Lead (Stage Dive, #3)(86)
“I’m sorry,” she said finally, breaking. “I … you’re right. What we did to you was wrong and I’m sorry. I should have said it to you at the time.”
Finally. All of the air left me in a great rush. My shoulders collapsed and I had the worst feeling a few tears had managed to escape my eyes. “Thank you.”
“Will you please come back for the wedding? I’d like you to step in as bridesmaid since Tiffany took off on me. But I’ll understand if you say no. It just feels wrong for you to be missing. You’re still my sister.”
Oh, man. I didn’t know if that was something I could do. The stupid joyous occasion was only in three days. Jimmy gave me a squeeze, just letting me know he was there. It helped.
“I don’t know, Alyce. Let me think about it.”
“Okay, I understand. Thanks, Lena.” She hung up.
With my arm around his waist and my face pressed up against him, I stood there, taking a moment to get my bearings. “That was unexpected.”
“Hmm.”
“Don’t answer my phone again.”
“Don’t slap me again.”
“Sorry.” I set my chin on his chest, gazing up into his flawless face. His hands settled on my shoulders and he frowned. Perhaps now he’d push me away, reclaim his personal space and stop all of this touchy feely nonsense. But he didn’t.
“My butt stings,” I said, just making conversation.
“Good. You going to your sister’s wedding or not?”
“I honestly don’t know. She seemed sincere, but …”
He crossed his arms, looking all kinds of big, strong, and drop-dead gorgeous. How protective he’d been of me with Alyce warmed the cockles of my heart.
“Would you come with me if I did?” I dared ask.
He pulled a face. “I don’t know. I’m not so good with family stuff.”
“Yeah, maybe it’s for the best.”
“If you brought me as your date, I’d have to meet your whole family, and that would be awkward considering the nature of our relationship”
I squinted up at him. “And what is the nature of our relationship Jimmy?”
“I’m your boss and occasional hookup partner,” he said, giving me a jaunty wink.
“You are?” I said, my voice completely devoid of expression.
“Well, yeah. Though speaking of hookups, I heard wedding sex is supposed to be pretty hot, so maybe …”
“That’s quite alright Jimmy, no need to overcomplicate our casual relationship. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
“Christ Lena, what did I say now?”
“Got work to do!” I gave him a wave on my way out. It was probably more than he deserved.
# # #
Jimmy was watching me. I could feel his eyes on me from the other side of the room. Despite it being pleasurable, another time would have suited things better. Sometime when we weren’t surrounded by every last member of his extended family along with a few other people also.
The girl’s night out he’d suggested Ev organize for me the night of that awful date with Reece had finally come to fruition. Except given the media onslaught caused by his mom’s TV debut, we couldn’t really hit the clubs to shake our booties. It seemed every camera in the country was pointed in the Ferris brothers’ direction, particularly Jimmy’s. Therefore, we were all hanging at David and Ev’s. Music was playing and people were drinking, pretty much everyone except Jimmy and I. Couldn’t help but wonder if that made him feel left out, apart. He lounged as only he could on a white sofa, Mal chattering on about something beside him. Anne sat on the drummer’s knee, sucking back a Corona and playing with his hair. I stared in their general direction, just chillin’. David and Ben were somewhere nearby, no doubt messing with guitars.
I was just happy to be liberated from the dreaded med boot. My ankle still ached a little. I would, however, survive.
“Psst.”
What the … ?
“Psst, Lena.” Ev’s bestie, Lauren, threw a pecan into my cleavage. A nice enough girl, but lobbing nuts at me was unnecessary.
I fished it out and popped it in my mouth. “Something I can help you with there, Lauren?”
Ev and Anne’s sister Lizzy also closed in on my neutral position near the balcony windows. The condo really had a gorgeous view out over the Pearl District. Plus, Jimmy.
“We come seeking information regarding you and Jimmy,” said Ev.
“Bullshit,” laughed Lauren. “She’s already banged him. It’s blazingly obvious.”
I pushed my long dark hair back off my shoulders while perusing my would-be interrogators. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Did you really bust your ankle trying to kick in his door?” asked Lizzy, sizing me up.
“Well, yes. That happened.”
Her face went all dreamy. “I think that’s really romantic.”
“I think it’s hilarious,” said Ev. “Apart from the part where you got hurt, of course.”
“Of course.” I smiled.
“What’s going on, Lena?” Ev leaned against the glass door, eyes curious.
“I do not know what you’re talking about.”