BEAU

It's been a couple of days since I talked to Emma. Apparently even Emma, sweet and made of sunshine Emma, can hold a grudge. The worst part is that I can't even blame her for being mad. I'd be mad at me, too.

In fact, I am mad at me. Mad at me, mad at this stupid restaurant and the bar that calls to me every time I glance in it's direction, and more than anything right now, mad at them.

I feel the irritated glare on my own face, my eyes shooting daggers at Rey and Jace ordering drinks at the bar. As Rey stares up at him and bats her eyelashes, I clench my fist against the rough material of my jeans.

What the fuck is he still doing here?

I can't stand the way Jace saunters over to the booth I saved for us, arm slung casually over Rey's shoulder, smug smirk on his sleazy face. I have a hard time hiding it, too, barely grunting when they sit across from me.

I didn't want to come to dinner, not with Rey and definitely not with Jace. The show went well, and the food here is supposed to be incredible, but I'd be happier with room service and a chance to lay in bed. I'm trying to be a good sport though, and Rey is right - not celebrating a show is pretty lame.

"What, no drink tonight, Beau?" Jace leans back in the booth, one arm draped around Rey, the other holding his beer bottle to his cheek. "It was a great show, might as well celebrate." He winks.

I grit my teeth and focus on keeping my breathing even, stopping the red fury already tinting my vision.

"Jace, stop. Seriously," Rey gives him a stern look, her thick brows scrunched above her eyes. "You know he's sober."

Jace isn't looking at her when she speaks, though. His eyes are on my face, his smirk growing more sarcastic by the second.

"Oh right," He smacks his palm to his forehead before resting it back around Rey. "The sober thing, I keep forgetting." A menacing glint passes over his light eyes. "See, it's just the Beau I knew, man could he throw back a handle of whiskey like it was nothing."

He waits for me to speak, but I only glare at him. Looking between the two of us, Rey looks uncomfortable, her dark eyes downcast at her hands.

"Jace," She speaks when I don't, which pisses me off even more. I can handle my own shit, I just know better than to play into Jace's game. "That was a long time ago," She mumbles, lifting her eyes to me. She thinks it's compassion, but all I feel is pity.

"Not that long." Jace says almost immediately. "I'm just saying, my guitar player knew how to party. It's there if you want it," His eyes glint in the dim lighting, daring me, as he pushes the glass of whiskey across the table.

If the whiskey wasn't there, I'd be fuming at the way he called me "his" guitar player. But it is, so instead, the back of my throat is on fire, my knuckles sore from clenching my fists so tightly. Eyeing the drink in front of me, I don't let myself even take a breath, worried that I'll cave.

"Jace!" Rey gasps, quickly grabbing the glass and downing it in one go. My chest constricts painfully, in both relief and disappointment.

"It's nothing," Jace shrugs, expression looking bored already. "Just messing around between old friends, right Beau?"

Mouth set in a firm line, I shove myself out of the booth, hands shaking as I make my way to the bathroom.

Once inside, I slam my fist against the door. God, I should beat the shit out of him. Right here, right now.

My fists ache to feel the crushing of his cartilage beneath my knuckles. It's what he deserves. I slam my fist against the door again before turning to the sink and splashing cold water on my face.

Snap out of it.

I stare at myself in the mirror, convincing myself that I don't need to hit Jace to feel better. He's the fucking groupie on my tour, for fuck's sake. He can go screw himself.

Feeling my heart pumping faster again as new anger surges through me, I close my eyes and count to ten, then twenty. Finally, I open them again and take a moment before rejoining the table.

I'm rolling my eyes before I even get across the restaurant. I should've expected it - Rey sits almost in Jace's lap, their mouths never leaving each other's faces. Some of the people around the table are watching, most are trying to ignore them. Shaking my head, I stomp the rest of the way to the booth.

Slamming my fist against the table, I snap, "Alright, let's go. Get up, we're going to head out." I grimace as they ignore me, knowing Rey would be pissed if she knew who Jace really is. When he isn't trying to charm his way into a girls pants.

"Hey," I touch her shoulder. "I'm leaving. You're coming or you're finding your own way home."

Rey breaks away from the kiss then, red lipstick smeared around her mouth.

"What? Why?" She tries to untangle herself from Jace's limbs but struggles and gives up, staring at me from her spot at the booth.

My eyes shoot to Jace and back. "Not feeling it tonight."

"Oh, come on, Beau! Make up your mind - that Emma chick, or Rey. But you gotta save me some," Jace's grin is smug but his nostrils are flared. I've interrupted his hook-up, and if there's one thing that Jace hates, it's not getting to finish what he started.

