Page 27 of Dissonance

His mouth twitches, barely. “We’ve always been good at that.”

“There you are.” Cooper materializes through the crowd like a burst of color, grin wide, cheeks flushed, energy vibrating off him. Declan follows, one hand finding Cooper’s waist, calm where Cooper is anything but.

“Tell me you’re having an incredible night,” he says, pulling me in and kissing my cheek. “I swear this tops last year.”

“You look beautiful,” Declan says, leaning in for the other cheek.

“And you two clean up nicely,” I say, laughing as Cooper flicks out the tails of his tux. “Ready for your performance?”

“Cannot wait.” He grins and glances around. “Where’s Sip Station? Aren’t they nominated?”

“Tokyo. Landed this morning.”

Declan lets out a low whistle. “Damn.”

“They’re watching the livestream before soundcheck. Eli’s already sent me a video I can only describe as unhinged.”

Cooper laughs. “God, I love that guy.”

A voice rolls over the room, smooth and commanding, cutting through the chatter.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please begin making your way to your seats. The ceremony will begin shortly.”

The energy shifts instantly. Bodies start moving, conversations break off mid-sentence, the buzz pulling tight into anticipation.

Declan squeezes Cooper’s side. “Ready, baby?”

“Born ready,” he says, bouncing on his heels before turning to me. “You coming?”

“In a second.”

Tyler catches my eye across the crowd, wedged between two other artists, Zane still snapping pictures behind him. He throws me a quick thumbs-up without breaking the pose, dark eyes smoldering as he pouts.

“That was me my first time too,” Cooper says, following my gaze, chuckling softly. “Let him have it. It’s a lot. Hell, it’s still a lot.”

He laces his fingers with Declan’s and they head toward the aisle, Cooper waving at someone calling his name. Taking a breath, I run a hand over the front of my dress out of habit more than necessity.

Lockie moves to follow them, but pauses to glance back at me, a silent check as automatic as breathing. Then he nods and falls in behind Cooper.

I watch him go. I know I shouldn’t, my eyes stay glued to his back until he disappears through the ballroom doors and out of sight.

“Ready?” Tyler asks, appearing at my elbow.

“Yes.” I gesture for him to go ahead.

The lights dim as I find my seat, the opening notes of the ceremony swelling, applause rolling in from every direction. I face forward, entirely composed. And that’s the end of it. No more stolen moments with a certain Scot I can’t seem to avoid. But then I glance up and find his eyes already on me from across the room. The same as that very first night. My breath catches, my hand moving to the side of my neck without thinking, fingers pressing lightly against the skin that still tingles with the memory of his palm. I force myself to look at the stage as the host steps up to the microphone, my pulse going haywire while I can’t hear a single word.

Chapter Eleven

Lockie

Cooper sweeps at the Grammys.

By the time the second award is placed in his hands, his grin has gone wild and loose, eyes glassy with disbelief and the better part of an open bar. Declan keeps a steady hand at the back of his seat, grounding him without dulling any of the shine, pride written all over his face.

I track them automatically from my position—out of the way, unremarkable to everyone around me—calculating distance, exits, sightlines, adjusting as the room does. Tonight, the job’s easy. It would be, in one of the most heavily credentialed rooms on the planet. Layered security, vetted guests, faces checked before the carpet was even rolled out.

Maintenance rather than anticipation.