With a deep breath, I give Viola’s hand a squeeze and do my best to refocus on Marcus. He catches my eye, glances at our joined hands and raises his eyebrows in acknowledgment without missing a beat.
The meeting breaks up a few minutes later, and instead of letting Viola drift away like I normally do, I wrap my arm around her waist when we stand. If anyone knew we were banging but thought it must be a casual arrangement like I had with Blaire, then this should put that notion to rest. I don’t think I ever made a physical declaration like this about Blaire.
Honestly, it never even occurred to me.
Viola turns to me and smiles. “I have a few things to take care of. I’ll meet you in your room later?”
I brush a kiss across her lips, taking full advantage of her willingness to be with me in public, and nod. “Of course. See you soon.”
Her cheeks turn pink as her eyes dart around the room, conscious of everyone watching this exchange. Then she presses up on her toes and kisses me again. “Later.” When she steps away, her hips sway in a way that I can only assume is deliberate.
Fuck me. This chick is something else.
Whatever worries I had about being face-to-face with Blaire again are alleviated as soon as we’re all in the arena for the sound check.
She trails Beckett on stage, ignoring all of us and making a beeline for Chad. I watch them, waiting for the inevitable fireworks from their personality clash, but shockingly, she laughs, he laughs, they confer over a tablet, and then go their separate ways.
What was that?
What happened to the ballbuster who lived to give Chad endless amounts of shit?
I’m so confused right now.
She turns to find me staring, her eyebrows raised and a smile pulling at her lips. “Hey, Mason. How’s it hanging?”
I chuckle. “Long and loose, thanks for asking.”
Stepping closer, she pulls me into a hug. “You seem like you’re doing well.”
“I am.” I give her a light squeeze and pull back, letting her examine me under her Blaire microscope. She might not have wanted to be with me, she might’ve needed to move on to bigger and better things, but she clearly never stopped caring about us. Not even me. “You look good, too. How’s it feel to be running the show?”
Her grin pulls even wider. “It’s the best.” She glances around, her attention diverting to where Beckett and Marcus are talking while Danny and Aaron stand off to one side listening. “Things are going good for you guys? Viola’s working out well?”
“She’s great,” I confirm. “I assume she would’ve told you if things were shitty, though.”
She makes a funny face and shrugs a shoulder. “She mentioned it was a little rocky to start with, but she hasn’t actually given me a lot of details. Partly because we’re both so tired that we don’t talk much. And the last week or so, it’s all been logistics. Even though I’m officially coordinating with Chad, I’ve been looping her in too. I know he doesn’t always like sharing information.”
Shaking my head, I let out a full throated laugh. “I take it you don’t miss working with him.”
She shrugs again, casting a glance at me as she moves closer to the other guys. I follow behind her. “I like being in charge. He didn’t like me interfering. We work better apart.”
As we join the group, Beckett reaches for her, pulling her into his side, his arm around her shoulders as hers goes around his waist, the picture of a couple in love.
Everyone smiles at them as we move between shooting the shit, talking about new ideas that Marcus and Danny have come up with for collaborations and a few new songs that Beckett wants to test out with our help.
Aaron sidles up next to me, his shoulder bumping mine. “How’re you holding up?”
I give him a funny look. “Fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
His eyes cut to Blaire and Beckett still talking new songs with Danny and Marcus. “I just thought this might be a little weird for you is all.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Is it weird for you?” Blaire had the same arrangement with both of us, after all, until Aaron found out about the daughter his high school girlfriend had kept secret from him. She’d always been the one who got away for him, so even though he was pissed about the whole secret baby thing at first, he got over his anger in record time, and now they’re one big happy family.
He scoffs. “If you remember, I’m the one who ended things with Blaire and me.”
“Oh, I definitely remember.”
“Yeah … so … since she broke it off with you, and then you kinda went off the deep end …”
“You’re afraid seeing her will put me into another tailspin, I’ll fuck over V, get drunk and high and screw my way through all of our groupies and Beckett’s combined?”
He studies me, no longer making any attempt to look like he’s following the other conversation. “More or less.”
With a snort, I shake my head and clap him on the shoulder. “I’m good, man. No need to worry about me. I’m gonna find V. She probably wants to say hi to her cousin.”
I feel Aaron’s eyes on me as I walk away. He’s probably justified in being concerned given my behavior since Blaire left.
But I’m really in no danger of going off the deep end. Just the thought of seeing Viola has electricity zipping through my veins and an unbidden smile stretching across my face.
Whatever Blaire and I had, it wasn’t anything like I have with Viola. And if seeing Blaire again has done anything for me, it’s confirmed that Viola’s a better fit for me than Blaire ever was.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Viola
“You bitch. Why didn’t you tell me that you and Mason were together?”
Blushing, I look down at my drink. As soon as
