Page 67

- Chapter Twenty-One -

Bach

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Iwas dizzy from whiplash. The moment had gone from amazing to horrifying.

Amina was staring at me—had she gotten paler? I tried not to worry about how she was feeling. I couldn’t spare any energy for that until I understoodwhy.Why did she havethis?

Holding the card higher brought my hand closer to my face. It still smelled like her, of how much fun we’d been having seconds ago. “Amina,” I said, turning the card over. It was only frail paper, why did it feel like it was dragging me down to Hell? “Answer me.”

“Bach, please, it’s not what it looks like.”

“No?” A ripple of acid burned through my veins. “Because it looks like you’ve been talking to my biggest rival behind my back. What happened, did he promise you glory? Platinum record success?”

Amina swung her head violently. Her eyes locked on me, appealing to my sanity, but I was having none of it. “That’s not it. Sherman ran into me when I was out shopping.”

“Oh, good. I give you transportation and a line of credit, and you use those to arrange a meeting with another record company.”

“No! I’d never do that!”

Throwing the card to the floor, I snatched up her pants and chucked them at her. She caught them in shock. “Get dressed.”

“What?”

“Put your clothes on, then get out of here. I’m not going to let you use me to practice your music before you run off with Sherman.”

She wasn’t pale anymore, she was burning red. “Asshole.”

Barking a bitter laugh, I crossed my arms. “Sure,I’mthe asshole here.”

She hugged her jeans tight. Then, with obvious frustration, she started shoving her feet into the legs and yanking them up her soft hips. Hips that I adored, and now struggled to ignore as I kept myself cold and quiet. “You’re an idiot,” she said under her breath. When I didn’t respond, she glared at me. “A real giant idiot. How could you think I was planning to abandon you for someone else?”

“People always pick what’s best for them.”

Her eyes flashed. “Do you think he’s best for me?”