Finding Emotion (The Last Shot Tavern Series)

Chapter 20

Skylar tapped her fingers against her leg. “Are you serious about this right now?”

“It caught me off guard as well,” Mandy said.

Skylar studied her, taking in her pinched lips. Her manager wasn’t simply surprised. She was visibly annoyed. It normally took Skylar a lot to get her to look that way.

She turned to glare out the window again. “I figured the videos took care of it.” Her hands reached up to fiddle with the necklace Mandy had made for her. The crystal absorbed the cold, and she shivered.

Mandy’s reflection nodded in the glass. “I passed them to the social media team, and the one they released is being well received. It’s gone viral already.”

“How much did they edit out?” Skylar asked, her lips twisting.

“None from what I saw.” Mandy turned her phone, but Skylar only glanced at it. “Damon Lynch’s fans are going ballistic.”

Skylar snorted. “I bet they’re even hotter for Mr. Sweetface after my glowing review.”

“It’s not about that.” Mandy pulled the phone closer to herself. “Skylar, you didn’t realize, did you?”

Skylar’s fingers danced faster. “Realize what?”

Mandy put the phone right in her face. She’d paused the video on an expression Skylar had never seen herself make.

“What the fuck is that?” she asked, her eyes widening. Her smile looked… real. Soft, somehow. “Oh, hell.”

“You showed a pretty cute expression every time you said his name.” Mandy smiled at her. “Paired with the irritation, it had quite an effect on the fans. They’re convinced you two are in love now, despite the video being about his, um, performance.”

“For fuck’s sake!” Skylar’s eyes squeezed shut as the pounding in her head increased. “Why didn’t you tell me that before we sent them?”

“Because I was convinced it would work. And it has.” When Skylar opened her eyes, she found that her manager’s expression had turned stern. “This was a brilliant move, Skylar, especially after the sweet message Mr. Lynch spread the other day.” She put her phone away and took a breath. “I’m assigned to you to know what’s best. That’s why I’m going to ask you to allow me to handle this meeting.”

“Not a chance,” Skylar snapped. The throbbing of her heartbeat spread. She could feel it in her legs and even her fingers. “I’m not fucking running from him!”

Mandy’s mouth pressed into a grim line. “Self-preservation isn’t running.”

“Stop talking out of your ass.” Skylar turned to glare out the window again. “You don’t know anything.”

“Because I’ve respected your decision not to tell me. But I’m not an idiot, Skylar. I can read between the lines.”

“Oh, yeah? Then what do you think this is about?” Skylar held her breath as she waited for the words. Part of her wanted to hear them out loud, and the rest of her wanted to hurl.

The silence behind her stretched, and her lungs began to ache.

“Never mind,” Mandy murmured, reaching for the door handle.

Skylar’s next breath hitched when the blow never came. “I need a minute.” The words came out in a whisper.

“Of course,” Mandy said, sliding out of the limo and closing it behind her.

Skylar’s eyes squeezed shut as she focused on her breathing. It was the worst move. Her arms tensed as the ghostly memory of fingers pressing on her shoulders caused them to ache. The beeping of her phone added a new tremor to her hands as she fished it out. He was probably taunting her again.

Instead, Damon’s name flashed. ‘Thinking of you.’

“So corny,” Skylar muttered, but warmth returned to her fingers. Her breathing evened out as she pictured him blushing wherever he was as she tapped out her return message, adding an eggplant emoji onto the end.

Her hand didn’t shake at all when she reached for the door. It was just dinner. That was all. She just had to have it with two assholes.

The Diamond Oyster wasn’t the type of restaurant Skylar would have chosen. “I hate seafood,” she muttered as she passed Mandy.

Her manager fell into step beside her. “I verified that they have alternative selections.”

Skylar wondered when she’d had time to, since they’d only been contacted an hour ago. She hadn’t wanted to do the videos in the suite in front of Damon and had decided the tinted windows in the limo were perfect for the composition. At least Damon had been gone from the suite when she’d run up to change into business attire, which included her normal boots but paired with leather pants and a jacket. She liked that the jacket clinked with each step as much as her boots.

The assholes weren’t waiting in the lobby for them. No, the restaurant had private dining areas for those that could pay, and Jack’s father could always pay. Neither man stood when Skylar and her manager were led into the private space. Behind them was an aquarium, but it didn’t hold the typical type of fish. The staring octopus almost distracted Skylar from her returning nerves.

Jack looked away from her as she crossed the room. His face and upper arms had a pudginess that he’d never had before, which surprised her. He’d been on her case about her weight all the time when they performed together.

His father, George Casemore, owner of Casemore Records, was as built as she remembered. He looked like he belonged behind a bulldozer, not in a suit. With close-cut salt-and-pepper hair; hard, emerald eyes; and a square jaw, she’d been intimidated by him ever since she met the man. So had Sorcha. That was why Sorcha hadn’t turned down his son joining the band. That and the additional backing it had scored them.

Casemore’s smile appeared pleasant enough as he steepled his fingers. “Good evening, Skylar.”

“Is it, though?” Skylar asked, sitting in the chair the restaurant’s employee held out for her and hoping like hell she didn’t fall on her ass. He tucked her in at the table like the professional he was.

