AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I can help you,” she offered, grabbing the mic tape off my shelf.
“I can do it. Thanks.”
I took it from her and went about putting the mic on, threading the wire up the back of my shirt and taping it to my jaw.
After mic check, Peter would want to do our pre-show cast meeting where I wouldn’t be able to avoid her any longer. Hands on the countertop, I let my head fall, wondering how the hell I was going to do this. The stage kissing and holding and laughing, pretending she was my wife and life was wonderful when I wasn’t even sure she wanted me anymore, was going to be the most difficult performance I’d ever have to give.
Every text I sent that she left on read shot another piercing sting through my chest. I wasn’t sleeping or eating. I could barely think straight. After three days with absolutely no response, I knew it was worse than I thought. I figured she’d realize she was overreacting and that what we had was worth fighting for.
But now, I was fairly sure I was wrong. Maybe I’d pushed her too hard when she wasn’t ready and ruined it.
Unable to hide in my dressing room any longer, I opened the door and headed up the ramp and through the door that acted as the apartment bathroom to go on stage. Right as I swung it open, Betty jumped back.
“S-sorry,” she said, her blue eyes wide and so beautiful, my stomach sank.
I stepped aside, staring at the floor because I couldn’t stand to look at her. I held the door so she could get past me, unable to even say a word.
She walked part way through then turned to face me. “Bennett?”
Heart hammering with desperate longing, I clenched my jaw and met her gaze.
She gave me a sad sort of apologetic smile. Of course, she would. She wasn’t a monster. She was sorry for hurting me since she didn’t feel the same way I did for her.
“Bennett, I—”
“Look, I don’t want to talk about anything before the performance. This isn’t the time or the place,” I snapped. “It’s hard enough to concentrate as it is.” There was no way to hide the harshness of my tone or the anger riding me hard.
But how else was I supposed to fucking feel? She’d broken my damn heart and was standing there all doe-eyed and apologetic but still seemed perfectly able to function and smile and act like she hadn’t destroyed my world.
She dipped her chin, glancing away. “Right. Of course. Can we talk after the show? Please?”
“I doubt it.”
Then I rushed on stage for the mic check and to get ready for the show. Peter congratulated us on having a big crowd tonight with family, friends, and board members. I didn’t hear whatever else he was saying. I was trying too hard not to look at her and run through my lines in my head.
I focused on burying my head in the show and the performance, trying hard to forget about her. Which was impossible since I’d be acting with her for the next two hours.
“Okay, what’s our lucky word for tonight?” asked Peter.
“How aboutshama, shamasaid Trish?”
I grimaced as everyone put their hands into the huddle. When Betty’s finger brushed mine, I jerked away like she’d stung me.
“Shama, shama!” shouted our cast, but I didn’t.
After we broke, I strode directly up the ramp stage right to get into place. I felt her before she came into my line of sight, then I smelled her. That citrus scent mingled with warm woman that made my knees weak. I swallowed against the pain, focusing on the apartment door entrance.
Then she was standing right beside me, ready to go on.
Fuck.
How was I going to make it through this?
“My family’s here tonight,” she whispered softly. Sweetly.
Like we could just stand here and pretend that she hadn’t cut me open and gutted me.
“I’ll try not to fuck up my performance for them,” I bit back, refusing to look at her.
