October 1993 #2
When Zane returned, he was in jeans and a T-shirt.
“There, now I can greet you properly.” He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a kiss that made her glad she’d come.
Relief washed over her and filled her up, as she clutched the fabric of his shirt with balled-up fists.
A sob welled up from deep in her chest and forced its way out without her permission.
“You okay?” Zane asked, letting go of her hips and putting his hands on her face.
She nodded, blinking back tears and feeling stupid. Here she was supposed to be irresistible, strong, and confident. Not sobbing like a child who got lost at the market. “I’m not sure why I made that sound. Let’s try that again,” she said, leaning in and giving him a long kiss on the lips.
They made out for a few minutes, and when they stopped, Zane whispered, “I didn’t realize how much I missed you.”
“You didn’t?” she asked.
He shook his head and wrapped his arms around her lower back. “I don’t let myself feel it when I’m away. If I did, I’d never be able to go.”
“I miss you the entire time you’re gone.
It’s like I’m not fully alive.” Well, sort of.
There were also nice things about him being gone, like the toilet seats were always down and there were no crumbs in the butter and there was no adult to say yes to the kids when she’d already said no.
But she did miss him in all the ways that count.
“How long can you stay?”
“Two nights.”
He grinned at her, and it was the grin she’d been needing to see since she booked the flight. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Me either. It was… an impulse thing. I just… needed to be with you.” She slid her hands down his chest to the bottom of his shirt, then tugged it over his head in one quick movement.
“Mrs. McCreight, are you trying to get me into bed?” he asked with a chuckle.
“Of course not. Why on earth would you say such a thing?” she answered while unbuttoning his jeans.
“I have no idea.”
Sienna reached up and flicked the straps of her dress off her shoulders, letting the silk fabric slide down her body while his eyes devoured her. She stepped out of it and started for the bedroom in her heels and lacy bra and panties.
Zane followed close behind her, his voice filled with excitement. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
CLAUDIA
The blood drained from Claudia’s face when she saw Sienna in the hotel lobby. It was almost time to leave for the venue—some fancy old villa on a large parcel of land where they’d perform under the stars. She was returning from a stroll around the park, having left to give Mike some alone time.
Things had been rocky since Brazil. Mike said he was over it, but she could tell it was a lie. He watched her closely now whenever they were with the band, and more than once, she caught him glaring at Zane.
It was all so complicated and awful. If she could go back in time, she would’ve said no to Mike’s first pass at her.
It happened about a month after her audition.
They’d been at a meeting at the record label, and Mike had paid special attention to her, quietly explaining everything that was happening.
Much of what he told her was obvious, but she appreciated the effort when he could’ve easily ignored her.
They’d all gone out for a lavish four-course dinner with the management team, hosted by Larry White.
Mike sat next to her, making comments under his breath that kept her laughing through what would have otherwise been an awkward, dull evening.
When it was over, he offered to share a town car home with her.
The ride was close to an hour, during which they really talked for the first time.
He asked about her family (only child, two parents that were still living in her childhood home), and he told her about his (one younger brother who’d died in a single vehicle car accident along with his alcoholic mother, and a father who didn’t give a shit).
He told her Kitty had once suggested he go see a therapist, but he didn’t see the point in dragging up all that old pain when he could outrun it instead.
He’d never had a long-term girlfriend, never told a woman he loved her, and never, ever wanted to get married or have a family.
Mike said she was gorgeous (which was something no one had told her before and felt amazing).
He said if she wasn’t a permanent part of the band, he’d definitely be trying to get into her pants.
His honesty was as refreshing as his flattering words and the look in his hazel eyes when he stared at her.
It made her want him. He wasn’t Zane, but Zane was a fantasy, and Mike was real.
He was exciting and powerful and thoughtful and sweet in a way that had completely taken her by surprise.
And he wanted her, which was something that hadn’t happened to Claudia in a very long time.
She leaned her face to his, and said, “What a shame because I’d have said yes. ”
And just then, they pulled up in front of her apartment, and neither of them did anything about their feelings until the New Year’s Eve party a few weeks later.
The first few months were thrilling and terrifying.
