Page 37

Cherry nods. “Let me guess—you recognized his voice?”

“Exactly,” I say, smiling slightly. “Anyway, after the show, my friend and I went backstage but it was so busy, and then... things got complicated.”

Her expression darkens. “What happened? It was bad, wasn’t it?”

I nod, my stomach twisting. “I was trying to find Eddie and somehow got separated from my friend and it was crowded. I felt something like a sting in my hip and, minutes later, I started to feel sick and woozy. This guy jumped me and dragged me out into the hallway. I fought, but I wasn’t strong enough, my limbs felt heavy, and I was out of it. And just when I thought—” I cut myself off, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Cherry reaches across the counter and squeezes my hand. “Eddie got to you,” she says softly.

I nod again, feeling a lump in my throat. “Yeah. He showed up and pulled the guy off me. Carried me back to his dressing room and stayed with me all night. Even got me seen by a doctor.”

Cherry’s grip tightens. “Jesus, Laney. That’s terrifying.”

I nod, exhaling shakily. “It was.”

Cherry shakes her head, anger flashing in her eyes. “I swear, if I ever meet the bastard who did that to you, I’ll introduce him to my boot.”

A startled laugh bubbles out of me and, for the first time in days, I feel lighter. “I appreciate that, but Eddie said he took care of it. Turns out the guy was one of his new roadies.”

She squeezes my hand once more, then leans back, watching me with curiosity. “Okay, so I get why Eddie feels protective over you. But why the fake relationship?”

I roll my eyes. “Because his record label is being ridiculous. They think his image needs ‘stability’ and, apparently, I look like the perfect wholesome girlfriend.”

Cherry snorts. “What bullshit. They want to package him up into some family-friendly country boy image, huh?”

“Pretty much.”

“Well, that’s just stupid.”

I chuckle. “I know, right?”

She grins. “Seriously, these execs don’t know Eddie. If they think they can put him in a neat little box, they’ve got another thing coming.”

I find myself grinning back. “Agreed.”

Then I pause, realization hitting me like a freight train. When the hell did I start spilling my guts to her?

I narrow my eyes at her. “You should work for the government. You’d make an excellent interrogator.”

Cherry bursts out laughing. “I do have a gift.”

I shake my head, still smiling, but then her expression shifts. She studies me for a second, something unreadable in her gaze. “So,” she says casually, “do you like him?”

I freeze.

Cherry raises an eyebrow. “Eddie.”

My stomach clenches, and my pulse picks up. I could lie. I could brush it off. But she’s already given me so much honesty, it feels wrong to be anything but truthful. “Yeah,” I admit quietly. “I do.”

Cherry exhales, like she was expecting that answer. “Be careful.”

I frown. “Why?”

She stirs her coffee, her expression thoughtful. “Eddie’s the best guy I know. He’s loyal, protective, and when he cares about someone, he really cares.” She meets my gaze. “But he will break your heart, even if he doesn’t mean to.”

A shiver runs down my spine. “What do you mean?”

Before Cherry can answer, the front door swings open.