My own fists clench as Emma's name escapes his lips. Taking a look around the restaurant, I know people are watching us. People with cameras. Turning my glare to Rey, I wait for her to stand.

"For the record though," Jace doesn't stop, "I would be fine with either one."

I don't think, I just lunge forward across the table, hand grasping for the collar of Jace's shirt. Holding him with that hand, I land a couple of solid hits to his jaw with the other before Rey's shouting brings me back to reality.

"Beau, stop! Stop, Beau. People are watching," Her tiny hands grab my shoulders and push me forward, past all of the people in nice clothes, staring at me in disgust for disrupting their meal. Noticing our security approaching, I finally pick up the pace and rush outside into the cool air, leaving Jace holding a napkin to his face behind us.

When we're outside the door, our Head of Security, Caleb, gives me a knowing look. "Mr. Lewis," Caleb is bigger than me - bulky and scary looking. Maybe I should've let him handle Jace.

"Don't start, I'm fine." I snap, running a hand over my hair. "Where the fuck is the car?"

"About five minutes out." Caleb answers matter-of-factly.

Rey's eyes follow my every step as I pace back and forth on the sidewalk. Taking out my phone, I send Dr. Williams a text asking to move up our session this week. As I wait for his reply, my impatience with Rey's intrusive gaze boils over.

"What?"

She jumps. "Sorry, I... sorry." She clears her throat, her voice much stronger when she speaks again. "What was that?"

I roll my eyes and check my phone again. Still nothing.

"I'm speaking to you." Rey places her hands on her hips and glares at me until I finally stand still. Still, I say nothing. "Were you... I don't know... jealous?"

I scoff, barely looking up from my phone. "Yeah, okay, Rey."

Her eyes flicker for a second, her tough exterior cracking slightly. For a second I feel bad, but then I remember that I wouldn't even be so pissed right now if she would've just left Jace alone.

But of course, the night when he approached me at the club, she had followed me outside, nosy as always. As soon as Jace met her, he had that look in his eye - the one I've seen hundreds of times before.

And Rey, as it turns out, isn't great with subtle hints. I'd tried to convince her that Jace sucked, without ever actually saying so many words. But she didn't get it, continuing to spend time with him, getting flirtier with each day that passed.

Apparently she still doesn't understand.

"You don't have to be a dick," She mumbles, pulling her leather jacket tighter around her torso.

"I'm the dick? Rey, do you know the kind of guy Jace is?" I'm almost shouting now. "Because I do, and trust me, I'm pretty confident you want to stay away from him."

Through the back window, I can see him at the bar, ordering another drink and chatting up the red head beside him, blood in the corner of his lip. I shake my head and point so that she can see it for herself.

Slowly she turns back towards me, chin stuck out defiantly. "Fine. If you say he's bad news, then I trust you, Beau. We'll leave in a few hours like we planned, and we'll leave him here."

I squint my eyes at her as the black SUV pulls to a stop in front of us.

"Maybe we should have the drivers on standby, just in case," I grumble to myself, hoping I don't lose my temper again. I don't like to have people waiting on me, but I tend to leave the scene earlier than expected these days.

"Maybe," Rey sighs, eyelids fluttering closed once she's in the car. "Next time you could try talking to me, instead of with your fists."

I say nothing and within minutes, Rey is snoring softly, slouched over in her seat. Checking my phone again, I see Dex still hasn't replied.

My other notifications are turned off - I hate all the numbers all over my screen but Rocco insists I keep my social media. Opening up Instagram, I scroll through meaningless posts absentmindedly, thoughts somewhere else entirely.

Eyeing Rey again, I think about what Emma said. I know what the tabloids are saying, what the media is speculating with Rey and me. And I know it's not true.

But Emma doesn't.

Scrolling through my photos, I pick one of my new favorites: Emma, at her parents lake house, our lake house, if I'm lucky, in front of the glass door overlooking the lake. She's looking over her shoulder, smiling at me like I'm the only thing in her world. And the freckles - the sun hits them just right.

The last time we did this, everything was so cryptic. A subtle clue that we're dating here, a kiss in public there, anything to keep the fans guessing.

Well this time, I don't want there to be any guessing. If there's one thing I'm sure of, it's Emma.

As the SUV slows to a stop in front of our hotel, I nudge Rey awake. Matching my pace to her tired steps as we cross the lobby to the elevator, I finish up my Instagram caption and post the photo.

Emma by the lake, with the caption "My girl."

This time, no more guessing.

Thanks for reading loves! Let me know what you think of the chapter! Is beau sliding or is this a one time thing? the Emma insta - yay or nay? Jace, as a person - nay or nay?
Sending love ~