Her hand shot out and grabbed onto my arm.
The pressure of her fingers on my arm, even through my shirt and blazer, sent blood screaming through my veins. Just those five points of contact felt like the first time I’d been touched in a long time. A long time since my heart raced without any physical exertion.
“Can we talk? Can we go somewhere and talk?”
Let me go, Bay. Just let me go. I stopped, but didn’t face her. “I’m playing chaperone to the auction winners until midnight.”
She stood in front of me blocking my path. “Do you want to have lunch? Tomorrow.”
The guy with tousled hair and a blazer over his buttoned-down shirt stepped forward, clearing his throat. “You’re booked from five a.m. to four p.m. tomorrow.”
Her lips tightened before she bared her teeth in frustration. Looking to me, searching my face, pleading with her eyes. “Coffee then? Grab a sandwich or something?”
Denying her had never been my strong suit, but I needed to be strong now. “I don’t think it would be a good idea.” The work to get to where I was hadn’t been easy. There had been so much shit to wade through to be able to stand in front of her. But that only went so far. The season started in a couple days. Training camp was always a reminder of her that sent the memories ringing in my chest like a long-abandoned bell in a tower.
She grabbed onto my arm again, eyes begging. “Please. A cup of coffee. That’s all I’m asking.”
I released a deep breath, trying to keep myself level. Leaving should be easy. After our past, I shouldn’t think twice, but things were never easy when it came to Bay.
“I can meet you for a coffee.”
Her shoulders sagged and a smile burst free. “Really?”
“Sure, tell me when and where.” I glanced over my shoulder to the escape route through the backstage walkway.
Her mouth opened before a frantic panicked look stole over her face. “Holden? Coffee tomorrow. Where can we do it?” She spoke to him, turning her body without taking her eyes off me like I’d take off sprinting out the door with the glowing exit sign over it.
She wasn’t wrong.
It had crossed my mind. More than crossed my mind. It had flashed like a giant, blinking neon billboard: get the hell out of here.
Holden tapped out a few messages on his phone before showing it to her with his gaze laser-focused on me.
“Tomorrow at five at the Executive Lounge at our hotel, the Four Seasons on 19th Street. They have a full coffee bar and food menu.”
There was an urgency in her voice. “Holden can—”
“I know where it is.” It was my hotel. The one I’d lived in for the past year. My hotel where Bay was staying right now, only a few floors away. My heart rammed right into my ribs making it hard to pretend this didn’t affect me.
“Oh, okay. Great.” She seemed hesitant to let me go, watching me like she was studying my facial expressions to know if I’d show up or not.
“I’ve got to head back to my auction winners. Have a good night, Bay.” Walking away with my heart in my throat, I steeled myself so I wouldn’t look back.
Passing through the black curtain to the cordoned off area, I couldn’t help myself. Barely looking past my shoulder, I stole a glance at her.
A squadron of people surrounded her, a lot like the first time I’d seen her backstage in a sea of suits. And just like before, she found me through their heads and our gazes collided.
A glimmer of a smile quirked the edges of her lips.
It was all I let myself have before disappearing behind the cloak of fabric headed to the after party.
Keeping the auction winners entertained helped occupy my mind, but my thoughts always came back to Bay, especially while they were off getting pictures taken with Without Grey.
A gentle hand landed on my shoulder. “Look at you, cleaning up way better than you have any right to.”
I glanced down only a few inches for once, due to her five-inch heels, taking in the spitfire who’d made all Bay’s dreams come true. And taken her away from me.
Those dueling emotions warred in my chest. “Hey, Maddy.”
“Good to see you, Keyton.” She raised up on her toes even when I stooped down to hug her. She kissed my cheek and leaned against the surprisingly sparsely populated backstage bar where I’d asked the bartender for a bottle and some glasses. “Did you see the show?” Her gaze flicked to the black curtained doorway.
“I saw her.”
Some of the tension evaporated from her pose. “You did?”
“I did. We’re having coffee tomorrow.”
“That’s great. Amazing.” Her smile lit up neon-sign bright before dimming a hint. She stood straighter, smoothing her hands down a more relaxed look than she’d worn the last time I saw her. “I know things…I know things between you two were…unresolved.”
“I think her letter came through loud and clear.” Like a cannonball to the chest.
“She—” Maddy pinched her lips together. “Never mind.” She exhaled on what sounded like a ghost of a laugh like some inside joke had been told that I wasn’t privy to. “It’s for you two to figure out. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that no one can force two people to sort through their past before they’re ready.” A bartender set down the bottle of champagne in a bucket on the bar. My charges had returned from their photo op.
“Where are your seats?” Maddy carried the glasses back to the table and popped the cork on the champagne like she was popping a top on a soda.
“We were standing on the other side of the wings. I saw you talking on your phone and scribbling on your tablet the whole time.”
“If I’ve seen one show, I’ve seen them all. After I make sure they’re all on stage and able to play, it’s on to putting out the next fire.”
Introducing herself, she filled the glasses, and I slid them across the table to my wards for the evening.
“I hope they’re paying you well.”
“They’re paying me enough.” The corner of her lips twitched. “And what about you, Mr. All-Star National Championship good luck charm? I feel like I should have the guys rub your head as we close out this tour and get started on the album.”
“You’re recording it here?” Passing interactions with Maddy were fine. She’d never done anything to me personally, other than make all Bay’s dreams come true. Sometimes it was hard not to feel like she’d stolen her from me, which was a fucked up thing to think. But Maddy had a way of intertwining my life with Bay’s. While she wasn’t Bay’s manager, she still seemed involved in Bay’s life, which meant her being in the city more was a possibility.
Leaving was looking like a better idea every day. It wasn’t running from my past if I flew, right?
“Yes. It’s been a magical city for us all. After the nightmare of the last album, I’d have thought no one would want to be here, but it turned out the best for all of us, so here we are.” Her wistful look transformed into one with a bit more needling behind it. “What are your plans? Moving onto greener pastures? Picking up another championship for the city?”
“You looking to sell me out to the paparazzi?” I gave her a playful nudge.