CHAPTER 47
Lex
By the time the crew began to arrive, I’d managed to stop the flow of tears and dry my face, but I kept my sunglasses on to hide my swollen and bloodshot eyes. After one trip to the bathroom, it was clear I looked exactly how I felt. Like absolute shit.
Reggie and Amie arrived just as we were being ushered from the terminal to cross the tarmac to our plane. I let them carry on most of the conversation as I sipped my scalding coffee. The burn felt good as it slipped down my throat, slowly awakening me from the spell I’d fallen under with Theo. That was all it was, one week of passion that my heart took too far. An illusion of something I clearly wanted out of life. But the thought of ever letting another man into my heart felt impossible.
“Lex, did you hear us?”
I looked up, my eyes wide. “Um, no, sorry. I’m kind of out of it this morning. All the excitement. Couldn’t really sleep.”
At least I wouldn’t have to lie for much longer. With Theo and I no longer sneaking around, I had nothing left to hide.
Amie hooked her arm into mine as we stood in line to climb up the jet’s stairs. “We’re hitting the slots as soon as we get to Vegas. You and me. And then after the welcome dinner, we’re going to the piano bar at Harrah’s. You have to come.”
I cringed, already feeling the strong need to gain whatever shut-eye I could before we walked onstage for rehearsals tomorrow. “Can I at least take a power nap? I feel dead.”
Amie laughed. “No, girl. You’ll get your second wind as soon as we land. I promise.”
I’d had enough promises to last me until the next century.
“Hey.” Reggie nudged my other side with his elbow. “You okay?”
My gut felt weighted with all the things I wanted to vent but couldn’t. I literally had no one I could talk to now. I waved away his concern and forced a smile. “Yeah. Just kind of weird doing this without Shane. We always talked about the big opportunities we’d have one day. We were supposed to have them together. I guess I’m just missing him right about now.”
Reggie flashed me a smile and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “I get it. I’m no Shane, but I’m here if you need me.”
Amie squeezed my arm. “Me too.”
The plane had two main compartments, with luxury couches and tables in the front compartment and a much roomier, more traditional style of seating behind it. We were ushered to the back, where we found two rows of seats that faced each other. Reggie and I took the forward-facing row while Amie and Wayne sat across from us.
Despite recent events, I felt the injection of excitement as the crew discussed the night’s plans, basking in the fact that we didn’t have to show up to the theater until later the next afternoon. Besides the night at Rooftop, this would be the first time our crew would be hanging out together outside the studio.
I was laughing at Amie’s impression of a dueling piano player when something white flashed across my line of vision, pulling my gaze toward the front of the plane. Winter’s hair was long and loosely flowing over one shoulder, and she had a big smile on her face as she greeted the crew. “Everyone excited?”
Many hooted and hollered and clapped, but I wasn’t one of them. My chest felt heavy, anxious, knowing Theo would probably be close behind.
Someone nudged me in my side. “Look who arrived together,” Reggie muttered, as if whatever he saw annoyed him.
My gaze shifted to the figure walking through the plane’s entrance behind Winter. It was as if someone had punched me in the heart.
Theo was trailing Winter, his glasses over his eyes and his stoic expression back. It was moody Theo. The one with the hard jaw and the tunnel focus. It made me swallow hard over the lump growing in my throat. How had I lost him overnight?
Glutton for punishment that I was, I watched him take the seat beside Winter, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. Maybe it was. They shared a history my one week with him couldn’t touch.
Something stirred in my gut, causing me to switch my gaze from Theo and toward Winter, and she’d already been watching me, studying me as if trying to read my thoughts. Does she know? It sure as hell felt as though she did.
I tore my eyes away and inserted myself into the conversation between Reggie, Amie, and Wayne.
“Wait. Are you talking about the music video for ‘Caged’?”
They nodded. “Did you get the email? They’re flying us all back to LA to be in the video. If we accept. Whatever spots remain, they’ll be holding auditions for at Gravity.”
“Wait. So, none of us have to audition? I thought Winter was big on auditions, no matter what.”
Reggie shrugged. “She must have had a change of heart. Timing is a bit crazy. That week will be exhausting as fuck, but it’ll be worth it.”
Amie grinned. “Definitely.” She looked between us then and raised her brows. “Hey, you two nail your partner dance down yet?”
Reggie looked over at me and shrugged. “It’s coming together.” He winked. “We had some disagreements with the choreographer. Slowed us down a bit, but we’re good now.” He slid an arm over my shoulder and pressed a kiss to my temple. “It’s going to be badass, just you wait.”
My heart danced as I felt familiar eyes on me. I glanced over without thinking, because I’d become good at feeling the connection Theo and I had in a crowded room. And even though his shades were still on, there was no question that his gaze was narrowed and set on me.
He was jealous. But he sure as hell didn’t have the right to be.