Before they opened the venue up, I used the ladies toilets to get ready. Tour life was so glamorous at times. As I was putting the finishing touches to my eyeliner, I heard the door open.
“I won’t be long, give me a couple of minutes.”
“I take longer than a couple of minutes.”
Scott’s voice made me whirl around, smearing a streak of black all down my cheek.
“Nice look. Going for the goth vibe tonight?”
“What the fuck are you doing in here?”
“Thought you might like to finish off what we started the other night.” He walked toward me, full of confidence.
“We didn’t start anything the other night.” I drew myself up to my full height and tried to show him I wasn’t fazed by him, but my insides were wrapping themselves around each other.
“You wanted to though, right?”
His breath tickled the side of my neck and I flinched at his closeness. “Scott, how many times do I have to say I’m not interested?”
“You can tell me as many times as you like, but your body says otherwise.” His eyes dipped to my chest and I instinctively crossed my arms.
“I’m serious. I have absolutely no interest in you whatsoever.”
Scott cocked his head. “I get it. You don’t want to upset Rosie by having a thing with me. Such loyalty amongst girlfriends.”
“It has nothing to do with Rosie and everything to do with the fact I’m. Not. Interested. How much clearer do I have to be?”
“A little birdie tells me your precious boyfriend hasn’t been in touch since the picture surfaced.” The laugh Scott let out had an edge to it. “Obviously cares so much about you.”
I tried not to react, tried not to let him know he’d got to me. Hearing Scott talk about Tris made his silence so much worse. I hated I hadn’t heard from him, didn’t know what he was thinking, assuming he must be thinking the worst.
If I was him, I would be too.
With startling clarity, I realised Jonas had been absolutely right when he’d warned me away from people like Troy Carson and subsequently Scott Lincoln.
My phone buzzed with a message, breaking the silence. Grateful for the distraction, anything to get Scott away from me, I reached for it, but he did the same, swiping the phone out of my grasp.
“Well, isn’t this just so cute,” he sneered. “Saff, there’s a surprise waiting for you in Manchester tomorrow. Darren will tell you everything, kiss kiss,” His face curled up in distaste. “Looks like he might have come through for you after all.” Scott dropped the phone into the sink with a clatter and exited the bathroom.
My heart fluttered as I retrieved it, scanning the message from Tris. Maybe things would be okay after all.
The evening’s gig passed without incident. Tris’ message had come at exactly the right time and it showed in my performance levels. I found an energy evident which had been missing since the night Scott had tried to kiss me. DuringWasted By My Side, he kept his distance instead of pawing at me as he usually did for which I was truly grateful.
Between the end of our set and going back on stage, I collared Darren.
“Apparently you know everything,” I said.
“Ugh, do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you to say that?” He rolled his eyes. “I guess you got Tris’ message?”
I nodded eagerly. “So?”
“He’s organised a room in the hotel you stayed at for theRocciadinner in Manchester. Instead of coming back with us after the gig tomorrow, you can stay there.”
“Is he going to be there too?”
The corner of Darren’s mouth quirked up. “I couldn’t possibly comment.”
A sense of overwhelming relief washed over me. Perhaps everything was going to be okay after all.
