Page 163 of Just Wait

It hasn’t been very long, but it already feels like I don’t know him anymore. I’m sure that’ll only get easier over the next few months.

“The label is pulling us from the tour.”

“What?” I gasp, my eyes flying to his. “Why?”

“We’re finishing out this leg, but they called us into a big meeting. Our last show will be on Halloween,” he says. “After that, we’ve got two weeks off, then they’re sending us to Colorado to record.”

Thank God the label isn’t dropping them.

I really don’t need that on my conscience.

“That’s a big deal.”

“It is,” he agrees. “I called the old apartment complex and got the balance. You don’t owe them anything. It’s paid in full. All my stuff is mixed with yours in the storage unit…”

I frown.

God, that’s right.

“I took the offer. I would have paid off the apartment complex, but thank you. Are you going back to Florida during your break? I can give you the key to the storage unit.”

He nods. “The guys want to see their families. I won’t fuck with any of your stuff. I just want to get mine out, so we can make a clean break.”

My eyes ache, and I hate that my stupid system wants to cry. It just proves that no matter how much a person tries to plan in advance for heartbreak, it doesn’t help when the time comes.

“It’s on my key ring in my big bag.” I reach a hand back, opening the door. “Give me two seconds.”

I run back inside the greenroom, grab my keys, pull off the one for the storage unit, and head back out into the hallway.

“Just mail it to my dad’s house when you’re done.” I step over and hand him the key. “You’re going to be on the radio, huh?”

“Thanks.” He sighs, shoving the key into his pocket. “Yeah, apparently, and with songs you wrote. I’ll never be able to get away from how badly I fucked up.”

The more I study him up close, the easier it is to see how bad he looks. He has dark circles under his eyes, and he seems slimmer.

It’s easy to see that he’s suffering, and I hate it, but I also don’t think it’s my responsibility to make him feel better. At the same time, I don’t want to kick him when he’s down.

A big part of that comes from how happy I’ve been with Riser, Malcolm, and Kincaid. They’ve shown me that life keeps moving, and they’ve kept me busy enough that I haven’t had much time to wallow in the past.

“Look, Theo.” I smile tightly. “You’re an alpha. You’re going to find an omega and build your pack one day. It’s better that we didn’t get in too deep.”

“Come on, Lu. You know I never cared about that⁠—”

“Do one thing for me. Clean up your act before you settle down again,” I say, even though I probably don’t have the right to give him any advice. “You’re going to be crazy famous once you hit the radio. It’ll be even more intense than it is now. You have every right to enjoy it. Just don’t get into any relationships until you’re sure you’re ready to be with one person.”

“I’m sorry⁠—”

“I know. I’m going to go. Tell everyone I said congratulations.” And with that, I bolt down the hallway, past the vending machines, and into the first women’s room that I find.

I drop my wallet and rest my hands on the counter as my head hangs.

The tears that fall are obviously because I’m hormonal due to my period.

It’s hard.

I don’t want to be with him, and at the same time, I have so many unanswered questions.

Was that really the first time?