Page 27 of Any Kind of Life
“Lesson learned?” Juliet lifted a brow when Paige stared back at her.
“Definitely. Soraya says I need to get out more, but I get out plenty. I just don’t enjoy that drunk feeling or the effects the following day.”
Juliet nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I know.”
“But I think that’s kind of the lifestyle they have. Which is fine. I just don’t need to be a part of it. They’re all going out again to a club when the show finishes tonight. I really don’t know how they do it.”
“I’m glad you’re not into too much partying. I prefer my sober and hangover-free mornings with you most weekends.”
Paige sunk down into the mattress beside Juliet, taking her hand. “Me too. And I’m so happy you’re here. I wasn’t expecting it at all.”
“I wondered if I should tell you I was coming, I didn’t want to cramp your style, but I’ll leave in the morning so you can get back into the routine you already have with the band and stuff.” Juliet lowered her eyes to their hands, grazing Paige’s knuckles with her thumb. “I’m not sure Soraya was very happy to see me in your dressing room earlier. But I won’t get in the way, you know that.”
“I want you to get in my way.” Paige drew Juliet into a kiss, lingering as she inhaled deeply. “I’ve missed you.”
“Paige…”
Paige pulled back, smiling. “Yeah?”
“Are…you familiar with the fans on social media? The things they say?” God, Juliet didn’t want to be that woman, but everything she’d read this morning had played on repeat in her mind. “Or the footage they upload?”
“I don’t really bother with the social media side of it. I’m sure there’s a lot of good things that fans say, but I also know they can troll and be pretty cruel, too.”
Juliet smiled weakly as she nodded. “I see.”
“Why? Has someone said something really bad about me?” Paige’s brows drew together as she turned to face Juliet better. “If they have, let it go. Not everyone will like my voice or my style, and I’m okay with that.”
“No, that’s not what this is about. I haven’t seen anyone say a bad word about you. You’re too amazing for trolls to even consider attacking you.”
“O…kay.”
Juliet took a deep breath and prepared herself for the potential backlash of this conversation. She wasn’t accusing Paige, she would never do such a thing, but she wanted her to be aware of the things people said. “Fans still seem to think that you and Soraya are an item.”
Paige rolled her eyes. “Of course they do. Some of them will latch onto anything they can.”
“It was quite intense this morning when I had a look online. And then I saw the footage, and I don’t know…I think I let it get the better of me.”
“What footage?” Paige was genuinely oblivious to anything that had been posted. While that probably worked in her favour—it couldn’t interfere with her mental health—it could also be dangerous. “Juliet?”
“You and Soraya at the club last night. Dancing. She seemed…to be enjoying herself a lot. W-with you.”
Juliet watched in slow motion as Paige’s features changed. Her hand slid away, and then Paige shifted back a little. “I don’t know what footage you’re talking about, or the dancing, but…that’s why you’re here, isn’t it? Y-you’re here because you think something is going on between me and her!”
“Baby, no. You know I trust you.” Juliet looked pointedly at Paige. “You know I trust you with my life. Please, don’t think for one minute that I don’t.”
Paige slowly rose to her feet, turning her back on Juliet. She rested against the window frame, shaking her head. “This all makes sense now. I’ve been asking you to join me on the tour since the European leg began three months ago. God, I begged you at one point when I was getting ready to leave for Spain. But work commitments—as you claimed—meant you couldn’t.”
And here it was. The backlash Juliet was worried about.
Paige turned to face Juliet. The tears in her eyes hadn’t been what Juliet expected. Paige’s bottom lip trembled, her arms wrapped around herself. “Look me in the eye and tell me you haven’t come here to catch me fucking her.”
That sentence had Juliet almost baulking. How could Paige ever think that?
“Go on. Look me in the eye and tell me you trust me.”
Juliet got to her feet and closed the distance. She didn’t want to fight with Paige, not when they’d been away from one another…and not because of another woman. Juliet opened her mouth to speak, but Paige held up a hand.
“Every night, I lie here wishing I was at home with you. Every morning, I wake up wondering if you might show up at my hotel. That happened tonight, you showed up for me, but you didn’t really…did you? You didn’t come here to be here with me or to support me. You came here to see if I was cheating on you.”