She supposed it was as good an acknowledgement as she was going to get. Nodding, she stepped aside and let Raina walk past her. No way would she turn her back on her at this point. Raina didn’t shoulder-check her this time. Maybe it was a good sign.

She watched until the other girl disappeared around the corner of the building…and finally allowed herself to breathe again.

Now for the hard part.

“That movie f**king sucked, dude.”

“Your face f**king sucks.”

“That was seriously the worst acting I’ve ever seen in a movie that didn’t show tits during the opening credits.”

Brian had to lift his needle to laugh at Ghost’s assessment or risk maiming his client. Ghost grinned, keeping his own focus on coloring inside the line. And off Macy.

He’d been through this shit before; he knew it would get better with time. But at least back then he’d had the luxury of Brooke being gone. As it was, every time the door chimed as someone came in, he dreaded looking up, knowing he was about to suffer stomach-crushing disappointment when it wasn’t Macy, or the utter devastation of seeing her face. His fear of seeing indifference there when the time came—and he couldn’t avoid her forever—kept him awake at night.

Oh, he could function. He kept up appearances; he wore the mask. Only Brian and Candace were privy to the fact something wasn’t right…well, hell, for all he knew, everyone was by now. If they were, they didn’t say anything.

He didn’t know how much longer he could keep it up before he packed everything he could haul in his backseat and lit out of town in the middle of the night. Before he said f**k it, f**k it all. He’d start over somewhere else, away from Macy, away from Raina’s f**king insanity. Not a day went by that Raina didn’t text or try to call, leaving voice mails pleading for him to meet up with her. He’d change his number if he wasn’t afraid that Macy might try to call him.

Not that he believed in miracles or anything.

“Come on, it wasn’t that bad,” Brian said, still hung up on the crap movie.

“Then I’d hate to see what you consider bad.”

And on it went, the parlor chatter shifting from bad movies to commentary on the complaint someone had made about the music. Which led to observations about the different genres of metal and Brian’s usual declaration. “Death growls mostly bore me. Who wants to hear the Cookie Monster? Sing your f**king lyrics. Put some emotion behind it.”

And Ghost’s usual retaliation. “Aw, I’m sorry. Do you need a hug, emo boy? You know, you might want to cross your legs. Your vagina is showing.”

“Suck my dick.”

“I know you’d like that, but Candace would have to return it first.”

“Burn!” someone proclaimed, and even Brian laughed.

“Look, he doesn’t even deny it.”

Yep, business as usual. He hadn’t lost his snap, but underneath, exhaustion ate at him. That happened when you felt like you had to consciously tell your lungs to keep expanding with air, your heart to keep pumping. Showing a crack in his exterior would be a good way to get eaten alive by this crew, though. When Brian had been torn up over Candace, at least he’d had the luxury of being the boss. No one had f**ked with him; they simply avoided him. Ghost didn’t have that protection.

He finished up with his client, forgoing the aftercare instructions because the dude was one of his regulars; he knew the drill. The guy was heading toward the door when it opened and a girl breezed in. Ghost saw her from the corner of his eye, but even before he looked up and verified that it was her, all the oxygen left the room. Turning immediately away and putting on the show of straightening his station, he tried to drag in what breath he could.

“S’up, Macy?” Brian said.

Her purposeful steps were coming closer. Shit.

“I just need him,” she said.

Him? As in…me?

He couldn’t help it. He turned to face her, preparing himself for the shock of seeing her again, but it wasn’t possible. That damn sure wasn’t indifference on her face. She looked at him, only at him, like she wanted to crawl inside him—or maybe that was damn wishful thinking on his part. But the spark in her eyes and the color in her cheeks… He knew that look. He’d given it to her before himself.

“Do you have a minute?” she asked as she reached him, small voice at odds with the purpose etched on her delicate features. He wanted to take that face in his hands, kiss those lips until they were plump and red, but he had to keep his cool. Fuck, the whole place was watching. Candace had even ventured out from the back and moved to Brian’s side, the two of them exchanging little secretive smiles.

“Sure,” he said with a shrug. “Come on.”

He led her back to the room where she’d asked him to take her on their first date, flipping on the light and closing the door. “What’s up?”

She didn’t answer right away, fingering a lock of her hair and looking at him so closely he shifted uncomfortably under the weight of the stare. Something was…different about her. He couldn’t put his finger on it.

“Heard you quit your band.”

That wasn’t what he’d expected. “Yeah.”

“Thought you told me you’d never let anything make you quit doing what you love.”

“Guess I didn’t love it that much anymore.”

“Is that really the reason?”

“Yes, Macy, it is.” God, she looked beautiful. And smelled beautiful. Shit, she’d never looked or smelled more beautiful. He took a deep breath, hoping it would bring some f**king clarity. It only brought more of her scent. “It wasn’t so much the band or the experience as the people. They were starting to be a drain on me. And the Raina thing…it wasn’t cool.”

“Then I’m glad you cut it loose,” she said simply.

“Okay. Are we done catching up on me now?” He edged toward the door. If he didn’t get away from her soon, he couldn’t be held accountable for what he was about to do—which was shove her against the wall and kiss her for the next few hours. Days. Whatever. He wasn’t sure yet that was what she was here for.

“I went to see her. Raina.”

Thoughts, meet brick wall. He froze. “You… Come again?”

“I went to her job.” She smirked. “Thought I was going to get thrown out, but…we talked. We cleared some things up.”

“You. Talked to Raina.”

“I did.”

“And there was no bloodshed, flying fur, ER visits…?”

She crossed her arms. “I resent the implication that I can’t conduct myself in a civil manner.”

“I’m implying that Raina can’t conduct herself—”

“Oh, she took a swing, I threatened to shoot her…typical girl stuff.”

“Holy shit.” He stared at her in absolute awe. “You gotta be f**king with me.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Well, that’s what it was going to take, right? You couldn’t very well rough her up or threaten her—that would be frowned upon. Me, however… I will make her spit teeth, and I doubt many people would blame me.”

He’d jumped the gun earlier. Now she was more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. That’s what was different about her. She looked ferocious, still riding her adrenaline high. “So…don’t think I’m not impressed, but…what did you do that for, exactly?”