Page 33 of Broken Halos
We both knew a lengthy conversation needed to follow, but the backstage at QCD wasn’t the place. Then two of our dearest friends, the ones who brought us together, got engaged. I saw the joyous look on Ollie’s face when Andy and Milo spoke privately to him after they were swarmed. Saw the happy tears and suspected they’d asked him to officiate their wedding. I still had an hour or longer of the show before I could go spend time with him. I needed to touch him and breathe in his familiar scent. I needed to know he was going to hear me out and believe me when I said I only wanted him.
“Lady Bea,” Tony said gently, “why don’t you go on out there and be with your friends and your guy. I’ll get one of the other ladies to cover for you.”
“Tony, I—” His dark scowl silenced my protest. It was going to be a weak one anyway because I wanted to talk to Ollie. “Okay.” I kissed his cheek then hustled down the steps and through the door leading to the main floor. The place was packed with dancing and gyrating bodies, so it took me forever to weave my way to Ollie’s table. He looked up before I reached him, and I wanted to think he could feel me enter the room like I could with him.
“You clean up nice, Lady Bea,” Keeton said when I arrived. He stood up and offered the chair next to Ollie’s.
“Thanks, doll,” I said, blowing him a kiss. To Ollie, I said, “I’ve been relieved of my emceeing duties.”
“Misbehaving?” he asked.
“Tony could see my heart wasn’t in it.”
“Oh? Why not?”
I placed my hand on the side of his face and brushed a thumb over his high cheekbone. “I wanted to be with you, especially after the misunderstanding back there.”
Ollie slipped an arm around my waist and scooted my chair closer. “Why don’t we go someplace where we can talk more privately?”
“Sounds perfect, but I won’t be taking you to my mamma’s restaurant. I wouldn’t be able to get a word in edgewise.”
“I think I know a place,” Ollie said. “Let’s go say goodnight to the grooms-to-be.”
Milo hugged me tight after I admired his beautiful band then hugged Andy too. “I can’t wait to hear all about the wedding plans,” I told them before looping my fingers through Ollie’s and tugging him away. “I just need to change my clothes really quick.”
“No, you don’t,” Ollie said. “First of all, I’m guessing taking off all your stuff isn’t quick, and second, I like you just the way you are. So, unless you’re uncomfortable, you can wear what you have on.”
None of the other guys I’d dated had said that to me. They were all too willing to suggest I get changed before we went anywhere, including the ignorant ass who thought he could back me up against the nearest firm structure and fuck me. Like I’d just been waiting around for him to return to me.Asshole.
“Wow, your mind must’ve traveled to an unpleasant place, or you’re afraid I’ll bolt,” Ollie said, breaking through my thoughts.
“Why do you say that?”
Ollie held up our joined hands and saw I had a white-knuckle grip on him. “I’m so sorry,” I said, relaxing my hands. “Yes, it’s been a stressful night. If you’re fine with me wearing this, then I just need to grab my bag with my clothes, wallet, and keys from my locker. Do you want to wait here or come with me?”
“We’ll get into mischief if I go with you, so I’ll just wait right here for you.” I turned to walk away, but he called out my name. “Yes?” I asked, turning to face him.
“I’m driving.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “I’ll be right back, Golden Boy.”
I felt curious eyes on me as I made my way to the locker room, but I didn’t make eye contact. I care about ninety percent of the queens but had no use for the other ten. They were mean, nasty, and looked to cause trouble every chance they got. If things started heating up between me and Ollie, I could think of better ways we could spend our Wednesday evenings together after his chapter meetings.
I grabbed my stuff and returned to where I left Ollie. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest while Gracie Lou chewed his ear off. I’m sure she was filling his ears with wild stories about Ryder and me. Her eyes widened when she saw me approach, but she didn’t bother hiding the calculating sneer on her face.
“Ready?” I asked Ollie.
“Oh yeah,” he replied tightly, reaching for my hand. “See you around, Gracie Lou.”
“I sure hope so, cutie.”
I didn’t bother acknowledging her existence. The only thing I cared about was making sure Ollie knew Ryder had no claims on me or my heart.
“She sure has it in for you,” Ollie said when we stepped out into a cool September evening.
“That obvious, huh?”
“She implied you and the blond guy were in the prop room having sex during our first confrontation, and then she basically told me he was the one guy you never got over. She sounded like she felt sorry for me. Offered a shoulder to cry on later if I needed it.”