Page 134 of Drive

I walked through our condo door, both relieved and terrified to see Nate’s Tahoe in the drive. He left me at the club, and I had no idea what he saw, but I knew I was headed into a second living hell. I noted the eerie quiet of the house. And then I heard his voice.Reid’svoice.

Pulse racing, I walked into the living room to see the interview I’d done with the Sergeants months ago playing on Nate’s laptop on the coffee table. He was hunched over in front of it and turned the volume up when I directed some questions to Reid.

“For the most part, you’ve stayed tight-lipped about your personal life. Is there anything you want your fans to know?”

Reid looked directly at me. “I like to keep my private life,private.”

I could see my fake smile on the screen from the edge of the living room.

“You do realize that makes you more of a mystery, and some women find that appealing.”

“I don’t think about it, or the attention,” he said, blowing out smoke, his eyes intent on mine. He was so obvious.

“Any addictions, skeletons, Reid Crowne?”

“I kicked all my bad habits a few years ago. I still dance with my skeletons and tuck them in bed at night. They don’t talk much,” he said with a straight face.

I remembered sitting in that room, tension swirling in the air between us. As an afterthought, Reid pulled on his cigarette. “Addictions are dangerous,” he said pointedly, his eyes covering me in want. “I know what’s good for me.”

Nate paused the interview and sat back, his head in his hands, rubbing furiously.

“I always wondered why you didn’t air that podcast. I’m such a fucking idiot. I pushed you right into him, didn’t I?

“No,” I choked out.

“I was so intent on the story, I didn’t read between the lines. You were scared that day. You didn’t want to do it, and I pushed you. I fed you to him.”

“Nate.”

His eyes met mine. They were bloodshot. He’d been drinking. “You let go of my hand. The minute he started to sing, you let go of my hand.” I felt the rip in his heart. The betrayal.

“I’m sorry. Nate, please believe I didn’t realize I would react like that. I love you.”

“Give it up, Stella! He knows you love him. Fuck, I feelsick,” he said as he paled. “He’s a goddamn rock star and you didn’t think to tell me anything?”

“He wasn’t when I met him.”

“God, it just dawned on me. He’s the waiter. Isn’t he? The one with the broken arm. You were with Reid fucking Crowne before me. It washim.” His voice was filled with dread.

I nodded slowly.

He stood and walked over to me. “So, did you go with him tonight? Is it my turn now?” His eyes glittered with anger and disgust. “No thanks.” He pushed past me to our bedroom.

“Nate, please don’t do this.”

He whirled on me in the hallway. “I saw it. I saw you! You love him! You fucking love him!”

I felt my heart sink. “I love you.”

“I know,” he snapped as he turned toward the bedroom. “I know, Stella.”

He grabbed a suitcase from the closet and flashed a look my way. “Did you fuck him?”

“No.I kissed him. I got swept up in the moment, and there’s no excuse, so I won’t give you one. I can’t explain it.” Desperation leaked out of me as I watched him pack. “Don’t leave.”

The anger in his eyes told me I didn’t have a chance in hell of winning this fight. I crumbled then, and he caught me. “Stella, stop it. You can’t get upset like that.”

“Fuck it,” I said with conviction. “If you leave, I’ll be ruined anyway,” I said, my heart bared. “I said yes because I wanted to marry you, Nate. You are acting like I slept with him, like I had some sort of affair.”