“That’sa good idea,” Richard said with a nod, and Devin led me away from the group,giving us time alone.
Whenwe were out of sight and earshot, I whirled around to look up at him. “I hatehim, Devin.”
“You’rejust upset, baby. Calm down. I’m sorry about that back there. Weshouldn’t—"
Ishook my head. “No! I hate the way he talks to me, I hate the way he clings toyou, I hate that you don’t do a fucking thing about him, I—”
Henarrowed his eyes. “What exactly would you want me todoabout him?”
“Defendme! Fire him! God, Devin, I don’t carewhatyou do, as long as you’d dosomething.”
Witha sigh, Devin pulled the baseball hat off and ran a hand through hissweat-matted hair. I had to drop my gaze to the ground. It was sexy, but everytime I caught sight of the trendy undercut style, I was reminded of how muchthey were changing him. Every little thing about him, and I felt on edge,waiting to see what would morph next. What would soon become unrecognizable tome and wondering how long it would be before I could no longer recognizehim.
“Kylie,I have no say in what happens to him,” he said, keeping his tone even andpatient.
“Youdon’t have a say in a lot of things,” I said in a hushed voice, crossing myarms over my chest. “It worries me, Devin. It really does.”
“Iknow it seems that way, but I’m telling you, there’s nothing to be worriedabout,” he insisted.
Isniffed, pinching my lips between my teeth. I was running out of things to say.Running out of ways to tell him how worried I was. How much Robbie’s presenceconcerned me.
“Comeon, you want something to drink?” he offered, reaching an arm out to me.
Iaccepted his touch, moving myself against him, because that was better thanfighting. I nodded against his chest, and he kissed the top of my hair.
Wewalked toward a kiosk serving bottles of water and soft drinks, and he orderedtwo overpriced bottles. Once upon a time, Devin would’ve scoffed at the priceof bottled water. He would have insisted we get those purifying bottles torefill time and time again, to save money. But he knew as well as me that thosethings were changing, that money was less of an issue now and if thingscontinued onthis path, they would never be an issue again.Financial stability seemed amazing, but at what cost?
Hehanded over a ten-dollar bill without so much as batting a lash, and he passedme a bottle.
“Hey!”the cashier said before we could walk away. He pointed at one of Devin’stattoos, a half-sleeve of skulls and daisies on his bicep. “You’re DevinO’Leary, right?”
Itwas his first time being recognized outside of a concert venue and his Adam’sapple bobbed. His eyes glanced down at me, widened with surprise anduncertainty and he looked back to the kid behind the counter, nodding.
“Thisis so cool, man! I just saw you play last night! Your Van Halen cover wassick.”
“Thanks.Glad you could come to the show,” Devin said, putting on his best grin andextending his free hand over the counter. “Nice to meet you …” He tipped hishead with question and waited.
“Tommy,”the kid offered with a bewildered stare. “Could I get your autograph?”
“Absolutely,”and Dev looked to me, and with a smile, I pulled a Sharpie out of my bag. Tommysupplied a Busch Gardens map for Devin to sign and with a quick snap of hisiPhone, he took his selfie, and we were on our way again.
Findinga bench, we sat down to sip at our bottles of water and Devin shook his head,squinting up at the sun.
“Shit,”he said, his breathunsteady. “That was crazy.”
Hewas shaken up, shocked by being recognized for the first time, and I grippedhis arm, nodding. “Yeah, it was.”
“Kindof cool though, right?” He offered a weak half-smile, and I smiled back.
“Yeah,”I agreed, biting my lip.
“But…” He exhaled with puffed cheeks. “Still, fucking crazy.”
Itwas only one kid, but I knew that where there was one fan, there would beothers. More recognition, more autographs. Less time spent outside without anentourage of security, if it came to that, and it had only beenmonthssince I even learned of Richard’s existence.
Sometimesthings happen rapidly. Our relationship—that was quick, but there was nothingsudden about our feelings. It was easy to adjust, easy to embrace.
Butthis? This was wildfire and I was standing on the sidelines, watching his worldgo up in flames.