She knew if she couldn’t make it work, her days with The Vows were over.
She’d be back to breathing in dry cleaning chemicals for the rest of her life.
So she had spent the last two years in a state of hyper-vigilance, always aware of Mike’s every mood, expression, and tone.
Going through cycles of placating him, then keeping him at a distance to keep him interested.
She did her best to be comforting and loving while also trying to be as mysterious as a girl like her could be.
She devoured articles in Cosmo about ‘how to please your man’ and bought expensive lingerie ranging from lacy and beautiful to kinky.
He liked the kinky stuff best. She put up with his bad moods, gave him space, and mothered him when he had a cold, starting right at the first sniffle.
Claudia didn’t hover, didn’t horn in on ‘guys nights’ and never, ever tried to control him.
She was the perfect girlfriend who didn’t even allow herself to hope to become the perfect wife.
What they had was enough for her, because it meant she was living her dream.
Most women never got to do what she was doing.
Most of them had mediocre jobs and even more mediocre men.
Not incredibly talented ones who could buy you anything and take you anywhere.
But over the last few months, things had gotten worse, and she found herself wondering if anything was worth the roller coaster her life had become.
And now, here was Sienna, whose eyes narrowed ever so slightly when she saw Claudia. Dread flooded Claudia’s veins, but then Sienna offered her an open-mouthed smile and held her arms open. “There she is!”
Claudia smiled back, hoping that she didn’t look scared. Zane, who stood next to his wife, shifted uncomfortably as Claudia walked up to them.
Sienna embraced her, smelling impossibly expensive, then stood back and smiled at her the way she would a beloved child. “Oh, Claudia, how are you holding up, my friend?”
“I’m okay. Tired, you know. Touring is… exhausting.”
“I know,” Sienna said. “I went on tour with Zane for years. It’s so hard. And now you’ve been drawn into all this silly drama.” She rolled her eyes. “Honestly, that idiot reporter making shit up like that. And it sounds like poor Mike fell for it, hook, line, and sinker.”
Not wanting to say anything disparaging about him, Claudia offered Sienna a small smile. “It’s been tough on everyone. I honestly don’t know why he would write that.”
Sienna shrugged. “Because the truth is boring. No one wants to read about a band who gets along famously.”
Nodding, Claudia said, “Yeah, that must be it. I hope you weren’t upset by it.”
Sienna laughed. It was too long and too loud and clearly meant she was very upset.
“Oh, God, no. I’ve been in this business long enough to know what’s real and what’s bullshit.
Besides, what Zane and I have is…” She glanced at him, taking his hand.
“Beyond anything from this world. It’s fate.
We’re soulmates. Nothing can get in the way of soulmates.
” She blinked up at her husband, then leaned in and kissed him softly on the mouth, leaving Claudia feeling extremely awkward.
“I’m glad,” Claudia said when Sienna finally looked back at her. “Because as much as I enjoy working with Zane, I certainly don’t want anything more than that.”
“Which is good because that’s all you’ll get,” Sienna answered with a light chuckle. She gave Claudia a once-over, then said, “Love that outfit, by the way.”
Claudia looked down, having momentarily blanked on what she was wearing—a black miniskirt with black tights, a white tank top under an open button-down plaid shirt, and a pageboy cap.
She felt completely frumpy with Sienna, in an ivory silk dress, looking down at her from her perch on top of the world.
“Thanks, I basically have no sense of fashion.”
“In that case, let’s go shopping tomorrow. We’re in the best city in the world for it. Well, other than Paris, of course. I can get you in at the top designers and get you fitted with some statement pieces and some classics.”
Claudia’s skin grew hot. “No, I couldn’t ask you to do that for me.”
“Don’t be silly. It would be my pleasure to help you,” she answered. “Besides, I’m in desperate need of some time with a girlfriend. I’ve been stuck at home with the kids for over four months.”
Claudia glanced at Zane, who smiled at her as if it were the best idea he’d ever heard. “Definitely take her up on it. She’ll have you feeling like a million bucks by the end of the day.”
“Okay, great,” Claudia answered, a sense of hope coming over her.
“Excellent. Let’s leave by ten so we don’t run out of time.”