Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2)(34)

…

By Friday night at Stagecraft, Bryn had lost patience with Zavien’s duck-and-cover routine. How could she make him talk to her? Sneaking up on him, knocking him unconscious, and tying him to a chair with barbed wire might work. Maybe she’d give it a shot.

Rhianna stood in front of an expanse of canvas with a paintbrush and a can of gray paint.

“What’s the assignment tonight?” Bryn asked.

“We’re supposed to paint smog along the top.” Rhianna demonstrated by painting large gray arcs on the canvas at various angles.

Bryn grabbed a paintbrush and lost herself in the mindless activity.

“Did you love him?” Rhianna asked.

Bryn’s hand froze midarc. “Is it that obvious?”

“No. It took me a while to figure out. Love isn’t common among Blues. That used to make me sad. Now I don’t mind because it looks too painful.”

Zavien’s laugh drifted across the stage. Unable to stop herself, Bryn turned to locate him. He stood near the black wrought iron staircase, which led to the catwalk. When his gaze met hers, he scowled. She refused to look away. He turned from her and climbed the spiral steps.

“Go after him.” Rhianna plucked the paintbrush from Bryn’s hand.

“Valmont told me I should wait and make Zavien come to me.”

“Has that approach yielded any results?”

“No. The coward runs away every time I come near. I spend my days plotting different ways to murder him.”

Rhianna ducked her head. “When Jaxon is obnoxious I fantasize about hitting him with my book bag.”

Bryn chuckled. “I’ve had similar fantasies.”

“No matter how irritating Jaxon is, I know he’d be there for me if I needed him. Can you say the same of Zavien?”

Yes…no…she didn’t know anymore. Maybe Rhianna was right. She groaned in frustration. “Fine. I’ll do it.” She’d climb up on the catwalk to talk to Zavien. At least there he couldn’t run from her. “Wish me luck.” She crossed the stage and ascended the staircase. The wrought iron steps were a blur under her feet. This was the right thing to do.

She cleared the stairs, stepped on the catwalk, and came face-to-face with the one person she didn’t want to see. Every muscle in Bryn’s body tensed as Nola blocked her path.

“Bryn, we need to talk.”

“Wrong. You need to get out of my way.”

“You’re behaving like a child,” Nola said.

“No.” Smoke drifted from Bryn’s lips. “I’m behaving like someone who was lied to.”

“Zavien never lied to you.” Nola’s voice grew louder. “You misunderstood his invitation. You heard what you wanted to hear.”

“If you keep lecturing me, I might tell you the truth. Then we’ll see how self-righteous you are.”

“What’s going on?” Zavien crossed the catwalk and stood behind his future wife. He glared at Bryn like she was the one causing the problem.

“Your friend decided to lecture me about my behavior,” Bryn bit out.

“You’re acting like a spoiled brat,” Nola said. “You were delusional to think he’d be interested in anything beyond friendship.”

Flames roared in Bryn’s chest. If Zavien didn’t come to her defense, it was over. “Zavien, it’s now or never. Tell her the truth, or I will.”

He ran his hand down his face. “Bryn has a right to be upset. For a brief time, I behaved inappropriately.”

His words slammed into her chest, knocking her back a step. She clutched the catwalk railing for support as her world turned upside down.

Nola rounded on him. “How could you?”

“She had a crush on me.” He shrugged. “I was flattered.”

Rage tightened her fists on the metal railings. “Stop it. Stop making it sound one-sided. You’re the one who came to find me before you went shopping with Nola.” She smiled at the dark-haired woman. “He stopped by to kiss me before he spent the afternoon with you.”

Nola’s lips went white with rage.

Zavien said nothing, so Bryn continued. “He pressed me against the wall and kissed me like his life depended on it. Does he kiss you like that?”

Nola’s open palm swung at her face.

Bryn grabbed her forearm. “Try that again and I will knock you on your pretentious ass.” For emphasis, she shoved Nola backward, right into Zavien’s arms.

Not what she wanted to see. “Damn it, Zavien. How did you turn out to be such a disappointment?”

He stepped around Nola and spoke in a tight voice. “You don’t understand—”

“You’re right. I don’t understand. One day you’re kissing me and talking about changing the law so we can be together, and the next day you cut me out of your life. What am I supposed to—”

The catwalk lurched, throwing her off balance.

“What was that?” Bryn looked up and down, trying to assess the threat.

A rough grinding sound filled the air as the entire building shifted. Brick ground against brick. Cables snapped and zinged through the air. The can lights crashed to the stage below. Students screamed. Holy crap. Was the building under attack?

Time to get off the catwalk. Bryn turned for the stairs. Her foot touched the top step. Screech. The stairs twisted, breaking away from the metal catwalk. There was nothing but air beneath her right foot.