vebeen calling and texting and you haven’t answered at all!”

“I-I’msorry.Iforgot my phone in the car.”

“Whereare you?”

Ipeer up, and the front door is closed. “I’mat the twins’.”

Silence.

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