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Jude’s eyes jerked to mine, and the same anger he had before rose over him. He stood as tall as he could, lifting his chin, his eyes burning. “I—you—they were my band! Mine, Maren. They kicked me out, and I know it was because of you.”
He started to take a step toward me, but at Cris’ one warning growl, he bounced in place, staying where he was. I came to stand on Cris’ other side, and he shifted, his arm pressing against mine. It wasn’t tension that left me, feeling his touch. Some of my same sadness was still there, but at his graze, some of it lifted. He was there to support me.
In one day, so much had changed.
I glanced up, sharing a look with him, before Jude yelled, “I want you to talk to them. Luis. Troy. Bannon. Make them take me back. They kicked me out because I was fucking Toya and that wasn’t fair. You and I were never exclusive.”
“You just called her your girlfriend.” Their other roommates had migrated down the driveway, one said that.
I shook my head. “We were never exclusive. We—just—” I glanced back at Cris for a second. “It was just a hook-up arrangement.” I said to Jude, “Troy’s not in the band.”
“Does it matter? He may as well be.”
True. He had a point. Luis did whatever Troy said. It’s how they worked. I nodded slightly. “Fair enough, but they were looking for a reason to kick you out.”
“Hell Skate is my band. I started it.”
“So take the name and start a new band. They already mentioned it. Go away, Jude.”
Hurt shone in his eyes, just briefly.
I felt bad. Or, I almost felt bad. Jude was dirty. Him still hooking up with Toya while he was hooking up with me and not telling me, douche move, but I never loved Jude. It’s why I picked him. He was from a whole different world, one that I enjoyed because of the music. I could get lost in it just as much as him. But I was using him and he always knew it.
Other than his dirty factor, his worst traits were being a diva for the band. He’d been easy-going with me, chill to hang out with, and he kept his drama to what he really loved: the music. Thinking all of that, seeing him watching me, I pressed against Cris’ side and gave Jude a small smile. “Pick your battles, Jude.” Cris’ arm slid around my waist, his hand anchoring on my hip and moving low. Jude saw it, his eyes following Cris’ hand. I added, tilting my head to the side, “You weren’t working with the guys and you know it. Take the name and move on. You did it once, you can do it again.”
His mouth pursed, and he seemed to be considering it, his head cocking up as well. “You know what? You’re right. I can do that. And I’ll find better guys.”
Doubtful. Luis was the best drummer around, but I just nodded. “You sure will.”
“I will.” He dipped his head before taking a step backwards. “I’m sorry for—I don’t know why your boyfriend rushed me, but while I’m glad I came here, I’m sorry for the hostility.” His eyes held to mine, lingering, and some resignation filtered in. “I hope you stop running from whatever you were trying to hide from, Maren. I did care about you.”
“I know,” I said softly. “If we hadn’t cared a little, we wouldn’t have used each other how we did.”
He coughed slightly. “Yeah.” He dipped his head down to Cris and Ryan before leaving, walking down one of the sidewalks.
“Did that dude walk here?” from one of their roommates.
I sank into Cris’ side even more, laughing a little. “I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Huh. Okay then. Fireworks over?” They went inside, leaving Ryan, Cris, and me.
Ryan and Cris shared another look before Ryan’s gaze found mine, and seeing there was still a fire burning in his gaze, I readied myself, not sure if I wanted to hear whatever he was about to drop, because that was the look he had on his face.
I straightened up.
“I wasn’t here for the start, but I can guess what happened before I showed up. If you don’t ask, he won’t tell you.” He was referencing Cris. “But if Mac dumped me, then began hooking up with a guy, and I had to see that shit, and then when I got my girl back, and that same dude came around—I can tell you that the guy wouldn’t be walking away looking like he’s about to fucking start whistling. Just saying.”
I felt slapped by those words.
He went inside, and I tipped my head back so I could see Cris better. “Where?”
Where had he seen Jude and me?
“I thought we—we were in another world. Jude and his band, that was another world. It’s why—”
“Yeah.” He glanced down, his jaw clenching. “The music world.”
Exactly, but. . .
