Chapter 26
Skylar stared up at the stage where some poor creature was mangling one of Damon’s songs. “You’ve gotta be shitting me. Karaoke?”
Erin grabbed her arm. “Come on, it’ll be fun.” Damon’s sister dragged her deeper into the crowded club, with the others following.
It was the third club they’d been to; apparently karaoke was popular as it was also the most crowded. Skylar pulled Damon’s ball cap down farther on her forehead. She’d stolen it and paired it with one of her most casual outfits, though it was still black, in an attempt to draw less attention to herself.
The four other women ordered a round of shots, even Celia, the quiet one. Erin also placed an order for sparkling water for Skylar. She didn’t seem to be an afterthought like she’d expected, and watching them get sillier with each drink that night had been fun. Skylar had been a little nervous remembering her vague craving the day before, but it was clearer now that it’d been more about the company she was with.
“Oh shit, I forgot to show you something! Dame will flip if he finds out I sent it to myself.” Erin squinted down at her phone, tapping at it before squealing and turning the screen to face Skylar.
Damon’s blushing face filled the screen. Skylar’s chest did the whole squeeze thing it’d been doing since the night before.
“I took it yesterday when you sent him that text. You got him good! He was so embarrassed.” Erin giggled a little evilly.
“Let me see,” Katie said, grabbing the phone. She laughed. “What did you text him?”
It felt like a lifetime ago, not just a day. She couldn’t even remember. “Something naughty.”
Erin grabbed her phone back. “My brother’s always been more of a dweeb than a rock star. I’m sure you’ve noticed by now.”
Skylar frowned. “I think he’s perfect.” When the other women stared at her, she realized what she’d said. “Fuck, I mean—” She blew out a breath, tugging on his hat again. “Well, yeah.”
“I knew it!” Erin shouted. “Dame looked way too happy yesterday when I mentioned that video. You two are together now, like for real, aren’t you?”
It was sweet, how happy his sister looked. “We’re trying it out,” Skylar admitted. The reminder earlier about the pending breakup had made her think too much. She didn’t want to break up.
“That’s nice,” Jami said with a smile. “You haven’t dated anyone since Jack.”
“Jack! That was his name.” Erin waved toward the server for another round. “I couldn’t think of it when I was talking to Dame yesterday.”
Skylar’s sip of bubbles roiled in her stomach. “You mentioned Jack to Damon?” It was fine, she told herself. All the information was out there anyway, especially after Sorcha’s interview. She still couldn’t quite believe she’d asked him not to watch that.
Jami grabbed her arm. “Come on! I want to sing with you.” Her sister looked more than a little toasted.
“You don’t like the spotlight,” Skylar reminded her. And there was no way the crowd wouldn’t recognize her if she sang.
“Too late, I already put us in.” Jami tugged.
Skylar couldn’t say no again. She’d missed this side of Jami, the one that read whatever she liked in public and did what she wanted. She still chose goody-two-shoes types of things, but she’d always been a little spontaneous. “Fine. What song did you choose?”
One from when they were teenagers, of course. Skylar laughed as she sang, acting like it was just for her sister. Their relationship still wasn’t what it used to be, but that was on her. She’d become really bad about leaning on anyone. It was difficult to be close to someone if they didn’t know about your life.
The thought made some of her chest squeezing fade a little. She’d avoided telling Damon anything personal as well.
The sounds of the crowd afterward nearly blew the roof off. Skylar tried to protect Jami as they headed toward the back exit the other girls had found and climbed into the limo.
“Fuck, I’m sorry,” she apologized to them. “That was stupid.”
Erin laughed. “You mean it was epic! No one’s mad, chick. It shows how awesome you are.”
“And it was my idea,” Jami said, squeezing Skylar’s hand. She burped, and her other hand flew to her mouth. “Whoops. I had to drink more than a little to do that.”
Skylar took in her sister’s flushed cheeks. “I’d say, you little lush.”
Jami pouted. “Malcolm won’t ever touch me when I’m drunk like this.”
“He’s trying to take care of you,” Celia reassured her.
Erin snorted. “But Jami would prefer if he took care of her in another way. Am I right?” She nudged Jami’s arm.
Skylar’s sister blushed but nodded. “Just as well we’re crashing together, I guess.”
“About that.” Erin bit her lip.
Katie leaned across the seat to grab her friend’s arm. “You said you wanted it to be just us girls tonight. That you were worried you were clinging to Nicholas too much.”
Erin groaned. “You were the one that told me my worrying was stupid, and you know what? You were right! Are you happy?”
Katie released her. “Immensely. Can you say that again?”
Erin flopped back in her seat. “You were right, okay?” It was her turn to pout. “Screw sleeping alone. I’d rather drool on Nicky Boy’s neck.”
“And you probably do.” Katie laughed.
“Oh, she does.” When the women’s eyes moved to Celia, she flushed. “I mean, you did during your initial recovery period.”
