Drive(87)

“Holy shit, is that you, Stella?”

I turned to see Rye coming toward me. Rye had morphed into a hella man. But even as he whisked me into his arms and twirled me around, my eyes ventured back toward Reid. He was still watching me, his expression pained. He let his eyes drift to my hands clasped around Rye’s back.

Rye commanded my attention as he peered down at me with a lopsided grin. “What happened to you? You look so hot!”

I punched him in the chest. “Are you saying I wasn’t hot?”

“No, you were, just . . . you were hot T-shirt girl and now you’re all Gucci and shit.”

“You don’t look so bad yourself. And I hear congrats are in order. Who’s the lucky girl?”

“Angel, she’ll be by in about an hour. Are you hanging?”

“Not long,” I said as I glanced at Reid while we collectively walked into the main living room. The penthouse was spacious and modern.

Ben and Adam came out of an adjoining room, sipping Heinekens, and paused when they saw me.

Have I changed that much?

“Christ, Stella, you’re gorgeous,” Ben said as Adam whistled with his fingers. I got a bear hug from Adam and Ben swept me off my feet much in the same way Rye had.

“Hi,” he whispered in my ear as he held me tightly. “I’ve missed you, woman,” he said sweetly as he put me back on my heels. And though I wanted to take a testicle and gift wrap it for Lexi, I smiled back.

“Crowne, eat your heart out. You fucked up letting this one go.” I jerked my eyes to Reid, that all too familiar sentence, the same that came out of his mouth years before when he showcased me to Dylan. He was thinking of it too judging by the look on his face. I scolded Ben and turned the fire in his direction.

“I could say the same to you. You haven’t seen your ex,” I declared boldly, doing whatever I could to take the attention off mine and Reid’s ancient history. “You’re an asshole for what you did.”

“Let’s talk about that never,” he said with a serious tone.

“How about on camera?” Ben jerked back as if I slapped him and narrowed his eyes. “Don’t you dare.”

“We will talk about it,” I said with warning in my voice.

“Fine, but later.” He sighed.

“Agreed.” I had to hand it to the guys; Father Time had been more than kind. Every one of them looked incredible, especially the drummer. Ben looked me over. “I can’t believe how much you’ve changed.”

“Yeah, we’ve all been doing a lot of living,” I said as Reid stood in my peripheral. I kept my focus, despite the nagging urge to glance his way.

Before the uncomfortable silence could pass, I broke in, on a mission to get what I needed and get the hell out. The warmth was getting stifling, its ever-present threat expanding in my chest with Reid so near. “So, where do I set up? You guys have a place in mind?”

“Business already?” Rye said with a snort. “Don’t want to have a drink first?”

“That’s probably not—”

I was interrupted by the sound of ice to my right. Reid poured a healthy serving of whiskey into a rocks glass and I walked over to him and grabbed it. “Thanks.” I took a sip, and they all shared grins as Reid poured a second glass for himself. I stood back, stunned.

“I thought you weren’t drinking anymore?”

“He can handle it,” Ben assured me. “He doesn’t drink much.”

Utterly confused, I glanced in Reid’s direction and Ben intercepted. “Let’s go out to the patio, see if you think that’s a good spot for the interview.” Ben gripped my arm, and I had no choice but to follow. Once cleared of the door, he looked at me conspiratorially. “He went to rehab for the counseling,” Ben said on a whisper. “He never drank so much he needed help for that.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Why doesn’t it?” Reid said, making me jump as he lit a cigarette behind me, his jade gaze on my lips.

“Damn, man, I thought you told her,” Ben said in quick defense.

“I did. She was too busy throwing me out to listen,” he said with a shrug.

“Okay,” I said, feeling the accusation. “Well, it’s none of my business anyway,” I retorted, the whiplash from his sudden mood swings filtering through my body, a telltale sign it was a very bad idea to be standing anywhere with him. “This looks like as good of a place as any.”

“There’s a nice big bedroom down the hall,” Reid said. “I know how much you love a mattress. Maybe we could all fit, for old time’s sake.”

I reeled on him. “What the hell is your problem?”

He smirked, and I turned my back to him.

“I have a wedding rehearsal in two hours,” I told Ben. “I need to get this started. I don’t care if we have the interview in the damned bathroom.”

“There’s the cocky little Latina I know and love,” Ben said, looking between Reid and me with unease. “Don’t start shit, man,” Ben warned. “We owe her.”

“That’s why she’s here,” Reid reminded him. “My idea,” he murmured, full of sarcasm as he blew out a puff of smoke and tilted his rocks glass in my direction. “You’re welcome.”