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“I don’t play this game,” I said in a sharp tone. “I’m not some fucking talent scout, Lena.”
“I…sorry…” Her voice trailed off. “I thought…you guys seemed so into it.”
And he seemed too into you.
“Hey, Lena!” Nel’s voice echoed. “Why don’t you two come up and drink with us? Mason can too, once he finishes his set in fifteen minutes. I already sent his video to my manager—it’s got you in it too. You’re really fuckin’ good.”
“I think I’m going to head home for the night,” I said, glancing over to Nel.
“Nah, you’re not.” Nel burst into laughter. “You’re just jealous you had to share your singing buddy, but I think she and Mason are damn good together.”
I winced internally as Lena gave me a peculiar look. It looked like I needed to stay—just for damage control. The last thing I needed was for her to start thinking that I actually thought about her.
She didn’t need to know the truth.
11
LENA
Istared across the table at Jackson, who hadn’t so much as even looked at me. What’s wrong with him? Why did he look at me like that while I was singing? Why won’t he look at me now?
It had been hard to pick him out while I was on stage, but once I had, it was easy to read his expression. He was bothered when I started to sing, and then he stormed off. Did he think I was really bad or something?
I was so confused.
“Want another drink?” Nel offered, a smile on his face. “We’ll buy a few rounds for Mason too, once he gets up here.”
“Thanks.” I took a sip of the watery mixture at the bottom of my Jack and Coke. I was going to be exhausted in the morning, but singing with Mason—and potentially getting him a deal—was worth whatever the hell I was going through with Jackson in the moment.
“So…” Aaron drew out the word in a slur. “You two sleeping together?”
I glanced over at Jackson, who rolled his eyes. “No.”
“Why the fuck would I wanna sleep with her?” Jackson shot back, much sharper than my answer had been. It was…startling.
“You look at her like you wanna sleep with her,” Nel pointed out, chuckling as he put his beer to his lips.
“Like you wanna marry her.” Aaron burst into a fit of drunk laughter.
“You guys are dumbasses,” Jackson retorted. “I can’t even stand to be in the same room with her.”
I whipped my head around to glare at him, ignoring the hurt his words brought. “What’s wrong with you tonight? I mean, you’re always rude, but this is just…ridiculous. I’m having a bad freaking night, and I’m just trying to deal.” I shouldn’t have admitted that in front of the entire table, but the alcohol always affected my filter.
Jackson held my gaze, and I swear, for a split second, there was remorse in his green eyes. “Okay.”
Okay? Seriously?
“I’m gonna go get more drinks,” Nel said, eyeing the two of us. “Don’t murder each other before I get back.”
“I gotta fuckin’ piss,” Aaron blurted, sliding off the stool and heading for the bathroom. I watched him go, shaking my head. It was not a good look for him.
“What happened?” Jackson asked suddenly, his tone soft enough to cause my heart to flip in my chest.
“What?”
“What happened tonight?” His face was expressionless, but his eyes were as soft as his voice.
I hesitated, trying to decide if he would just throw whatever I said right back in my face. “Maeve told me tonight that she’s moving out in a month, so I only have a month to find a roommate.” I felt stupid saying it, because it was a problem he would never understand.
