But seeing her had exhumed all the old anger and bitterness from their graves. Thanks to Mia, I wasn’t a na?ve, love-struck fool who believed in soul mates or happy-ever-after bullshit anymore.
You made your bed, sunshine.
Clenching my jaw, I peeled my gaze from her.
“Oz,” Burk whispered tersely, draping an arm around Sofia’s waist. “Let’s go.”
With a nod, I clapped him on the back and started toward the doors.
Darren clutched Tori close to his side, then glanced back at me with a supportive nod. His stare trailed over my shoulder, and a low curse slid off his lips. Turning to see what had prompted his reaction, I saw Quinn slide a hand to the small of Mia’s back and whisper something in her ear.
An asinine flash of jealousy skipped through me.
It didn’t matter that Quinn was madly in love with Ava and simply trying to extract Mia from the claws of the press. I hated his hand on her. Mia sent him a grateful smile, then pinned an accusatory glare at me. Had she expected me to play knight in shining armor? I scoffed inwardly.
Sorry, darlin’. You taught me rescuing damsels in distress is nothing but a fool’s job.
Christ. This was going to be a long night.
Five vodka and tonics later, the alcohol was no longer burning a trail to my gut. In fact, I didn’t feel much of anything but the singeing glances Mia pelted my way from across the crowded social room.
As Ross strode up beside me, plucking the empty tumbler from my hand, Darren moved in on the other side and replaced it with a glass of dark, bubbly liquid.
“What’s this?”
“A soda,” Ross replied. “You need to sober up so you don’t fuck up our performance or fall off the damn stage when we accept our awards.”
“I’m not drunk, asshole. The vodka isn’t even fazing me.”
“You’re being cut off anyway,” Burk announced as he moved in next to Ross.
“Thanks, but I don’t need a mother.”
“You do tonight,” Ross said with a caustic smile.
Great.
Before I could tell him to kiss my ass, Pete Gardner—longtime music legend and esteemed Grammy board member—rushed up to us.
“I need your help,” Pete blurted, panic lining his face. “We have a crisis.”
“Sure, man,” Burk assured. “What’s up?”
“Sherry Lyle was supposed to present the award for Best New Artist, but she’s in the ladies’ room puking her toes up.”
The whole planet knew Phoenix was a shoo-in for Best New Artist, and he wanted us to present her the award? Fucking priceless. The booze now curdling in my gut made me want to join Sherry.
“Champagne can sneak up on you like that,” Syd snorted. “Get some coffee down her, she’ll be fine.”
“She’s not drunk. She’s got the flu or something,” Pete explained. “Please tell me you’ll present the award.”
“Sure,” I offered cheerfully. “Burk will be happy to do it for you.”
“No.” Pete shook his head. “We need all of you on stage.”
With an evil chuckle, Burk clapped me on the back. “No problem, Pete. We’ll all be glad to present the award.”
I bared my teeth at the prick.
“Thank god.” Pete exhaled in gratitude. “I’ll send an usher to bring you boys backstage when it’s time.”
As the man hurried away, I shook my head. “Fuck my life.”
“Aw, lighten up, snowflake.” Syd cackled. “You’ll get to grope Mia’s hot body and plant your lips on her again. Hell, we all will.”
Another blast of mindless jealousy hit my system.
“You’re gonna have a hard time singing with a busted jaw, dickhead,” I snarled, shoving the soda into Ross’s hand. “I’ll meet you pricks at our seats.”
“Where you going?” Darren asked, stepping forward as if intending to follow me.
“I need some air.”
And someplace quiet so I can get my damn head on straight.
Banking the chaos of emotions sluicing through my veins, I turned to leave and froze in my tracks. Across the room, Devon “Slash” Halley, the cocky lead singer of Slash Devils, draped an arm over Mia’s shoulder, then bent down to whisper something in her ear. The prick was probably trying to sweet-talk her out of her panties, like he did every other woman with a pulse.
If Nigel were here, this shit wouldn’t be happening. Not that I had a burning desire to watch him and Mia pawing and mooning over each other. I didn’t. It chapped my balls seeing her and the charismatic Brit trending on social media and splashed on the cover of every tabloid. But I’d grown accustomed to that. Watching Devon put the moves on