blankly, my chest heaving with unspent rage, but I didn’t utter a single word.
“You’re not calling anyone. We’ll settle this like grown-ups. Now please, will one of you tell me what’s going on before I have a coronary. We’re three days from opening the show, and you’re attacking one of your costars.”
“He’s jealous because I fucked Rose,” Blake spat, and I barged forward, going for him again. It took three men to hold me back, but only because I let them. If I’d wanted to punch Blake a third time, I would have. But no, my anger was morphing, turning inward as I wondered if I was a fool. Had Rose been lying to me all this time? Had she still been in love with Blake and using me as an amusement?
“Rose,” Jacob tutted. “Your obsession with Iggy’s little assistant is getting out of hand.”
“It’s not an obsession, I….” Trailing off, I tried to calm myself down, but it was no use. I wanted to hit something again. Preferably Blake. Somewhere vulnerable. The very thought of him with his hands on her made my skin crawl. She was mine.
She was….
I needed a minute.
Striding past Jacob, who was still wittering on at me, I walked away from all of them, suspicion and doubt filling my head. My trust issues rose to the surface, and in that moment I wondered if I ever should have come out of my shell, if I ever should have given Rose a chance to break down my barriers.
If I should have just stayed alone and lonely on my island.
Twenty-Four.
*Rose*
Something was off. When I arrived back at the theatre after rushing across the city on an errand for Iggy, there was a weird atmosphere among the cast. Several people eyed me curiously, and I even got a few hostile glances here and there. Jesus, you’d swear I just stole all the macaroons from catering.
I didn’t get a chance to ponder it for long because Iggy pulled me aside, a beleaguered expression on his face that told me there was some kind of emergency.
“Alison’s broken her ankle, the clumsy mare. We’re a dancer down. I need you,” he said, and I nodded, comprehension dawning.
“Of course. I can stand in for her during rehearsals until you find a replacement.”
My boss sighed with relief. “You’re a life saver.”
“It’s no problem,” I told him, thinking that must’ve been the reason for the odd tension in the air. It didn’t explain the hostile looks, but then again, theatre folk could be strange at times.
Alison played Nini, and was one of the foremost dancers in the show. She also sang in the chorus and had a couple lines of dialogue, but I wasn’t too worried about that. I was no Damon, but I could hold a decent tune. Either way, it was going to be a nightmare finding someone to replace her on such short notice, but I was sure they’d manage somehow. About twenty minutes later I was in full costume, wearing a tight black skirt and corset, heels and a lacy shawl, my hair up in a bun.
“You should be ashamed of yourself,” said Alicia spitefully as she passed me by.
I frowned, taken aback by her venomous tone. “Excuse me?”
She turned, wearing a long sequined dress. “I said you should be ashamed of yourself for what you did to Damon. The poor man is beside himself.”
I stared at her, dumbfounded and unable to fathom what the hell she was going on about. “Are you on something? Damon’s fine. I was with him just an hour ago.”
Alicia eyed me and pursed her lips. “Well, a lot can happen in an hour. While you were off doing whatever it is you do, Blake had the good grace to inform Damon of your tryst. Honestly, Rose, could you not be happy with one of them? You really had to have them both?”
My heart raced, emotions flooding me as panic settled in. Blake. I knew something seemed strange about him today. He’d said something to Damon, and he was lying his black little heart out.
“I haven’t been with Blake in months,” I said, but she was already gone, being called to the stage by Jacob. All of a sudden Iggy was at my side, ushering me forward as we took our places for “El Tango De Roxanne.” I was disoriented, confused, and perplexed as I looked all around, trying to find Damon. He had to know Blake was lying. After the wonderful, almost magical weekend