Not sure Vanessa and Christian need me—from what I see, they have it all worked out.
“Yes, I’ll explain more about it later,” she tells her husband as she pats his bare chest lovingly. “Now, fire up the grill, babe. Everyone’s starving.”
“You know I can fire you up anytime you want,” he says playfully as he pulls his wife toward him and lays a kiss on her lips.
“Cut it out, you two. Let’s get this grill going,” Jackson grumbles, interrupting Vanessa and Christian’s make-out session.
“Sorry about that.” Vanessa giggles. “You know rock stars.” She ushers me over to a table filled with gorgeous rock stars’ wives—Sienna Wyld and Isla Connolly.
“Everly,” Sienna greets me warmly. She’s the one I’ve been around the most, thanks to Charlie. “How is your move going? Derrick told me your house is stunning. I’m dying to see it.”
“Almost there, a couple more boxes to unpack, and I’ll have you over,” I tell her as I take a seat opposite.
“Isla, do you remember Everly? She’s Charlie’s little sister,” Sienna says, reintroducing me to Isla.
“Oh yes, hi … I think we’ve met a couple of times,” she says, giving me a warm smile.
“It’s nice to see you again too.”
“Everly, what would you like to drink? Water, champagne, cocktails?” Vanessa asks.
“Water’s fine, thanks.”
Vanessa scrunches up her face. “Water? You’re not pregnant, are you?”
“What! No. I just … um … wanted to have a clear head when we chat later,” I answer her honestly.
Vanessa’s face softens. “Oh, sweetie, no. Have a proper drink if you want one,” she says before turning to the other girls. “Did you know Everly is an accountability coach?”
Sienna smiles and nods. She knows what I do while Isla shakes her head.
“What is an accountability coach?” Isla asks.
“The easiest way to explain it is … I keep my clients on track to achieving their goals. I help eliminate distractions and keep them focused. There’s so much more involved, but that’s the easiest way to explain it.”
“She’s brilliant,” Sienna adds.
Isla turns, looks at Vanessa, and smiles. “Oh, now I understand your plan.”
What does that mean? I feel like I’m purposefully being left out of a conversation I should be privy to.
“I know, right?” Vanessa answers Isla. “Champagne, Everly?” she then turns and asks me.
I nod my answer because I’m distracted trying to work out what’s going on.
“Are the Sons of Brooklyn boys coming today?” Isla asks, changing the subject.
“No, they have rehearsals,” Sienna answers.
“Are The Lost Boys coming today?” Isla asks, looking down at her watch.
Vanessa lets out a heavy sigh as she places a glass of champagne in front of me. “They said they would, but who knows with those boys at the moment.”
Wait! The Lost Boys are coming today as well? I love them.
They are one of my favorite bands besides Dirty Texas.
I don’t know if my inner groupie is going to handle all her favorite things in one room together.
“It would do them good to come to these things. They need to be surrounded by people, not locked away in their home, suffocating on their grief,” Isla says as she sips on her cocktail.
“I feel for them. What happened to Brodie is devastating,” Sienna says sadly.
I remember the news headlines after they found Brodie’s body. I couldn’t believe it. I even shed a couple of tears over the music world losing such a talented guy. The gossip magazines spoke about his demons with drink and drugs, but who doesn’t have a problem in Hollywood?
“It is. We’ve never had to deal with anything like this before at the label. I feel like we missed something with him. That we could have done more. I don’t know,” Vanessa says, wiping a tear that has fallen down her cheek.
“It’s not your fault, Ness, you know that,” Isla reassures Vanessa.
“I know, but we missed it. We missed something, and I never want that to happen again. Excuse me for a moment,” Vanessa says, getting up and walking away from the table with Isla following her.
“She knows it’s not her fault, doesn’t she? Most addicts won’t seek help until it’s too late,” I say, turning to Sienna.
“Ness knows that. Deep down inside we all do, but it’s hard when you lose one of your own. Dirty Texas Records is one extended family, and every one of our bands is like our kids. These boys are talented but losing a foundation member is hard and sometimes irreparable,” Sienna says sadly.
“If you need my help, I’m always here,” I say.
“Thank you. Anyway, tell me, how’s your love life going?” Sienna asks, changing the subject.
“What love life? I don’t have time for men. Especially not these LA boys who are more interested in what they can get from you than getting to know you.” I sigh as I throw back the last of my champagne.
“It can’t be that bad.” Sienna chuckles.
“Oh, it is.” I nod a few times to accentuate it. “You’re lucky you found yourself a great rock star husband because there is no one out there anymore.”
Sienna’s face lights up. “Does that mean I can set you up with someone?”
“Oh, hell, no,” I reply, shaking my head. “My focus at the moment is building my business and unpacking boxes.”
“Not even for a wild night of hot sex.”
“I have a vibrator for that.”
“Well, when you get sick of that vibrator, let me know, and I’ll set you up.” Sienna smiles.
CHAPTER 4
Hendrix
“Guys, we are running late,” I yell at my bandmates, who are emerging from their rooms after a big night out.
“When did you turn into such a suck-ass?” Zeke questions me.
“I’m not a suck-ass. They invited us to their home. It’s rude to turn up late.”
“Look at Mr. Manners over there,” Eli teases.
“Fuck you both. Fine! If you don’t give a shit, I’m going to go by myself,” I tell them as I grab a bottle of wine from the rack and head toward the door.
“Fuck you! Give us ten, and we’ll be ready. We will not let pretty boy here claim all the glory for turning up to the party,” Zeke says.
I huff and roll my eyes at my best friends.
Ten minutes later, the two of them are showered and ready. We head out the door to where our car is waiting for us and slide in.
We are all quiet for a while as we wind through the foothills of the canyons and head toward Vanessa and Christian’s home in The Hills.
“We have to try and be on our best behavior today,” I tell the boys.
“When are we not on our best behavior?” Eli says as he turns to Zeke and bursts out laughing.
“Guys, come on. This is their home. We can’t fuck anything up in their home,” I warn the two of them.
“You make us sound like we are complete fools. We know how to act,” Zeke grumbles.