Lead (Stage Dive, #3)(36)

The fight bled right out of me. Sad to say, it only annoyed me slightly that his petting worked. “Yes.”

Mal said no more. But he did give Jimmy’s grip on me a smug sort of smile. Damn, the drummer had been playing us.

Unfortunately, the attention made Jimmy also look down at his hand. The frown on his face when he found his fingers still wrapped around my wrist was almighty. Like the digits belonged to someone else. I tore myself out of his hold, beating him to the chase, and sat back down.

So many interesting things to look at in the room. The man across from me and whatever expression he might have on his perfect face didn’t even matter. For example, Anne was busy rubbing at her temples. If my boyfriend was that insane, I would probably rub at my temples too. Meanwhile, Lizzy was busy checking her phone while their mother Jan had yet to return to the table. Ev, David, and Ben were still discussing the likelihood of Jimmy and I being a couple. Wonderful, this dinner was officially hell. No amount of pumpkin pie could compensate and it was all Jimmy’s fault for raising the topic in the first damn place.

“Right. Shut up, all of you.” Jimmy banged his fist on the table, interrupting the conversation and making the plates and cutlery rattle. “Lena is not leaving and we are not f*cking or whatever so all of you just … stop.”

No one spoke for about a moment.

Mal relaxed back in his chair, face unperturbed. “Then what’s all the drama for, man?”

“Christ.” Jimmy scrubbed at his face with his hands. “Look, Lena is thinking of leaving. But I’ve got an idea for how to get her to stay. Could use your guys help with it, actually. If we could all just act sane for one f*cking minute of the day.”

So much dread, I could have choked on it. “Jimmy.”

“She does need to get out more. Meet some people,” he said. “So … Benny, you’ll take Lena out, won’t you?”

“What?” I flat-lined.

“That’s a great idea,” cried Ev, while David nodded in approval.

Ben gave me a big affable smile. “Sure, Jim. Love to.”

“Good,” said Jimmy, steadfastly refusing my attempts to get his attention. “Not tomorrow night, got plans for then. The night after.”

“Works for me,” said Ben.

“Cool. Where you thinking?”

“Hey.” I snapped my fingers in Jimmy’s direction. Rude but highly effective. “Stop it. I do not need you fixing me up with people.”

“It’s my pleasure, don’t worry about it.” He turned back to Ben.

“Jimmy,” I growled, warningly.

People looked back and forth between us, faces rapt. So much for a nice Thanksgiving, this was fast degenerating into a war.

“We doing this or not, Lena? You said you’d try. You going back on that now?”

Oh, the guilt. He was such a manipulative piece of shit.

“You’re embarrassing me,” I said quietly.

He leaned in and lowered his voice. “No, look again. These people are your friends. No one’s judging you or thinking badly of you.”

“I’m judging her,” called out Mal. “Ouch, don’t hit me, pumpkin. I’m just being honest. She shouldn’t want to leave us—we’re the best.”

“Lena,” said Ben, his dark eyes warm. “It’s okay, really. I would love to take you out. What do you say?”

Jimmy watched me patiently (along with everyone else). There didn’t seem to be any malice in him, just the usual will to get his way. I had agreed to this four-step plan, it was true. But as far as I could recall, being turned into the night’s entertainment hadn’t even once been mentioned. If I had to date, though, Ben Nicholson was a damn fine choice. Attractive, could carry a conversation, rich as the Queen of England. The man ticked a lot of boxes and apparently, he did want to go out with me.

Always a plus.

At worst, it would be a pleasant night out with a friend. At best, my feelings would somehow magically detach themselves from Jimmy and turn to someone who (shock horror) just might actually want them. A win all around.

“Maybe it is time I started dating again,” I said, shoulders back and boobs out. No point in being half-hearted about it. Go big or go home and all that. “But I can organize this myself.” I turned to the bass player. “Ben, how would you feel about going to dinner with me sometime?”

“Love to,” he said with a grin.

“Great. Okay, then.” That wasn’t so hard.

“Right.” Jimmy continued, his arrogant air dimmed somewhat. He scrunched up his napkin and threw it onto the table. “Where you taking her, Ben?”

Mouth open, the bass player gave it some thought. “Ah, how about the sport’s bar? Allen’s?”

“She doesn’t like sports and don’t be cheap. This is Lena, you gotta take her somewhere good. Relaxed, but good. Mood’s important.”

Sweet baby Jesus. I sank lower in my seat. “Thank you for your concern, Jimmy. But Ben and I can discuss this later. In private.”

“It’s all right. Let me think.” Ben scratched at his short beard. “How about the Japanese place we go to sometimes?”

“No,” said Jimmy. “Not quite right.”

“Well, where would you suggest?” asked Ben, amusement lighting his eyes.