Strike (Sphere of Irony 2)

“Ellie? Here. You look like you need this.” I hand her another vodka tonic, noting how ill she looks, especially under these oddly colored club lights.

“Thanks.” Ellie sips this one slower than her first, which she emptied in two gulps.

“C’mon. Let’s mingle. The guys are done and told me to come backstage about fifteen minutes after the show. They need to pack up their gear or something. Come talk to the movie crew that’s here tonight. They’re really nice.” I try to pull Ellie with me but she resists. “El,” gently, I put an arm around her. “You need to relax. You can’t chat with Adam if you look like you’re scared to death. Let’s make small talk, okay?”

“Sure. Right.” Her body is stiff as a board.

“Some of them are pretty good-looking too.” Dax told me that there was a big after party tonight at some Hollywood producer’s house. The crew from one of the producer’s films is here and the band has been invited to hang out with them.

When the guys had been on stage earlier, Ellie froze in place, unable to take her eyes off of Adam. My own gaze lingered a tad too long on Dax, greedily soaking in how every glorious ridge of his body looked in his tight-fitting shirt and jeans. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him, even longer since I’ve spent any amount of time with him. In fact, it was about a year ago that we first started spending time together in Hackney.

“Let’s go over there.” I point at the rowdy group of actors and crewmembers.

She nods without speaking, her mind probably consumed with Adam. I miss Dax so much, and he was never even mine. If I had what Ellie had with Adam, only to have it ripped away? Hell, I’d never be the same again.

That’s why it’s better to not go down that road. Dax Davies is not cut out for a relationship and my heart’s not cut out for the kind of pain he would inflict. I remember all those times in Hackney when I saw him chat up a girl. Always a different one, always with the same result. Then I remember one time, right before I actually got to know Dax, which stood out from all of the others.

“I’ll see you in chemistry, Kate,” Tasha calls out as she leaves world geography.

“Right. Yeah, later,” I reply, but Tasha’s long gone. I sigh, trudging to my locker slowly, not in any hurry to get to my next class. It’s one I have with Dax Davies—gorgeous, out of my league, and wholly unaware of my existence. Knowing he’s sharing space with me makes me as nervous as a bloody bride on her wedding day.

After exchanging my books, I slam the locker door shut, determined that today will be the day I don’t let Dax get to me. Then, I spot him.

Before he can see me, I duck behind a group of younger students loitering in the hall. A tall, stunning redhead with legs for miles is standing with her back against the wall. Dax is leaning into her, one arm propped up next to her head, the other gently toying with a lock of her hair.

I squeeze my eyes shut, a familiar hurt gripping my heart. I shouldn’t listen. It only makes things worse. Yet, I’m unable to pull in a breath let alone walk away.

I’m close enough so that Dax’s deep bass rumbles in my chest. “So, you have plans later?” He drops her hair and brushes his finger down her arm.

The girl visibly shudders. “I do now,” she purrs in what I assume is supposed to be a sexy voice.

“Good. Meet me in the art annex after final period.”

Then, as if he can feel me watching them, Dax’s head tilts my way. His dark eyes latch onto mine, unwavering. His hand drops from the girl’s arm. I’d swear I saw something flash across his face. Embarrassment? Nah. Dax Davies doesn’t do emotions. Especially not embarrassment. The man literally has no shame. Or feelings.

Without ever turning back to the girl, Dax spins around and leaves.

I blink, wondering where that memory came from. I’d forgotten about it until now.

“Kate?”

Ellie’s nervous voice brings me back to reality. Viper Room. Loud music. Musicians to confront. Right.

A cute bloke in the group of actors waves at me, inviting us over. Maybe there’s hope for me yet. Then I think back at the six-foot plus display of power and strength that was on the stage tonight and realize any hope for me pulled out of the station a long time ago.

Dax

“I still can’t believe you’re here,” I say from where I’m sitting in the passenger seat of Hawke’s huge SUV. Kate, Gavin, and Ellie are in the back. After meeting up at the club, the mood in the car has stayed tense, with Kate acting distant and Ellie looking quite ill.

“How was your flight?” Gavin asks, using his easygoing personality to try and break the heavy veil of anxiety emanating from the two women. I twist around to see Ellie’s face, using it as an excuse to get a quick glance at Kate. Her emotions are shuttered up tight, her mouth pressed into a line. Clearly, she doesn’t want to be here with me. If she did, she’d have rung months ago.

“Long,” Ellie says, giving Gavin a genuine smile. Those two always were thick as thieves together.

“Hope you’re ready for this, El,” Hawke says as he pulls into a long driveway. “The guy that owns this place is fucking loaded.”

The SUV winds down the drive, pulling in front of the biggest house I’ve ever seen.

“Wow,” Kate whispers. “Who lives here?”