Where Lightning Strikes (Bleeding Stars #3)(69)

Shit. Shit. Shit.

This was not okay.

I refused to fall prey to it again.

I knew his games.

Cruel and unjust.

I plastered the old sneer on my face. Tonight, it wasn’t so hard to find. Because the truth of it? I was still hurt and angered by his callous words. Betrayed in the way he’d cast me aside. In the way he’d let me walk out his door when really he’d been the one pushing me out it.

What I’d done was wrong. I knew that. I knew I shouldn’t have snooped. I shouldn’t have let the compulsion to know him, to get closer to him—to understand his reservations and sorrow—cloud the respect I had for him. I shouldn’t have demanded answers he didn’t want to give. Especially when my own jealousy had been the driving force.

But just as strongly, he should have respected me.

Asked me to put it down.

To let it go.

Instead, he’d gone straight for the jugular.

Slicing and cutting me with those deplorable words.

That sneer turned into a perfect, sexy smirk, and I jutted out my hip. “Welcome to Charlie’s. What brings y’all in tonight?”

I played it off as if I didn’t recognize them at all—as if unaffected—while it seemed I was the only thing Lyrik could see.

So maybe a part of me took a little too much pleasure in the way his stare turned greedy.

You threw me away.

Maybe it was wrong I was thanking my stars I’d dressed the way I’d done tonight.

Maybe he’d feel a taste of the hurt he’d left me wallowing in. A taste of that hollow ache amplified by his presence.

But the better part of me—the part he’d resurrected—wanted to touch his cheek, to feel the thready beat of his heart, to tell him I’d take away some of his pain if he promised to take away mine.

If he’d just let me in.

But that was the fool talking.

Ash fumbled out an awkward laugh. “Ahhh…Tam Tam…don’t go breaking my heart by pretending you aren’t happy to see me. I know you have to have been missing me, because there’s no chance these walls are the same without a little Ash. I figured before we packed it up and left for L.A. tomorrow, we’d better get over here and sprinkle a little rock ‘n’ roll flavor on the place before we have to go.”

The look he shot Lyrik belied the statement he made, the way Lyrik grimaced, cringed, and glanced toward the wall.

A new kind of pain cut me open at the realization Lyrik really didn’t want to be here. At the realization he’d been dragged through the doors, probably coaxed and prodded and teased by Ash until he gave in, only here to prove he really didn’t want me.

God.

Insane. Completely, utterly insane. That was me. Because I suddenly recognized the niggling hope I’d had that he’d been here for me. That he’d been here to apologize or maybe to tell me goodbye.

At least something.

I’d lost my damned mind.

Right along with my heart.

I forced myself to let my eyes jump around to all three of them, refusing to cower or flinch when it landed on Lyrik.

Red. Red. Red.

I held onto her like a lifeline.

My smirk spread, as forced as it was. “Well, since you’re here to spread a little rock ‘n’ roll cheer, and y’all know exactly how much I like my boys tattooed and screaming…” I glanced down at Lyrik as if it didn’t bother me at all. “I’ll be happy to help a man out,” I continued. “What can I get for you?”

Ash grinned and shot me a wink. “I’ll take my regular, darlin’.”

My eyes narrowed at him. He was so up to something.

Zee’s voice was quiet. “Just a Coke for me. I have to drive these *s around.”

With that sneer firmly set in place, I looked back at Lyrik. “How about you…do you want me to whip you up something extra special?”

The words came out spiteful, though they ached in my throat like some kind of betrayal.

Ash spoke up. “I think our boy here would like a little taste of whatever it is you have to offer. Just as long as you don’t make him choke on it. He seems to be a bit out of sorts lately.”

God, Ash. As much as I liked the guy, he needed to stop.

“Sure thing,” I drawled out, making sure to give Lyrik a good sway of my hips in his face as I turned to leave.

Could anyone blame me?

I was the one pushed up against a wall. Nailed to it, really.

A flash fire of heat jetted up my arm when I felt Lyrik’s big hand wrap around my wrist.

Shackling.

Restraining.

An iron fetter I felt around my heart.

Panicked, I jerked to look back at him, my eyes wide and shocked.

I forced myself to narrow them into a glare.

Did he really have the audacity to touch me?

“What?” I spat the word as I yanked my arm free.

Reluctantly, he let me go. His mouth coiled in some sort of misery, and those obsidian eyes flashed. “Blue.”

Damn him. Playing games. Winding me up. Watching me spin and spin and spin. I wouldn’t let him do this to me again.

Defiance and my last shred of self-preservation squared my jaw. “Sorry, but I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

Spinning on my heel, I was quick to seek refuge behind the bar. It had to be by some miracle I managed to keep my head held high while I filled their drinks.