Page 74 of Anthem of Love and Loathing

I look for any sign of insincerity, but there isn’t any.

“And you’re not wrong. It would be nice to be secure enough in this business that I can afford to fall in love.” She moves closer. “Maybe we could get it right this time? We could try for real.”

“Let’s stick to what it is, Sonatina.” I peel away from the concrete edge. “I’m doing what I have to do to protect my band until our contract is up with Savant.”

“Pity,” she says. “We could be much more.”

“Not on my life.” The world spins, moving like I’m on a rollercoaster. Looks like the pills kicked in.

“Where are you going?” she asks when I head inside. “I told you your presence was required for the entire evening.”

I flip her the bird over my shoulder. “I have plans for the rest of my night. And they don’t include you.”

By the time I stumble out of the elevator on the ground floor, my steps are wobbly and crooked and my face feels weird, numb and buzzing at the same time. I laugh at the red eyed me I see in the glass of the revolving door. He laughs back for a long time, his laugh becoming creepier by the second while his face morphs from fat to thin to short to long.

Man, this building is like a house of horrors.

I turn my back on him and order a ride back to the hotel. I don’t want to party. I want Kelsey to tell me who she is fucking running from. And why she had someone else’s baby instead of mine.

I need her to admit if she missed me at all.

The way I still miss her no matter how hard I try not to.

27

Kelsey

Relaxing on the couch, I toss another Cheeto up and catch it in my open mouth. One of the Scream movies is playing on the huge TV, while I’m currently huddled up in a cozy, comfy hotel robe imagining that Riot is the victim running from the killer and his stabby-stab knife.

His messages came through a little while ago. His threats are promises that make me tingle in the best ways. If he would only have made these promises years ago instead of being too busy defending that homewrecker from me.

Maybe I should plant myself in Golden’s bed. Riot might be inclined to leave me alone then. Or he’ll be even more jealous.

I mentally roll my eyes at myself. Why do I get such a thrill out of winding him up?

Knock. Knock.

The rapping makes me jump so high I almost fall off the couch. Sitting up, I curl my knees to my chest and watch Rook answer the door.

I was surprised he didn’t go to the party with them. But I’m the one with a target on her back I suppose. That makes me his biggest worry and liability.

He speaks to whoever is on the other side.

It’ll be room service—I ordered lobster mac and cheese, a burger with fries, and a vanilla sundae a little while ago—or it could be the delivery guy with my hair lightener. Platinum blonde. It’s going to be truly awful. Literally any other color would be more me, but that’s why I chose it. The less me I look the safer I’ll be.

It could also be Marco. I didn’t get a chance to tell the guys about it between getting back to the hotel after the photoshoot and them taking off to the party.

Is it me? Or did none of them seem particularly thrilled about attending tonight’s event?

I realize within seconds that it’s not Marco. If he was going to make a move either he or Rook would have pulled a weapon or caused a scuffle by now. I retract my nails from the skin on my knees.

For now, I’m safe.

Rook comes back into view. Another man in the hotel uniform follows him inside, pushing a cart. Room service. I climb off the couch. I’ve never been this happy to see food. Well, except for that night I ran into Bronx. But that was because I hadn’t eaten. This is because it’s my favorite dinner.

He leaves and I grab a fork and take the lids off the plates. Stabbing elbow shaped pasta onto my fork, I pop them in my mouth. They taste like cheesy, lobstery heaven. It’s been a long time since I’ve had something this decadent and comforting. “I ordered you a burger and fries.”

“You’re a sweetheart, Kelsey.” Rook shakes his head and gives me a wide grin. He picks up his burger with both hands and bites into it. Meat juice drips down his chin. “Much nicer than their current label appointed manager.”