When I finally ended it, it took me a few seconds to disentangle myself. Then I was resting back on my feet, standing a yard or so away from where he stood.
For a few breaths, I could only stare at him.
The black-haired man's expression hadn't changed. I could see him breathing a little harder under the coat. I saw his eyes flicker to my mouth...and got a fleeting impression that he hadn't wanted to stop, that he might even have been thinking about kissing me again.
Tearing my eyes off that pale, catlike gaze, I found Jaden staring at me, his expression a dark mask. I don't think I'd ever seen him so angry.
"Nice, Allie," he said. "Really fucking nice."
Before I could pull my head together enough to answer, he turned around, and pushed his way almost violently back through the crowd, heading towards the left side of the stage. I knew where he was going. Back to the dressing rooms to get ready for the show, and likely back to where pouty lips was waiting for him.
I just let him go.
When I finally turned around, looking for the black-haired man, he was gone.
***
"Allie!" Jon fought to grab my arm as I walked past.
When I didn't slow down, he lunged off the stool, and caught hold of me again, bringing me back to his seat before he lost it.
"Allie! What the hell was that? Who was that guy?"
"Jon, seriously." I shook my head, trying to disentangle my arm. "Not now, okay?"
"What the hell were you doing? It looked like the two of you..." Jon paused, flushing a little. "Jesus, Al. Are you having an affair?"
When I only bit my lip, shaking my head, I saw him staring at my face. I started to push past him again, but he held onto my arm and I saw him read my expression in a sweeping glance, the way he always seemed to be able to do.
I found myself wishing I'd just gone out the back alley, through the kitchen.
"Jon," I said. "I'm not having an affair, okay?"
"What's wrong?" he said, loud over the sound of the band. "Did Jaden do something?"
I glanced at the stage, trying to pull my head together enough to answer him. I didn't have the energy to come up with some story, not then, so I just told him the truth.
"I saw Jaden with that girl," I said, leaning closer so I wouldn't have to shout it at him. "Kissing her. You know. The same one, who came out here from SF."