Page 115 of Drive

His next words were as dry as my throat. “Way to burn out, Stella.”

The sting of them hit deep. I hadn’t planned on doing anything more than finishing school and traveling to shows, living in the circuit in hopes of getting a break at one of the more reputable magazines. I shared those hopes with him. But that wasn’t all he was insinuating. I wasn’t doing anything that scared me and hadn’t since the minute I fell in love with him. The fact that he had the nerve to call me out on it after three years of being absent had me livid. I had to slow my breathing as the fear set in. The man knew me, I had made sure of it.

“Did you bring me here to shove your success in my face?”

He pressed his brows together. “Of course not, I got you here to do an interview for the band.”

I set my camera on the tripod. “That’s what I’m doing, your highness.”

As I’d suspected, the journalists had done a little word play on Reid’s name. He’d been deemed King Crowne.

“I don’t buy into that shit,” he said with a passive wave of his hand. “This is coming out all wrong. Can we start over? After the interview?”

“I’m going to Paige’s rehearsal.”

“Great, see you there.”

“You aren’t invited,” I called after him. “It’s afamilything.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

I managed to pull myself together enough for the interview. And after a shot of whiskey and a few uncomfortable minutes, it began to flow. After an hour of steady questioning, Reid being the most evasive with his answers, I had enough to make journalists everywhere envious.

The guys and I laughed through old memories as Reid stood idly by and watched me. With a quick look at the clock, I grabbed my bag and said my goodbyes. Ben dodged me sheepishly when I looked pointedly at him. “You call her and you make things right.”

Ben’s jaw ticked. “I’m not the one who fucked up.” There was no forgiveness in his voice. Not an ounce of pity. But I heard the hurt and it ran deep.

“Talk to her,” I said, pressing in. “You might be surprised at what she has to say.”

“It’s been over,” Ben said. “There’s nothing to say.”

“You’re here, and that probably won’t happen again for some time.”

“I’ll think about it,” he said as he kissed my cheek. “Thank you, Stella.”

“Of course, thanks for the interview, hot shit.”

“You could have a little patience with him,” Ben said as he eyed Reid, who waited for me by the door.

“We aren’t like you and Lexi. This is different.”

He guffawed and shook his head. “Bye, baby.”

I met Reid at the door. “Let me drive you,” he offered in a whisper.

“I’ve got a trunk full of wedding crap, but thanks,” I said as I opened the door. “Reid—”

“I’ll see you there.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

“In Too Deep”

Genesis

“What a fucking day,” Nate said through the speakers in mySUVas I drove through the gates of the country club.

“You can say that again.”