I shrugged. “Nah. You win some, you lose some. I thought she was different, but I probably scared her off. You know how it is when you meet someone who’s not in the industry.”
“Lindsay isn’t in the industry.” Lindsay was Stu’s girlfriend.
“She’s been Lexi’s best friend forever, so she’s lived it through her, and now she’s working for the law firm that represents us—so she’s in it whether she wanted to be or not.”
“But she wasn’t when they met.”
“Whatever, that has nothing to do with Brianna. She left without giving me her number or anything, and that’s cool. Maybe it wasn’t as good for her as it was for me.”
Tyler laughed. “You’re gonna need to—” He was cut off as Simon came hurrying towards us, arms outstretched.
“Tyler! Bash! So good of you to come! I have people that want to meet you.” He was grinning from ear to ear, as if we were the best of friends, and I pasted a polite smile on my face as I resisted his hug and shook his hand instead.
“Good to see you, man,” Tyler said, taking the hug that I’d brushed off. He clapped him on the back. “How’s life?”
“Divorced, again, and two brats I’m paying child support for, but the good news is that she met someone new so alimony will hopefully stop sooner rather than later.”
A long-legged waitress appeared holding a tray of champagne glasses and we each took one from her.
“Champagne.” Simon took a sip. “Nectar of the gods.”
“Agreed.” Tyler took a sip.
“And where is Ariel tonight?” Simon asked, looking around. “I hope you didn’t leave her home in favor of this guy?” He jerked a thumb in my direction.
“Of course not.” Tyler smiled. “She’s got some press stuff going on in L.A.”
“Ah, pity. So, how’s the band?” Small talk got serious in a flash and I decided to test the waters.
“Going well. Not that you’ve noticed.”
His eyes met mine. “Well, I couldn’t make it too easy for you, could I?”
“Why not? This isn’t a fraternity where you have to get hazed before you hit the big-time. We’re already big-time and you know it.”
“Well, individually, of course, but as a group? I’ve been watching. The buzz is growing but the last album didn’t quite catch on like it should have.”
I grit my teeth so I didn’t strangle the guy.
“Why do you think that is?” Tyler asked calmly, probably noticing a vein about to pop out of my forehead. “I mean, the music is solid. You think it’s because all the dicks in the industry are playing some stupid waiting game to see if we’re a hit or not?”
To my surprise, Simon burst out laughing. “Touché, my friend. To be honest, I’ve been busy as fuck and my schedule is pretty full, but I’d be delighted to have you on the show, talking about the new band, playing some of the songs. Let’s set something up before you leave tonight.”
“Excellent.” Tyler shook his hand again and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
“He’s such a dick,” I muttered under my breath once he was out of earshot.
“But an important dick.”
We laughed.
“I’m gonna get some food,” I told him.
“I’m going to go talk to Layla Howard,” he said, referring to a local journalist we all knew.
We parted ways and I’d just gotten to the buffet table when a familiar flash of red hair caught my eye.
No fucking way.
Could it be?
I stared and, sure enough, she laughed at something one of the guests said to her.
This was either incredibly good luck or it was going to be awkward as fuck. And no matter how hard I tried, I really hoped it was the former.
7
Brianna
* * *
I wasn’t having a good night. The party at this radio personality’s house should have been easy, but with Noah working, nothing was easy. He didn’t look any more worse for wear than usual, but he was a wreck. I couldn’t help but notice the shaking hands and sweat on his brow that didn’t come from working too hard. He’d been quiet on the ride over and had been keeping his head down, doing his job, but I knew when he was struggling, and he was definitely struggling.
“You’re not his mother,” Kiki said quietly as we made the rounds. “Relax and let him do his thing.”
“How can I relax? Look at him!”
“He’s fine. He’s got the shakes, but he’s doing his job and so far hasn’t screwed up. But he’s going to if he notices you hovering.”
“If he does something stupid—”
“Then he’ll get fired, but it’s not on you. You’re doing everything you can to help him stay mostly straight. And as I’ve already said, you’re not his mother.”
“Well, maybe he wouldn’t be in this mess if he’d had a decent mother so—”
“Maybe.” She gave me a look. “But you didn’t give birth to him. So while you can do your best to love and support him, this isn’t on you.”
I sighed because she was right, but it was so hard to let go. I knew from experience that the moment I gave him a little rope, he’d hang himself. It was a big deal that Marla had trusted him to do this gig tonight, because he’d had a good week, but it wouldn’t last and the waiting was the hardest for me. We all knew it was coming, and I dreaded it.
“Hello, venti mocha whatchamacallit.”
Declan’s voice was unmistakable, and I whirled around, nearly upsetting my tray of hors d’oeuvres.
“Easy, Red.” He put out a hand to stop the tray from falling.
Our eyes met and I knew my cheeks were burning with embarrassment. I’d snuck off after our night together thinking I’d never see him again, yet here we were.
“H-hi.” I cleared my throat. “Would you like a canapé?”
“Sure.” He plucked one off the tray without waiting for me to hand him a cocktail napkin. “Mmm, that’s good.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” Damn, was this awkward or what? I needed to get out of here but there was nowhere to go.
“Did I do something wrong?” he asked quietly. “I thought we had a good time and—”
“I’m working,” I interrupted quickly. “I can’t talk about this now.”
“Can I have another canapé?” He wasn’t giving up.
“If you want.”
“If that’s what it takes to keep you coming over here and talking to me.” He gave me a look that sent a jolt of electricity rocketing down my spine.
Geez. What the hell was wrong with me?
I had to behave tonight because Marla’s new partnership was important to her. I also had Noah to worry about, so I didn’t have time for all this eye-gazing shit.
Except it was so fucking hot and my body responded by tingling. I remembered every single thing he’d done to me and I got hot and bothered all over again.
“Hungry?” Kiki came over to us with a broad smile on her face, holding out her tray.