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“Does Bryn have something to do with this job?”
Riley scratches her cheek as she studies me. “I think her brother gives Tegan an advantage, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“No, I mean has he arranged this for her. Ruby thinks he has.”
“Who knows? Maybe. I know a couple of the girls are pissed off she’s been offered the role when she’s been there five minutes.”
“Fuck! I knew it! Why can’t he keep out of my fucking life?”
“Whoa. Jax. I’d calm down if I were you.”
I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and exhale slowly. When I open them, Riley is looking at me in alarm. “You don’t know this is true. She really is good at what she does. You should be proud.”
Her words sting. Tegan tells me something big she’s achieved, and I storm off like a child and end our relationship. I didn’t intend to, thought if I gave her an ultimatum, she’d change her mind. Dumbass. Like that’s ever going to work with a girl like Tegan. “Yeah. I’ll talk to her later.”
“We’re coming to the after party later, you can talk to her then.”
“We?”
“Me and some of the London office. They’ve worked hard on the tour, but not had a chance to celebrate yet.”
“So Tegan will be there?”
“I expect so. Why? You two had an argument?”
I ignore her. She’s the last person I’m talking to about us. “Where’re Will and Nate?”
“No idea. Last I saw, they were heading to the stage door. What’s with you all tonight? They were more obnoxious than usual too.” She pauses. “Have you and Tegan fallen out?”
“Why would you care?”
“Forget it. See you tonight.” Riley pushes past me and heads away. Wow, we were almost nice to each other for a few minutes there.
But, Bryn? What the hell. Wait until I tell Tegan she was only offered the job because of her brother.
42
TEGAN
The last night of the tour, and I stand at the top of the stadium, the band on stage barely visible in this stomach-lurching height of the upper tier seats. Instead, I watch Ruby Riot on the screens spanning the front of the arena. I'm not crammed into the crowds at the front as I was the first time I watched Ruby Riot, but the electric atmosphere pulls me in the same way.
Two days have passed since I spoke to Jax, and seeing the man I fell in love with broadcast larger than life on screen and screamed at by his fans is surreal. How did I ever think Jax could be mine? I tried not to let him under my skin; but what happened is worse than that, I let him into my heart. The show sold out months ago and the only seats I could negotiate for my new work friends are high up in the stalls. The girls don’t seem to care as long as they get to the party later.
Watching Jax is too hard; excusing myself, I head out of the door.
One or two people mill about in groups, drinking from plastic cups in the high ceilinged bar area as they wait for Blue Phoenix. Jax’s attraction doesn’t hit everybody, if they’re not interested in watching Ruby Riot. I order a beer of my own and sit on a bench in a corner. One or two people glance at me and whisper, but nobody approaches. At least I’ll avoid scrutiny now Jax and me are over.
Julian appears, approaches, and sits next to me. “Everything all right?”
“Yeah, I’ve watched them play a lot over the last few weeks. Same old.” I indicate the door. “I’m fine, go back inside.”
Julian bites his lip and I know what he’s thinking. Total lie. “You’re coming to the after party though?”
“Probably not.”
“Because of Jax?”
I frown. “No.”
