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“She’s coming,” Zac said, and her head jerked back toward him. His lips were pressed together in a straight line, his gaze boring into hers. Was he angry at her?
He was so damn confusing. But she wanted to go with them, so she just turned back around and nodded.
The others didn’t seem to notice the tension between them because they just carried on talking. The party was wrapping up, and they were figuring out where to go once it was over.
If Zac was angry, though, he didn’t move away. She concentrated on her breathing, on resisting the urge to lean back against him. Because Zac was right. She was playing with fire, and she’d already been burned enough for a lifetime.
ChapterTwenty-Nine
“This is perfect,” Noah said as they pushed through the slightly greasy-looking dark wooden door.
Noah was right. The dive bar in South Boston was exactly like the ones they frequented when they wanted to have some low-key fun. It had been way too long since they’d relaxed and let loose at karaoke. Even though Zac loved playing bass, he’d always had a thing for singing. It was the reason he’d formed Crossfire with Noah when Fractured went on hiatus.
One of the reasons, anyway.
About two dozen people scattered around the smoky interior were watching an embarrassed but smiling woman on the little stage sing a slightly off-key rendition of “Like a Virgin”.
Only a few of the audience turned at their group’s entrance. Most turned away without recognizing them since he and his bandmates all wore caps pulled low over their faces. But the attention of a few of them lingered. Drew wandered over to speak to the bartender. The man listened to him, then swiveled his gaze toward where Zac and the others were still standing by the door. He gaped at them for a second, then gave a wide grin. He nodded at Drew and went back to wiping down the bar top, with only a couple of surreptitious looks in their direction.
Tex led the eight of them to one of the largest booths at the back of the room. Drew made his way up to the side of the stage. He waited for the woman to finish her song, then climbed the steps and spoke to the bored-looking man sitting on the stool next to the karaoke machine. Another stunned pair of eyes found them and lit up with excitement.
Drew took the microphone and walked to the center of the stage, where he announced to the thankfully not massive crowd that the bar was closing for a few hours. He added that they were more than welcome to stay and listen to a once-in-a-lifetime performance by the members of Fractured, who would be happy to sign autographs and take photos. The caveat was that they refrain from letting anyone know the band was there, or posting any photos or videos on social media until after the band had left the premises.
It was his standard spiel. The last thing any of them wanted was to be mobbed by fans or paparazzi while they were trying to relax and have fun.
After the resulting rush of fan engagement, photos, and autograph signings, they all ordered drinks and chose their first songs. Zac let Eden and Lexie sit on either side of Cassie. He told himself he did it because it was nice for her to spend some time with the other women, but he knew the truth. If he sat next to her, he’d be tempted to touch her. To drag his fingers along her thigh, up underneath the skirt of that flirty little dress she was wearing, and listen to her breath hitch. To play the role of attentive boyfriend a little too realistically. And he refused to screw her around any more than he already had.
It had pissed him off back at the after-party when she looked at him for permission to come with them tonight—that she still saw herself as an outsider in their group. It pissed him off even more that she thought he might say no. If he’d spent more time making her feel comfortable in this situation instead of focusing all his efforts on trying—unsuccessfully—to keep his hands off her, would she have reacted differently?
He promised himself he’d do better from now on. He’d already told her there couldn’t be a repeat of what had happened on the plane.
Or the hotel room…
He took a long pull on his beer and forced his attention to the stage.
Half an hour later, he was wincing at Noah’s off-key rendition of “You are the Sunshine of my Life” by Stevie Wonder. The man could bang a drum set like nobody’s business, but he couldn’t sing to save himself. From the wide grin on his face, it was obvious he didn’t give a shit. He was focused on Summer as he sang, and she turned red, even as she half-hid her face behind what apparently passed for a cocktail menu and laughed.
Zac couldn’t help cracking a smile. At one stage, he’d honestly doubted the two of them could get past their issues. But they’d proved him wrong.
His eyes cut sideways. The corners of Cassie’s mouth were curled up, her gaze moving between Noah up on stage and Summer laughing and blushing opposite her.
But it was the wistfulness in her expression that hit him in the gut. It was clear she wanted what they had. She wanted love. She deserved to be with someone who’d treasure her forever, keep her safe, show her exactly what she was worth. It was just another reminder to keep his hands to himself.
He swiftly returned his gaze to the front of the room, just in time to catch Noah’s grinning salute to the now raucous audience. Before leaving the stage, he bent down to talk to the emcee. His eyes met Zac’s across the room, the corners of his mouth sliding into a smirk.
Zac groaned internally. He knew that look. It didn’t bode well.
A few seconds later, Noah walked back to the table, the smirk still on his face. The PA system crackled with the announcement of the next performance.
“Next we have Zac and Cassie, singing ‘I Was Made for Loving You’.”
Zac cocked his brow at Noah. Why the hell had the drummer chosen a KISS song? And why was he so smug about it?
Noah’s smile only grew wider, and Zac narrowed his eyes. What was he up to?
Zac looked over at Cassie, who was staring back at him. He let out a heavy breath and stood, Cassie following his lead. She maneuvered her way out of the booth, and he grabbed her hand. They made their way to the stage to a backdrop of cheers and catcalls from his friends and their audience.
He realized his mistake once they got up there, and Noah’s devilish expression finally made sense. It wasn’t “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” by KISS. It was the duet between Tori Kelly and Ed Sheeran1. He should have known.
