But he looks like it’s new information.
No. No way. He does not get to act like the surprised, wounded party.
But he recovers quickly. “Cooper and JP aren’t a couple either,” he points out, “and they just did a rousing rendition of ‘My Heart Will Go On.’”
“I really don’t want to,” I mumble.
His gaze sharpens into something more scrutinizing, and I lower my eyes to my glass to avoid the heat of it. Finally, he backs off. “Okay. Guess I’m on my own for this one.”
“Do ‘Tennessee Whiskey’!” Cara cries.
“Not that one.” Nate shakes his head.
“Please,” Cara whines. “Come on. I looooove that song, and you’re so good at it.”
“Cara,” Nate says. His voice is laced with warning, and he actually looks kind of agitated, narrowing his eyes at his sister.
Cara turns to me conspiratorially. “He used to sing it for hisex-girlfriend all the time. They were togetherforever. I think he’s just embarrassed now.”
I blink, caught off guard.Forever?
Is she talking about Sarah?
The crowd noise—laughing, clinking glasses, the low hum of background music—feels like it’s pressing in from all sides.
“If Nikki’s not singing, I’m not either,” Nate says. “Sorry, sis.” He hands her back the mic.
She shrugs. “Suit yourselves. I’ll leave you to it. Go back to arguing aboutLovedBy.”
“LovedBy?” Nate asks.
“Isn’t that what you were talking about?” Cara says. She takes a long, slurping sip from the straw in the water glass and seems surprised when it comes up empty. “How Nikki’s going back on the show?”
“She didn’t actually accept it,” Nate corrects.
Cara levels me with a look. Her eyes are bloodshot, but sharper, no longer glassy. “You didn’t tell him?”
“Tell me what?” Nate asks, his gaze darting between the two of us.
“My lord, this family and their secrets…” Cara mutters.
“Cara,” Nate warns.
She rolls her eyes. “I heard her on the phone earlier today, talking to someone from the show,” she tells her brother. “She said she’d be ‘honored to return to theLovedByfranchise.’”
And with that, Cara saunters off to join her friends. Soon enough, one of the Leg Tears has taken the stage and commandeered the mic again.
“You made your decision, huh?” Nate says, a hard look descending over his face. “Well, congrats, I guess. Cheers to you.” Then he salutes me, stands up, and walks away—straight through the crowd and out the front door.
26
THE PARKING LOT ISquiet, the noise from the bar a distant hum. There’s a light drizzle falling, and the cool air hits my skin, sharp and clean. And for the first time tonight, I can actually feel my lungs expand. I drag a hand over my face, trying to shake the sticky warmth of the bar off me, the leftover haze of alcohol and the smell of sweat and beer.
Once I’ve gathered myself, I turn to face Nate. “Seriously? You’re just walking out?” Though I don’t know why I’m surprised—he’s been shutting me out all day.
“I needed some air.” He crosses his arms in front of his chest, looking defiant.
“Can we at least talk about it?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady, and failing.
