"I've actually been here since eleven," she countered, shocking me. I looked for her several times and each time I didn't spot her.
"For real? I didn't see you."
"That's because those women are insane," she said with a laugh. "Every time me and my girls got close to the stage, one of those beasts would shove and elbow us back. Eventually, we gave up trying and just watched you do your thing from the bar."
The mental image of what she just described made me chuckle. "Wow … I apologize for that. If you'd told me sooner, I would've made special arrangements for you."
She nodded and let her eyes slip down to the pavement, giving a shy smile. "You were … good out there. I see why your fans go crazy over you."
"They weren't just here for me," I corrected. "Plus, the guys do a lot of promoting on off days, so that keeps the place pretty full."
She grinned up at me, wearing a look that led me to believe she wasn't buying that explanation. "Your modesty isn't fooling me. I saw how those women were falling all over themselves to get to you and I'm not deaf either. It was your name they were calling."
It crossed my mind that she'd been clocking every move I made tonight. If that was the case, she was probably traumatized by everything she saw. When I perform, I give it my all. In this business, holding back will leave you broke, so I didn't subscribe to that method.
When I lowered my head, I scrubbed my chin with my hand, wanting to change the subject. "How long are you in town? Maybe we'll grab lunch tomorrow."
"Unfortunately, I fly out in the morning-at ten."
Seeing as how it was already so late, I knew there'd be no time to squeeze in a meal.
"Damn … I guess I'll have to see you next time, then."
Elena nodded, smiling. "Well, I'll be back in a month. I actually wasn't supposed to be back at all until then, but I had an interview, so … "
"Congratulations! Good for you."
Her cheeks tinted red. "Thank you. It went pretty well, so I'm excited about it."
She met my gaze for a moment and then looked away, pretending to be more interested in the few cars that passed than she was in me.
"Seems like things are coming together for you."
She nodded and couldn't fight the pull to look me in my eyes. "Yup … seems like it," she replied. "Everything's just kind of falling into place."
Her words were simple, but it felt like she was saying more than that. However, before I could read too far into it, she glanced down at her watch. "It's super late and I should get going. Can't afford to oversleep and miss my plane."
I nodded, agreeing, wishing we had more time to catch up.
"I'm glad you called me. Next time, hopefully, I'll get to take you to dinner or something."
Her eyes lit up. "I'd like that."
Taking a few steps closer, she made another suggestion. "In the meantime, we should chat. I'll give you a call."
Liking the sound of that, I smiled at her, but the next thing she did caught me off guard. Her lips lightly pressed to mine and my knee-jerk reaction-damn it all to hell- was to push her back. With both her shoulders in my hands, I put space between us.
… and there was no taking it back now.
Hurt.
Embarrassed.
Elena's expression captured both of those emotions.
"I'm … oh my gosh, I shouldn't have-"
"Please, don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong," I assured her. If anything, her actions were in line with whatever this was we were doing. I was the one who needed to explain.
Elena folded her arms over her chest and looked everywhere but at me and I couldn't blame her. Taking a deep breath, I knew I needed to say something, but the question was: What exactly was I supposed to say? What had even happened a moment ago? Why did I push her away?
"Listen … I've just got a lot going on, a lot on my mind," I clarified. "I haven't really been myself lately."
She nodded right away, clearly still feeling ashamed for making a move and being rejected. "No, you don't owe me an explanation. It's cool."
Taking a breath, I realized that wasn't exactly true. I did owe her an explanation. It felt wrong not letting her know what all I had on my plate right now.
"I'm uh … I'm gonna take off so I can get some rest," she reasoned, although I knew she was only hurrying off to save face.
"Elena, wait."
My words halted her as she stood there with her back to me. What I had to say would actually be easier not having to look her in her eyes anyway.
"I uh … I meant what I said about not being myself. Things with me are … they're complicated right now."
First, she glanced at me from over her shoulder, but then turned around completely, concern heavily filling her expression.
Damn … this was about to be awkward as hell, but it needed to be said. The last thing I needed was her thinking she'd done something wrong, thinking she'd misread my signs.
"I have a daughter on the way."
I just said it. Flat out. There was no nice way to put it.
Her eyes widened and her lips parted like she was about to say something, but then they closed again.
"I'm not with her mother, but … things are hella complicated right now. I'd be lying if I said they weren't," I added. "So … my mind is just kind of all over the place these days."
Elena blew out a breath and tried to hide how shocked she was. "Wow, I … I can imagine."
We stood there for a moment in awkward silence, but I got the impression she was just looking for an easy way to walk away. So, wanting to make that easier for her, I spoke again.
"But I wasn't trying to keep you out here all night," I said, watching as she folded her arms over her chest. Her eyes were still not on me. "I know you have a plane to catch in a few hours, so … "
"Yeah. I uh … I should get going," she forced out, still trying to wrap her head around my news.
There was no goodbye; she just walked away, likely thinking I was more trouble than I was worth when she added up all the chips stacked against me. I couldn't blame her for not even looking back.
I went over my explanation while I stood there, wondering if the excuse I'd just given Elena-the one about being distracted by how complicated my life is right now-was even legit.
Was that the only reason I rejected her?
I chased after her for years and now I was acting like those feelings never existed, acting like I wasn't even interested. I was sure that's what she thought.
What the hell was wrong with me?
I ran my hand down my face, still wondering what happened, but then I glanced down at my phone and the thought that filled my mind made things clear: I was worried about Brynn and couldn't think straight without knowing she was okay.
That was the only thing I could think would've caused me to act so strangely toward Elena.
That had to be it.
Chapter Twelve
Brynn
My head rose from the pillow as the pounding at the door sent my heart racing. The clock beside my bed read 8:13-much earlier than I intended to be awake this morning, especially considering the night I had.
The sound of several forceful knocks filled the house again and I scrambled to get to my feet, slipping into my robe before heading down the stairs. I held the rail to keep me steady as I rushed down.
"One second," I called out when a heavy fist slammed into my door for a third time. I finally made it to the front hall and peeked through the peephole, immediately snatching the scarf from my hair when I did. Marco stood there waiting with concern lining his expression-or maybe it was anger.
I hadn't brushed my teeth or anything; however, observing the way he shifted from side to side anxiously, I didn't make him wait while I made myself more presentable.
Turning the lock, I pulled the door open, squinting when the sunlight crept in. "Is everything okay?" I asked, stepping aside to let him in, wondering what brought him over so early.
He was tense. I could see it in his long strides as he entered, could see it in his broad shoulders when he passed me, heard it in his heavy footsteps. Yes, tension was rolling off his body like steam.
"I should be asking you that." The words came hard and rough when he turned my question back on me, but they were riddled with concern more than anything else. "I tried calling you all afternoon and all night. Now this morning it's just been going to voice mail."
Folding my arms over my robe, my eyes shifted to the ground. One text and a couple phone calls from him had definitely gone unanswered. My phone died around six, though, and I didn't bother charging it. The meeting with Headmaster Turner drained me and I didn't really feel like talking-especially not with the monster headache that followed. Still, looking back, I shouldn't have done that. Clearly, Marco was worried enough to show up here this morning thinking something was wrong. I mean, something was wrong, just not in the way he likely assumed.