was over.
People jostled me on all sides as I pushed through to the stage. I reached the front where Jaxson and I stood, looking out over the festival. I strained to find him, scanning the men on stage breaking down the equipment and cleaning up.
Brant walked up the side steps. He was speaking into his phone.
Brant! He’ll know where Jaxson is.
I raced around the stage, heading for the stairs. A couple of beefy guards held up their hands as I barreled toward them. I jerked up my pass and ran past.
“Jaxson!”
I skidded to a stop at the bottom of the stairs and grabbed the railing. Something flashed out of the corner of my eye. I lifted my foot off the step, backed up, and there he was.
“Jaxson.”
Jaxson stood behind the stage, clearly speaking to someone if his moving lips and raised hands were anything to go by. A metal pillar blocked my view of the person until they helpfully stepped out, keeping distance with him. I couldn’t mistake that glittery red hair.
“Look out, ma’am.”
“Jax—!”
Serena launched forward, falling into his arms, and kissed him.
I jerked like I’d been slapped, and then I took a real knock, stumbling back.
“Sorry about that.” The roadies clambered down the steps carrying the drum set and obscuring the sight of Jaxson and Serena. “Excuse us.”
Darting around them, I landed on Serena... and just her. Jaxson was nowhere to be seen.
“Jaxson!? Jaxson!”
Serena spun at my shout. I stomped up to her.
“Where’s Jaxson?” I demanded.
Up close, Serena was damp from her set. Makeup ran a bit under her eyes and beads of sweat collected above her lip. Hair plastered to her forehead and she brushed it away with a wipe of her hand, scoffing. “What do I look like? His secretary?”
“No,” I hissed. “You look like the girl who’s about to be dangled off that stage. I saw you kiss my boyfriend!”
Her eyes widened, and just as quickly, narrowed in confusion. “You’re mad? Seriously?”
“Tell me what I fucking look like.” It was an effort not to scream. “Do I look mad?”
Serena’s frown deepened. “I don’t get it. Why would you be mad about Jaxson kissing someone else? Don’t you have, like, five other boyfriends?”
I moved in, closing the distance. “What was that? It didn’t sound like an apology.”
“Because it’s not and you won’t get one. Everyone at Interstellar knows about you, Jaxson, and your little arrangement.” She tossed her head. “You’re telling me you can fuck other guys but freak when Jaxson kisses another girl? How fucking backward is that?”
“Jaxson didn’t kiss another girl,” I forced through gritted teeth. “You kissed him and”—I made a show of looking around—“he pushed you off and left quick.”
She smirked. “So what? He’s hung up on us working together, but he’ll get over it and so should you. You’re not monogamous. Why should Jaxson be? Chandler, Ty, and I are together but I sleep with other guys and they sleep with other girls.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you and your band do. It has nothing to do with my relationship which you know is not like yours. Because it was you, wasn’t it?” I flung. “You sent me that text. And you stuffed your thong in his car. Why are you trying so hard to break us up if you truly believe you’ve got a free shot?”
“Are we on that stupid thong again? And what text?” she cried. “I don’t know what you’re talking about and I don’t care. If Jaxson wants to be with me, your selfish ass can either get over it or crawl back to your stable of boyfriends. I’m sure you won’t miss one.”
Red blotted my vision. Is this girl for real?
“You’re not hearing me. Stay away from Jaxson!”
Serena shoved me. Hard. “Make me, bitch!”
I staggered back, nearly falling to the ground, and came back charging, fist in the air. I punched her dead in the face, sending the rock princess flying.
Chapter Eight
Jaxson
“I’m done, Dad. Serena just fucking kissed me.”
“She what?”
“Mauled me behind the stage, and don’t get me started on how many times I had to get her hands off me the last few days.” I paced before the door to our bus. “I don’t have time for this shit. If she can’t be professional, she can be someone else’s problem.”
Dad cursed under his breath. “No arguments from me. That kind of bullshit doesn’t go down with my employees—let alone my son. Gwen works with Beyond Berlin. I’ll hire another assistant to help Bianca, and you’ll