Page 17 of Some Like It Fox

We chat for a bit, and then I leave him to prepare for his upcoming set, heading back out to the front of the building, where the audience is waiting.

It’s a small show. The only people invited were close friends and family of Luke and Mindy.

I’m rounding a corner in a narrow hallway near the stage whenI run into someone coming in the opposite direction.

“Sorry. Oh.” Mindy startles when her eyes lock with mine, lifting a hand halfway to her mouth.

Great. I guess I’m not the master of avoidance.

I grit my teeth and shift to move around her.

“Thank you for coming.” Her voice is soft with sincerity.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I keep my gaze over her shoulder. I can’t look her in the eyes, the same dark, expressive eyes that Jake has. That Aria had.

“I came for Luke.”Not for you.

“Right.” She ducks her head. “I know he appreciates it.”

I step around her.

“Wait, Taylor.”

I sigh but come to a stop. It would be immature to stomp away like some kind of preteen. I can take the high road.

The high-ish road.

“What?”

“I wanted to thank you for everything you did with Ursula and Laila, and if you ever want to... I don’t know, work in the music industry in any capacity, I would be happy to introduce you to people or return the favor in any way I can.”

I stare at her. What is she expecting from me? She treated me terribly for years, and now she wants to act like it’s all fine, like the past can be erased, like the ache from her sharp words, drilled into me time and time again, no longer matters. Like those wounds have healed without leaving scars. “If that was something I wanted to do, I wouldn’t need your help.”

She winces. “I’m sorry. Forget I said anything.”

I blow out a breath, irritation crawling over me like bees on a honeycomb. “You don’t have to keep doing this.”

“Doing what?”

I flick a hand at her. “Being all nice or whatever. It’s weird.”

“Taylor, I don’t want it to be weird. I want to be nice to you.”

“It’s great you’ve made your peace with all the crap you put me through, but I haven’t. Can’t we ignore each other?”

She takes a breath and releases it before speaking. “I get it. I was terrible. I can respect your wishes and leave you alone if that’s what you want. I won’t talk to you unless strictly necessary.”

Even though it’s hurting her. The remorse is etched into the frown marring her face.

A sliver of regret pierces me in the chest, but I shove it down and harden my resolve. Mindy never cared about all the times she hurt me. Why should I care now? This is nothing more than karma.

“Perfect.” I step around the corner, ready to escape this entire conversation, but then the crowd comes into view and my eyes land on a familiar face.

A familiar, handsome face.

The face of the man who gave me multiple orgasms before I promptly fell asleep and then cut and run the next morning with nothing more than a three-word note.

“Shit.” I pull back behind the corner, out of sight of the audience beyond the stage. My heart gallops in my chest.

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