Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT_
JAMIE
Usually when I’m in crisis mode, it’s because Harley is having a diva meltdown and is demanding M she’s merely using them as an excuse to hold herself back from something she wants.
“No, he really doesn’t. Brix can give him his backstage snacks for once.”
“You do so much more for him than that.”
“I do, but not while the concert is going. Besides, he’s already told me I can have the night off to do it.”
“What? When?”
“When I texted him while you’ve been talking to me.”
Maggie cocks her head. “You haven’t even looked at your phone.”
“Don’t need to.”
How she has missed my thumbs flying across my screen while we’ve been talking, I’ll never know, but I’ll chalk it up to her freak-out over seducing Domino.
Maggie bites her lip.
Angel is in the corner of the room, laying out different combinations of her clothes for Maggie to pick from. I grabbed a few different options for her and tried to pick the most flowy and flattering, but the majority of Angel’s clothes are made out of tight material.
I’m not complaining about that. At all. But for Mags, she needs to feel confident because the disheveled mom before me is anything but that right now.
I can’t imagine being in her position. She’s been single since before Kaylee was born. I’ve been single for, like, a minute, and I already have an interest in someone else. Having no one for years? It would be so daunting getting back out there.
“Angel and I have got this. I promise.”
“Do either of you have experience looking after children?”
“I’m Dominican,” Angel cuts in. “I have many cousins I’ve looked after. Cousins who have their own babies. Kaylee has her iPad, and Riff at this age is basically a lump. He’s not crawling yet, is he?”
“No. He’s trying but not getting anywhere.”
Angel nods. “So, a lump and a zombie preteen with technology. It will be a breeze, and you won’t have to worry about a thing.”
“And if someone does break in here to kidnap them for ransom, Angel can take them out.” I’m joking, though it’s one of those jokes that’s actually true.
It goes over Maggie’s head, and her eyes widen.
I gently grasp her forearm. “I’m joking. No one is coming for your children. Could you imagine if Ryder Kennedy’s kids went missing? The Eleven fandom would be able to find whoever took them faster than the FBI.”
For the first time since I arrived, Maggie’s shoulders relax, and she lets out a chuckle.
“You’re right. I have nothing to worry about. Other than Domino laughing in my face and rejecting me.”
Angel scoffs. “Never going to happen.”
“Agreed.” I nod. “From what I hear, he’s been inappropriately checking you out ever since he was assigned to you. He’s about a second away from falling in love with you.”
And the tension is back, but it’s not only in her shoulders this time.
“Or fucking your brains out, I mean. Not love. No love.” My gaze ping-pongs around the room awkwardly. Kaylee’s headphones are on nice and tight, evidently, so at least she wouldn’t have heard any of our conversation about her mother getting laid, but still. Oops.
Angel’s deep brown eyes meet mine. “You might want to quit while you’re ahead.
” She picks up an outfit and brings it over to Maggie.
“Here. Try these on. And just remember that you’re going out to have fun tonight and nothing else.
There’s no pressure. You’ll force Domino to dance, claiming he needs to stay close because he’s your bodyguard.
You’ll flirt. You’ll forget you have kids for an hour or two.
Maybe there’ll be a connection, and maybe there won’t be, but the important thing is you go out and get to be yourself for a night without all the other bullshit. ”
Maggie takes a deep breath and then releases it. “You’re right. Fuck it. I’m going for it.”
As Maggie walks off to the bathroom to change, Angel steps closer to me. “How are you any good at your job? I thought ninety percent of it was calming Harley down.”
“It is, but it’s easy with him. I go to the most over-the-top possible outcome, exaggerate it, and then he realizes how ridiculous he sounds. How was I to know you shouldn’t joke about kidnapping kids in front of their mother?”
Angel shakes her head. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
I can’t help smiling, even though she’s trying to insult me.
I’ve been so busy today, I haven’t really had a chance to overthink last night, but standing here with her, all I can picture is everything we got up to. Her sexy body, her powerful thighs as she straddled me.
My cheeks heat at the thought. Butterflies fill my stomach.
We stare at each other, no words passing our lips. My gaze flickers to her lips, and I beg for her to say the first words about last night, but maybe she’s waiting for me.
Other than I enjoyed it and want it to happen again, I don’t really have anything else to say.
It doesn’t occur to me that maybe she might need reassurance until she says, “A-are we cool?”
“I am if you are,” I say.
“You’re not freaking out?”
“Nope. Are you?”
She glances away. “I don’t have a reason to.”
I never imagined she would be the one to be insecure in our situation, but it’s obvious she is, and even though I have no idea how to deal with that, I’m hoping humor will help. “Not even if I say I want you to quit your job and bear my babies while I focus on my career?”
Now it’s her turn to go rigid and squirrelly. I am totally missing the mark on my sarcasm today.
“That was a joke,” I say slowly.
She’s still stiff, her body standoffish. Her eyes narrow as if she’s questioning if I’m telling the truth or trying to backtrack.
Maybe Angel is right; I should quit while I’m ahead.
I put my hand on top of her shoulders. “Angel, breathe. Remember when we met in that bar and you’d had that terrible date who said her career was too important? I thought it would lighten the mood. I promise it was a joke.”
She nods, but I get the impression she still doesn’t believe me.
“If it reassures you any, I recently decided that I don’t want kids.”
Finally, she relaxes just enough not to be confused with a mannequin. “You don’t?”
“It wasn’t until I broke up with Raffy that I gave it proper thought.
I always assumed that I would have children because it’s what everyone does.
Like it’s a human’s default setting. But with my job and with my ambition to become a tour coordinator or even a talent manager, I’d never be home.
Why would I put a child through that? And raising them in Hollywood?
No, thanks. It’s as toxic as it is addictive.
And the more I thought about it, the more I realized Harley is basically a child, so I already have a big baby to care for, but as a bonus, he’s toilet trained. ”
Angel takes me by surprise and wraps her arm around me, pulling me against her body hard and fast. I let out a small “Eeep” as she holds me close, which only makes her gorgeous face break out into a wide smile.
“Eep?” she repeats.
“You took me off guard. I wasn’t sure if … well, you know … after last night if—”
“If I’d want to do this again?” Angel lowers her lips to my cheek, laying the softest kiss to my skin.
It’s like an electric shock down my spine. My core warms, and I nod.
“I want more of last night,” she whispers.
I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that until she says it. Because it’s exactly what I want. I rest my cheek against hers. “Me too.”