“Excuse me? Do you have a problem we need to handle, Dallas? Because right now, on the way to the biggest opportunity of your life, I can’t even imagine what could be putting you in such a bad mood.”
“Guess you aren’t very creative then,” I grumble, following the entourage with us toward a private security entrance we’ve been cleared for. Behind me I can already hear people losing their shit over Wade. Camera phones are flashing everywhere. I keep my sunglasses on and my head down.
“Hey,” she says, practically stomping her designer stiletto on the floor. “Talk to me. What’s the problem here?”
I don’t exactly have the words and if I did, she’d be the last person I’d share them with.
“I’m tired is all,” I say. “Sorry.”
“If you need to blow off some steam, it’s a long flight. Our seats are together. We could—”
“No,” I say too quickly. “No thanks, I mean.” Pass, Mandy. Hard fucking pass.
“You should know something, Dallas,” she murmurs low as she takes my arm again without my having offered it. “I always—and I mean always—get what I want.”
“Must be nice,” I say drily.
She huffs out a breath and whips her hair behind her. Within seconds she has her trusty cell phone out and is steadily ignoring my temperamental ass.
I’m lost in thought, when I hear someone calling my name. We’re almost to the security checkpoint so I ignore it, assuming it’s an overzealous fan who won’t be able to get through without a ticket. Our protective detail pulls in tighter so I can’t see who it is anyway.
But then I hear it again and I recognize the voice.
“Back up, fellas,” Wade tells the bodyguards from behind me. “He’ll want to see this one.”
I stop, causing several guys to bump into me. Mandy hisses something hateful under her breath but I don’t care.
Robyn is here. And she’s jumping up and down and calling my name and hand to God, she’s the best sight I’ve ever seen. Even if it’s just to say goodbye or piss off, I’ll take it.
“Hang on, baby,” I call out. “I’m coming.”
I make my way through the crowd over to the window wall she’s standing beside.
“Sorry,” she says when I finally reach her. “I didn’t mean to make a scene. I was afraid I wouldn’t catch you before you hit security and I wouldn’t be able to get through.”
“It’s fine. You okay?”
Her hair is in a messy ponytail, like she ran here from her apartment. Her face is flushed and her eyes are wide with panic.
“I will be. I just, I got your message and . . . maybe we should sit down.” She gestures to a round cushion thing next to a plant.
“Uh, babe? I don’t exactly have a lot of time.” I glance over to the small group that has remained behind to wait for me. Mandy and a few security guys.
“Yeah. Of course. Right.” She looks nervous, terrified actually, but I can’t imagine why.
“Are you coming with us to Mexico?” Because that would be fan-fucking-tastic if she were.
“No,” she says softly. “I came here to see you before you left because I have to tell you something. Something that couldn’t wait three more months until you got back.”
“Okay. I’m all ears, darlin’.”
Say there isn’t really someone else. Say you ended that because you don’t love him like you love me. Say you’ll come with me on tour.
Her chest rises and falls with deep breaths. I reach out and take her hands.
“Robyn, whatever it is, it’s okay. Just tell me.”
Unless you’re getting married. Then don’t tell me. Just shove me out this plate glass wall instead.
She sucks in one more breath and presses her gaze into mine. “Did you mean it? The text?”