Casemore’s lips had thinned. He turned to the server that had appeared at their entrance, ordering a bottle of wine.

“Skylar doesn’t drink,” Jack reminded his father. He still hadn’t looked at her.

“Ah, that’s correct.” Those hard eyes of his focused on her. “How could I forget such an expensive rehab program? What will you have instead, my dear?”

“Sparkling water is fine.” Skylar’s eyes found the server. “The extra fizzy kind.”

“Water is my preference as well,” Mandy said as she also sat.

“Ms. Stetson. I mentioned you could excuse yourself from this meeting.” Casemore frowned at Skylar’s manager.

Mandy shook her head. “I wouldn’t dream of it since you indicated this was a continued discussion of Skylar’s upcoming tour schedule.” Her eyes flicked to Skylar before returning to the record label owner again.

Skylar frowned. “I already said no.”

“And I’m here to tell you to reconsider.”

“Tell me, Georgie?” Skylar’s throat grew tighter. “After the shit Sorcha just pulled, you’re lucky if I don’t sue you for breach of contract.”

Jack paled. “Sorcha never specifically—”

Casemore’s hand slammed down on the table, making his son and Mandy jump. Skylar had gotten used to his antics during the time she’d been with Jack, at least enough to never give his father satisfaction over her reactions again.

The server had paused in the doorway, her sparkling water in hand. Skylar waved him over, happy for the prop. He disappeared afterward, not staying to take their orders.

“My son has addressed his wife,” Casemore assured her.

Skylar had known they’d gotten married. The speed of it hadn’t surprised her. Sorcha had always gone after what she wanted.

“Like that makes me feel better,” Skylar muttered, sipping from her glass. The bubbles tingled down her dry throat.

“This is not about your feelings.” Casemore’s gaze flicked toward her manager, and his lips tightened. “This is business.”

“I’m making your label plenty of money.” Skylar didn’t look at Jack. “More than Winter Dust Storm is bringing in.”

“But neither combined makes as much as I made before.” Casemore tilted his head as he studied her. “Skylar, your music has not exactly hit the top ten. The sound you’ve adopted is well received, but quite… niche.”

Skylar’s hand tightened on her glass. “You can’t be asking what I think you’re asking.” Her eyes flicked to Jack. “Not after your son—”

Casemore slammed his hand down again. “That’s all in the past.”

“Agreed. And it’s going to stay there.” The bubbles hit her stomach with a lurch. “My contract says as much.”

“Does it?” Casemore asked.

Mandy cleared her throat. “Specifically, it says that Ms. Skylar must approve any interactions or collaborations with the members of Winter Dust Storm.” She stared at Casemore over her glasses. “Which, from multiple communications, has not been the case. So you, sir, are indeed on the verge of breaching contract.”

“Be very careful, Ms. Stetson,” Casemore said, his eyebrow arching. “Or do you forget who pays for your services?”

“Those services are what I’m upholding,” Mandy said calmly enough.

“You don’t know your client very well then.” Casemore leaned back in his chair as his gaze swung back to Skylar. “The thing most important to Skylar has always been her career. She will choose that over anything.” His lips curled.

Skylar still hated herself for it. “Exactly.” She gulped at the water again, suddenly craving something stronger. The thought made the bubbles grow as they slid down her throat. She hadn’t had a craving in forever. “I’m saying no because this whole thing wouldn’t do shit for my career.” She set the glass down with a loud clip. “A career that may just take off right now from all this extra buzz. That’s what your sudden trip is all about, isn’t it?” She laughed, but the sound was too high. “Where we stand now, you’ll profit from it. So I’d be very careful how you push me.” Her eyes focused on Jack. “Even if it’s your wife doing the pushing.”

The chair tipped as she shoved back from the table, and it clattered to the floor. She stared down at it, her focus drawn to the crack that now marred the wood. Her eyes grew hot. “I’m done here.” She stalked out of the private room, but couldn’t remember which way to turn toward the exit. The pounding in her head was spreading again.

“Skylar, wait.” Jack grabbed onto her arm.

“Don’t you fucking touch me!” The words weren’t the scream she heard in her head. Instead, they strangled in her throat. She shoved him into the wall.

His face flushed, and his eyes flashed. “Hypocritical slut.”

Skylar’s sight narrowed as spots appeared along her vision.

“You never enjoyed my touch, did you?” He grabbed her shoulders, dragging her closer even as her breathing pitched. “You never shuddered for me the way you did each time another guy shoved it in you.”

Her breathing was too out of control to speak.

“You came so many times that—”

Fuck words. Skylar kneed him, trying like hell to make his balls reach his throat so he would choke on them.

He released her as he collapsed, clutching himself.

Skylar sucked in her breath as she stared at him, trying to blink away those damn dots.

A hand landed on her shoulder, and she jerked free, skittering a few steps away before she recognized Mandy.

“We should go,” Mandy said, her eyes darting down the empty hall.

Jack’s father stood in the doorway of the private room, staring down at his son.

Skylar took another breath. “Oh yeah.” She hated the croak it came out in and cleared her throat. “Us working together again is a great idea. Fuck off!” She wanted to bring her big ass boot down on Jack, right in the nuts. “The both of you.”

Mandy followed as she stalked out of the restaurant.