Page 26 of Just Wait

All I can smell is that woman’s perfume, and it feels like the top of my head might actually explode. My eyes ache, but I’m not breaking down in front of an audience.

“Let go of me,” I snap, twisting my arm almost painfully.

I don’t care if I sound like a broken record.

He’s eventually going to get the hint, or I’ll kick him in the balls and make the scene he’s asking for.

“You heard what she said,” a low, gravelly voice says from behind me. “Take your hands off her before I break your fucking face.” Kincaid looms over both of us as he comes to a stop. His long blond hair is sweaty from the show, and he shoves it back.

“This has nothing to do with you,” Theo growls.

“Okay, I’m going back to the party,” the woman says, tossing her hands up into the air.

A bitter laugh escapes my lips as my head falls back, shaking as I stare at the ceiling.

How can it hurt so badly when I tried so hard to mentally prepare myself for this exact situation?

“The two of us need to talk,” Theo says, ignoring Kincaid.

“You still smell like groupie pussy,” Kincaid says. “I’d call this one a loss for tonight. Take your hands off her. Now!” The last part comes out as an alpha bark, which is meant to force compliance.

Theo jolts, but his fingers dig into my wrist even deeper as he fights the command.

“You need some backup, K?” Malcolm asks from behind me.

“Nah, I’ve got this.” Kincaid shoves Theo, reaching between us and prying his hand off my arm.

Once I’m free, I don’t hesitate.

Spinning around, I take off with no real plan of where I’m going.

“Lumen!” Theo yells after me. “Don’t do this. Talk to me! I love you!”

My entire body shivers with revulsion.

I was sitting around in the greenroom, waiting for him, and he was screwing someone else. If I had gone over to the meet and greet, would it have been too late?

No.

Dammit.

I’m not doing this to myself.

If he wanted to fuck other people, he could have broken up with me or had a conversation about not being exclusive.

There’s arguing behind me, but I can’t make out exactly what’s being said.

My head swims, and my vision gets fuzzy as I stare at my Converse.

I felt really cute tonight too.

I wore my favorite skater skirt and a black cutoff tank top to show off a few inches of my stomach. I’m not the thinnest woman out there, but I like my curves.

Don’t do this.

No matter what you wore or what you did, it wouldn’t have changed his actions.

“Shit, Lulu. Are you okay?” Malcolm asks, coming to a stop in front of me.