Page 28 of Collide

“Have you been dancing?” I ask, uncertain why I ask and not wanting the answer.

“Not yet,” he says, not looking at me and lifting his glass again. He’s standoffish once again like he was this morning, and I’m too tired to play games with him.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?”

He shakes his without answering. Jared sits across from us, and tension surrounds the table. Petty works his way over to us, disentangling himself from a pretty redhead.

“Poison Ivy,” he blurts. Unoriginal, but I laugh anyway. “Girl, in that dress, you’re toxic.”

“Petty,” Gage hisses, and I think, not this again. Gage already hurt his friend earlier in the day although it wasn’t intentional, and he did apologize.

Petty shakes his head, ignoring Gage. “Dance with me,” Petty asks, reaching for me over the table. He lifts my hand over Jared and drags me out to the floor. It’s been a while since I’ve danced, and I’m self-conscious of the new shape of my pregnant body. I don’t move as I once did, and I don’t feel sexy wiggling on the dance floor, but I can’t help but fall in with Petty. His laughter is infectious, and his crazy dance moves have me less embarrassed.

“You think I’m funny,” he says as I can hardly breathe, I’m laughing so hard.

“I think you’re adorable,” I reassure him.

“They think I’m an idiot.” His expression turns serious as he nods in the direction of Gage and Jared. Gage takes another sip of his drink, watching me over the rim. Jared faces his friend, swinging his hand as he speaks to his bandmate.

“Why would you say that?” I ask over the heart-thumping music.

“They think I don’t know about you and Cash, or the fact you’re pregnant.” I stop dancing to stare at him. Someone bumps into me, and Petty wraps a hand around my waist.

“Why don’t you announce it to the bar?” I say, choking on the lump in my throat.

“I can keep a secret.” He’s still dancing, but he’s slowed his pace. A momentarily somber expression on Petty’s face tells me he has own secrets, and his silly antics hide them.

“You were on social media today. With Gage.”

“What?” I’ve stopped moving again, blinking up at him.

“Someone on the boat caught him kissing your forehead. Not a big deal, but they tried to make it into one.”

My heart drops. I don’t need this type of exposure, and it’s the last thing a rising rock star wants.

“I…” I turn to search for Gage, only I notice he’s no longer seated at the table. He’s dancing with a girl in the opposite corner of the dance floor. I watch his sultry moves. His hips sway into her like he might roll them during sex, and bile builds in my stomach. He spins her around, drawing her hips to the front of him. She lifts her arms over her head and reaches back for him. He leans out of her touch and spins her back to face him. Her hands smooth up his shirt, but he grabs her wrists. He draws her hand up to his lips and kisses her knuckles, but his eyes cross the floor to me. I look away, forcing my eyes to Petty.

Petty gazes over his shoulder before spinning me to look away from him.

“After sitting here for an hour, bitching about you being late, I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he’s dancing with her to keep the spotlight off you. If someone takes a picture of him with her, it will draw people away from speculation.”

“Speculation?”

“That he’s into you.”

It all hits me hard. He shouldn’t be into me. Even Petty knows the reason, and it’s only a matter of time before social media takes a hit at my belly. I should appreciate the gesture. Gage is dancing with someone else to protect me, but I can’t rationalize at this moment. I’m jealous. She’s slim and sleek, and her clothes fit her tight ass. Her hair shines midnight black down her exposed back where Gage rests his hand. Other images join my imagination of them together, and the bile in my stomach crawls up my esophagus.

“I need air,” I shout to Petty over the music. I shouldn’t be here. I’m creating a silly fantasy of Gage Everly being into me from his Neanderthal behavior and his tender touches. It’s just him being sweet, and it’s all wrong.

+ + +

I don’t head to the penthouse right away but opt for a walk. The boardwalk is quiet and peaceful once again, and I swing my arm holding my strappy sandals. I shouldn’t be out here alone, but I take the risk to collect my thoughts.

What do I even want from him? It wouldn’t be fair to take on me and a baby that’s not his. We shouldn’t be attracted to each other the way I thought we were. Then again, he’s the one giving me orgasms, not the other way around. Maybe he feels some warped obligation to take care of his dead friend’s kid. My chest hurts with the thought. I don’t want his sympathy. I want him.

I finally turn around and head back to the resort. I have no idea how long I’ve been gone. When I reach the penthouse, I find Tommy sitting on the loveseat on the patio.

“Hey, baby girl.” His voice sounds groggy like he’s tired or had too much to drink. From the bottle of Jack on the table and the glass in his hand, I’m going to assume option B. I fold down next to him and lean my head against his shoulder.