“Ooh, Celia, you perv! You watched us together.” Erin grinned at her.
“No!” Celia flushed. “I was supposed to be taking care of you, but Nick came, and I only peeked—” She pursed her lips as she cut herself off. “This is only sounding worse, isn’t it?”
“At least you realized,” Jami said with a pat.
“You weren’t even allowed to have sex then,” Celia said.
“Shit, yeah, don’t remind me. Those were dark times, chick.”
They all laughed, and Skylar enjoyed watching it. Each of them seemed really happy. Even Jami, who’d been through hell not that long ago.
Skylar had kind of felt that way that morning, before she’d loaded on all of her baggage again.
The house where the limo dropped them off was normal-looking, with a white picket fence and everything. The guys, and two sleeping babies, weren’t expecting to see them.
Damon’s sloppy grin made it obvious they’d been drinking too. The absolute beam he was shooting her was pretty adorable as he patted the cushion beside him. “Skylar, sit here.”
She was tempted to sit in his lap instead, but worried that would embarrass him in front of all his friends. She still gave him a hard kiss before settling in, and his drink-flushed cheeks got a tinge redder. “Hey, Mr. Sweetface. Having fun?”
His head leaned on her shoulder. “More now,” he murmured sleepily.
Skylar laughed. She took his empty shot glass out of his hand and leaned toward him to place it next to the tequila bottle on the end table. Her jostling as she moved back had his head sliding down to rest in her lap instead.
Skylar’s hand went to his head, finding his hair soft as she stroked it. Their position reminded her of when he let her sleep against him the other night. “Has he drunk any water?” she asked. When she looked up, she found quite a few of them staring at her. She focused on her sister. “In fact, none of you have drunk much water. It’ll help the hangovers in the morning. I should know.” Her lips twisted as she was reminded of all the times she’d imbibed too much. Not just alcohol either.
“Good idea,” Malcolm said, steering Jami toward the kitchen.
Erin had already found Nick’s shoulder. She looked a lot like her brother in the way she used her husband as a pillow.
Celia held out her hands toward the man with the baby resting on his chest. “You know she can’t stay sleeping there.”
“Let’s go put her down together.” Skylar had heard a lot about Trenton from the women, and found his smile as gentle as they’d claimed. He stood, shifting the baby to rest in one arm while he wrapped the other around Celia.
Skylar’s eyes followed them. “Is he really a lawyer?”
Damon laughed, his breath puffing against her leg. “Doesn’t look like one, does he? He’s into divorce and stuff. I have him look at all my contracts.”
“Contracts?” Skylar’s fingers tingled as she continued to stroke Damon’s hair.
“You got something that needs looked at?” Damon asked.
Skylar’s defensiveness rose, the regular ‘I’ve got it handled’ pressing at her lips. She swallowed it. “Maybe,” she said instead.
“Is that what Mandy wanted to talk to you about?” His hand curled over her leg, distracting her a little.
“Yeah.” Some of Skylar’s frustration returned. “She took that meeting without me that I didn’t want her to and got herself fired by that asshole, but she wants me to leave the label instead of trying to get her job back, and it’s all one big fucking mess.” Skylar lost her breath from the flood of words and not panic, she told herself. She bit her cheek hard. What all had she just said?
Damon jerked upright. “Wait, what? Holy shit, Skylar!”
Jami stood frozen with a glass of water in each hand, with Malcolm behind her. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Skylar hated that expression. “Because I’ll handle it. No need to worry.”
Damon’s hand pushed her hair behind her ear, and the gesture let Skylar take another breath, this one deeper. “Trenton can totally look over your contracts with the label,” he said.
“Contracts?” Trenton asked from behind Jami.
Blake slapped his shoulder. “Stop acting like that word turns you on.”
Trenton blushed. “Don’t be an idiot, Blake.” He cleared his throat. “I’d be happy to review your contracts with you, Skylar. We can set up a time.”
“I’ll pay,” Skylar said. “I’m not looking for a handout here.”
Trenton smiled. “I don’t mind, but we’ll do whatever you’re most comfortable with.”
“Sure. Thanks.” Skylar nodded, still feeling like way too many people were staring at her, which was stupid. She was a performer, damn it.
Jami handed a glass of water to Damon. “We’re going to talk about this, Skylar. You don’t tell me anything, and I don’t like it.” Her lips pressed together, and her eyes filled with tears.
Malcolm put his arm around her. “Maybe when you’re not drunk. Come on, sit.”
Damon gulped most of the water, setting the glass on the end table with the others. His head moved back into her lap, and Skylar shifted her hand back to his hair.
“Thanks,” he murmured.
Skylar’s hand paused. Her heartbeat still hadn’t slowed down. “What are you thanking me for?”
“Trusting me.” His hand curled over her leg. “I’m willing to listen to more too. Whatever you need.” The last words came out even lower as he drifted off.
The ache and heat were back in Skylar’s chest, and she closed her eyes, still not sure it wasn’t a painful thing.