He’s standing in the entryway to Jase’s house looking back at me with a guarded smile. “Hi,” he says and steps inside without waiting for an invitation. “I figure it’s time we had a chat.”

I groan and rub my temples. First Vince a couple days ago and now him? “Oh my God, what is it with you guys?”

Nathaniel raises a brow. “What does that mean?”

“You, Vince, whoever else wants to come and interrogate me next.”

“Interrogate you next?”

“Yes. I signed the contract. I did what I was told. I’m well aware of my place and that it’s almost time to walk away as previously discussed. I’ll keep my promises and everything that came with them. Happy? Good? What else?” Exasperation laces every word just like it’s seeped into every bone of my body.

Talking about this makes my throat hurt and my eyes burn with tears. It makes me think thoughts I don’t want to fathom about walking out of here and losing a last name I’ve come to love having.

He studies me for a long moment before tilting his head. “You’re sleeping with him, aren’t you?”

“No shit.” My cheeks heat and my body flushes but it’s not worth lying over what I’m sure he can see as plain as day.

“I thought that was part of the deal when you signed the contract.”

“No, it was your part of the deal.”

“And you went and—”

“My sex life is my prerogative.”

“Yes, your prerogative until you demand more money or blackmail or whatever because you went and fell in love with him and then he scorns you before he leaves for the tour.”

I stare at him. Blink. “I’m not in love with him,” I lie, my voice clipped, trying to save face with Nathaniel for Jase’s sake. “Jase is a good guy, but not one I could ever really love. He’s too . . . all over the place. Has too many buttons he’ll push to satisfy his own needs. I don’t think I’d ever be able to trust him. Not while on the road. Not with all the women tempting him. Yeah, definitely not in love with him but more just enjoying the distraction.”

The words taste bitter on my tongue, but I keep my expression blank, my walls firmly in place. The last thing Jase needs is to let his brother down after he’s trying to rebuild this relationship with him.

Nathaniel exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. “If you say so.”

“I do. My life is waiting for me and I can’t wait to go back to it.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

Gizmo

I don’t mean to hear it.

But I walked in the back door to hear my brother and Hendrix talking.

Every fucking word.