Unplugged (Blue Phoenix, #3)(59)

“Have you been over here long?” asks Sky.

“A week, we go back to Wales next week.” I perch onto the edge of the pool next to Sky.

“I think Liam would like to keep you here,” says Dylan, and Sky elbows him. “What?”

“That sounded creepy.”

Dylan flicks Sky’s ear. “Whatever. I’m getting a beer.”

As he gets up, Sky leans backwards and looks up at him, proffering her glass. “White wine, please.”

“Huh. I’m a waiter, now?”

“Yep. What do you want, Cerys?”

“I’m okay for now, thanks.”

Dylan wanders off and returns with two beers and a wine. As he passes the glass to Sky, he kisses her softly on the mouth before walking over to Liam. I remember Dylan as a tense person, with a guarded look similar to Jem’s. The look in his eyes with Sky is far removed from the stressed guy I once knew; a softness I wouldn’t associate with the Dylan Morgan I’ve read about over the last few years. Liam briefly told me about the mess he got himself into, and I can see exactly how he got himself out of it. Sky.

“Is your little girl around?” asks Sky.

“Ella? She’s sleeping. Her body clock is still all over the place so I imagine she’ll be up and about soon.”

“I’d like to meet her, this girl who’s stolen Liam’s heart.” Sky sips her wine. “Well, the other girl, apart from you.”

I can’t help my face heating, and I glance over at Liam who’s joking around with Dylan by the barbecue. They’re both shirtless with tattoo covered, toned chests. I remember some of the pictures of the men constantly on my Facebook feed. Malibu mansion and two semi-naked rock stars. The school mums would kill to be where I am now. I laugh.

“What’s funny?” asks Sky.

“This. Here.” I tip my head. “Being with Liam.”

“You look worried.”

“Weren’t you?” I ask her.

“Of course, but you have the benefit of knowing Liam. I didn’t know who the hell Dylan was and it was a shock when I found out. Not as big a shock as the cameras in my face, but yeah...” She sloshes water with her feet. “I won’t get used to the attention; but if I want to be with Dylan, I’ll have to put up with it until the next big thing comes along and they’re bored of us.”

“I worry that I’m not enough,” I say quietly.

“Why? Because you’re not Honey?”

Her straight talking is a surprise, but also a relief. “Partly, but I’m a single mum and very ordinary.”

“Not to Liam, and that’s what matters.”

“I suppose.”

Sky stands. “When I first met the Blue Phoenix guys, I liked Liam the most. Partly because I was pissed off with Dylan at the time, but mostly because Liam’s a genuine guy. I’m glad he didn’t marry Honey. You hungry?”

I shake my head as Sky walks over to the guys. Liam told me Sky tells it like it is and her honesty and openness is refreshing, if not a little off-putting. As soon as she reaches Dylan, he encloses her in his arms and kisses her head, conversation with Liam over.

As the evening progresses, the more I see how Sky and Dylan exist in their own world. They speak and are polite; but it’s as if we’re on the edge of something that they keep hidden. Maybe it’s because they are used to protecting themselves from scrutiny; perhaps they don’t realise they’re doing it, but Sky and Dylan are intense.

A few wines later and Sky relaxes around me. We sit on cushioned benches beneath the paved patio near the pool, a long glass table covered in empty bottles and half-finished meals. I whisper secrets I know about the teen Blue Phoenix, telling her about their disastrous first gigs and how painful it was living above their favourite rehearsal place. At first, Dylan appears put out by my revealing his embarrassing past, but Liam teases him over caring about his image too much and Sky agrees. Another dent to his ego happens when Ella appears in the glass doorway.

The sleepy girl wanders over and sits on my knee as I recline on the bench next to Liam. She barely registers Sky and Dylan, who watch curiously, as Liam switches his attention to Ella.

“Are you okay?” he asks her.

“I woke up.” Ella says.

“I can see that,” I say. “Were you dreaming about Magic Mountain?”

Ella smiles sleepily. “Liam was scared.”

“I was not!”

“You held my hand and squeezed really tight!” she says.

Liam puts his finger to his lips. “Shush! Don’t tell Dylan and Sky.”

Ella turns to them as if only realising they’re there. “Hello.”

“Hi, Ella,” smiles Sky and nudges Dylan.

“Yeah, hello.” Dylan turns back to Liam. “You were going to tell me about Jem and this band he’s discovered. You reckon they’re good enough to join the tour next year?”

“I was talking to Liam,” says Ella to Dylan. “Don’t be rude.”

Dylan flips a stunned look between Liam and me. “Um. Okay.”

Sky sniggers into her wine. “Yeah, Dylan, not everybody is impressed by your rock god status.”

Dylan scowls at Sky, but he clearly has no idea what to say to Ella. I’m embarrassed she spoke to him like that, but I always tell her off when she interrupts my conversations.