Two
Gracie
“You’re happy,” I say to my best friend Ella as I pull her in for a hug. God, I’m going to miss her so much. She is one of the sweetest people I know and would do anything for anybody, but now she belongs to Leo, her childhood friend turned boyfriend turned husband. I’m happy for her but unhappy for me, but I’ll be okay because I always am.
“So happy. Never happier. The happiest.” She giggles. “I think that about covers it.”
“You think?” I ask, releasing her and stepping back. “I’m gonna miss you so much, but knowing you’re happy, happier, and the happiest makes it a bit easier.” I rub my nose and sniffle. I refuse to cry in a bar full of people. At least, I’m not going to cry sober—I’ll wait until I’m shitfaced before I let the tears flow.
“No crying, Gracie Phillips. I mean it,” Ella says sternly, but she accidently lets a laugh slip out through her permanent smile, the one she’s been wearing since she left me here in New Orleans to return to Idlewood, Texas, to date and then marry Leo. She wanted to give music a shot, so she made herself stay in our band, the Velvet Dolls, for about six months before she decided Leo was more important. Her leaving was hard for me, but I understand, or I’m really trying to. I’ve never felt for any man the things Ella feels for Leo. She loves him more than most men deserve.
The sound of Reckless Fury’s newest hit drifts through the air around us, and I glance toward the stage. My dad is still rocking it hard after all this time. I’m proud of him and the band. They’ve somehow managed to stay together for more than twenty years without taking a break or splitting up. I honestly don’t know how they’ve done it for so long because my band hasn’t even hit the two-year mark yet, and I’m about to have to replace almost everyone. Starting over . . . not something I’m looking forward to.
Reckless Fury is currently on a three-month bar tour, and tonight’s their first performance here in New Orleans. I asked Ella to come hang out with me before I left with the Velvets to go on tour with the popular all-guy band Five Past Midnight. Thankfully, she misses me as much as I miss her, so she arranged her schedule to be here tonight with Leo in tow.
“I hope the girls are able to replace me soon,” Ella says, her eyes filled with regret.
“Now, don’t you go feeling all guilty about leaving. I would never be upset with you because you found happiness. Oh, and did I mention you’re not the only one who’s leaving?” I almost forgot about Joni. I swear these girls are dropping like flies. I lean in closer and whisper, “Joni’s pregnant.”
She nods but doesn’t look the least bit surprised.
“Can you believe it?” I ask incredulously.
Suddenly, Ella’s eyes widen, and she covers her mouth with her hand like she forgot to look surprised. Faker. She’s being entirely too dramatic for me to believe she didn’t already know. I survey her face as she holds that ridiculous wide-eyed, hand-over-mouth pose for a couple of beats.
“You knew, didn’t you?”
She laughs. “Yeah, I did, and I think it’s great. I’m so excited for her. Oh, and to set the record straight, I’m not giving up music. I’m just no longer playing in a band. I’ll be teaching music every day at the local elementary school.” She smiles.
I hesitate as a subtle shade of green flashes before my eyes. What the hell? I’m not jealous . . . of Ella’s happiness. I blow it off because there’s no way I want what she has. I can’t imagine a world where the joy she’s experiencing will last forever. “Now, I have to replace not one, but two dolls?”
“Please, you’ll have the spots filled by next week,” Ella says convincingly.
“Next week we’ll be on the road playing without you.” God, it feels horrible to say that out loud. I can’t believe she really left the band, but I refuse to let her know it upsets me because then she’ll feel worse than I’m sure she already does. “Joni agreed to stay until we wrap up the three-month tour, but once we’re back home, the search is on.” I smile optimistically. I’m so damn determined to make the Velvet Dolls the best all-girl rock band possible. I may not be a musician, but I know music and I know what sells. Growing up in a rock band taught me everything I need to know to give the Velvets the success they deserve.
“Can I borrow my wife for a few minutes?” Leo asks as he wraps his arms around Ella’s waist and rests his chin on her shoulder. His gaze meets mine, and he grins. I grimace internally because there are times—many times, to be exact—when Leo gets on my last nerve. We have what I like to refer to as a love-hate relationship. I love that he makes my best friend happy, and I hate the fact that I want so bad not to like him but can’t. I’ve tried. I still try, but it’s almost impossible, so I just let him irritate me without all the dislike. Plus, he loves my best friend so much it’s utterly sickening—who could dislike a guy who treats his wife so well?
Ella glances over her shoulder, locking eyes with Leo. He kisses her and kisses her and continues to kiss her for much longer than is socially acceptable.
“God, get a damn room,” I tell them, because I’m beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable.
Ella pulls away from the kiss and her gaze meets mine. She smiles sheepishly. “We have one—it’s just down the street.”
I roll my eyes then scan the crowded room until my gaze lands on a hot blond sitting at the end of the bar. He’s drinking alone and looks as miserable as I feel. Maybe we could be miserable together.
I look back at Ella just as she whispers into Leo’s ear and they both laugh. That’s my signal to go, unless I want to be the third wheel for the rest of the night—which I don’t.
“I’m gonna go hang out at the bar and maybe flirt with the sexy blond.” I motion toward where he’s sitting.
Hopefully, he’ll be easy, take me home with him, and fuck away all my problems. A one-night stand is something I’ve been thinking about since I walked through the door tonight. It’s a brave move for me, because normally I’m more of a three or four dates before sex kind of girl, but right now, I really need to let my mind focus on something other than putting the Velvet Dolls back together. A hot guy who’s looking for no commitments and one night of nothing but sex is exactly what I need.
Ella shifts her gaze toward him.
“Don’t look now, Ella. Shit! He’ll see you. Damn, you’re a terrible wingwoman.”
I spin around and head toward the bar to get a better look at the hottie sitting at the end.
“She’s my wife, not your wingwoman!” Leo yells as I walk away.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, what the fuck ever, Leo. What the fuck ever . . .
Three
Slade
The blonde chick who was checking me out from across the room maneuvers her way through the crowd in my direction. Fucking great. Here we go again. Why can’t a guy just sit at the bar and have a few drinks without being hit on?
Her eyes never leave me as she navigates through the dozens of people who separate us. I want to look away from her, but for some fucked-up reason, I can’t. Look away. Just look away. I release a quick breath as I manage to pull my gaze from her for a few seconds, but eventually my eyes are back on her, tracking her every step. This chick is tall and wearing a black dress that fits like a glove, hugging her slight curves in all the right places. My eyes travel past her hips to her long, toned legs. Red cowboy boots cover her feet and stop about mid-calf. My dick twitches underneath the zipper of my jeans, and suddenly life is fucking good again. Maybe hooking up with this chick is what I need.