Just what he needed. Another addiction that would likely kill him.
He clenched his fists and stormed down the hallway.
So maybe he’d learned two things in rehab. The first being you learned who actually gave a damn. The second was, it was the people you loved, the ones you needed, who had the power to destroy you. Who could rip everything you’d worked for away in a single second. With a look. A smile. A touch.
Her touch would undo him. Undo everything he’d fought to overcome. But damn if he didn’t want it more than air. More than music. More than anything.
The image of Steven Blythe standing behind her in her apartment flashed behind his eyes.
An overwhelming flood of images unleashed themselves, tearing through him so fiercely he couldn’t stop them. Steven kissing her. Touching her. Holding her.
He couldn’t even hit anything to get a modicum of relief from the torrent of anger and pain building up inside of him for fear of scaring Rae half to death. And it was his home, for fuck’s sakes. This was what it meant to be sober. He had to feel every-damn-thing. Let it wash over him, pound him down, and beat the living hell out of him.
Once he was safely locked in his room, he dressed in jeans and a black shirt. His fingers fastened the buttons on autopilot. As soon as he was fully clothed and had run his hands through his hair, he pulled the handheld device off the dresser.
“Claire Ann Corbin, if you aren’t in this house in five seconds, I’m coming out there to find you. I suggest you find me first.”
A few “ooohhhs” answered him.
And then Claire Ann. “Be right there.”
He loved his sister. Loved both of them. Very much. But Claire Ann was about to catch some serious hell.
“THIS WAS a mistake. I have to get out of here.”
“Kylie, breathe. That was an unfortunate encounter, but you lived. Chill.”
She paced alongside the back of the barn with her friend trailing behind. “I can’t be here, Mia. It’s like torture. You don’t understand.” She shook her head and put her hands on her knees. She took a few deep breaths, thankful that she’d been able to send Rae to get her something to drink before she broke down. “Seeing him is hard enough. Seeing him here…oh God. Seeing him with her here? I won’t live through that. I won’t.”
“You will. I promise you will. Relax, Oklahoma. Sing your one song and we can blow this joint. I can probably get you an actual joint if you want one.”
Kylie laughed quietly. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“Seriously, do you want another drink? There’s a flask in my purse in the car.”
It was tempting. Kylie sighed and leaned against the barn. Remembering she had on a sheer top that would probably tear right open if she caught it on a piece of the splintered wood, she stood abruptly.
“I’m okay. You’re right. Like my daddy used to say, never let ’em see you cry, right? I’m a big girl. I can do this.”
Mia grinned. “Atta girl, Oklahoma. So what song are you going to sing?”
Kylie’s eyes went wide. “Oh sweet Jesus.”
“That a new one?” Mia’s eyes darted in every direction as she tried to figure out what Kylie might be seeing that upset her. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t sing any of my songs.” She shook her head and closed her eyes briefly.
Her friend scrunched her brow in confusion. “Um, oh-kay. Why not?”
Panic radiated from Kylie’s gaze as she answered so low Mia could barely hear her. “’Cause they’re all about him.”
“HERE YOU go!” Rae Corbin smiled widely as she handed her a mason jar of sweet tea. They were taking this down-home thing pretty seriously apparently. “I looked for you but I couldn’t find you and then Pauly stopped me to ask if I’d seen Trace. Speaking of Trace, sorry about earlier. That probably sucked for you. I swear I didn’t set you up to run—”
“Rae. It’s cool. No worries. Thanks for the tea.” Kylie forced a smile and sipped her drink. Caterers behind her served barbecue that smelled like heaven. But her appetite was pretty much dead. Like the rest of her. Every cell in her body wanted to look for him. Which was odd because he was the last person she wanted to see.
Mia raised an eyebrow at Trace’s exuberant younger sister. “You remind me of someone.”
Rae practically bounced to the top of the tent. “I do? Really? Who? Someone famous?”
“I’m trying to put my finger on it...”
“Lily. She reminds you of Lily,” Kylie offered. She knew because Lily had reminded her of Rae.
“Yes she does,” Mia agreed. “You a fan of Lily Taite?”