Chapter 6
“Ican’t believe I let you talk me into this. I’m not one of your groupies.” I slump into the chair next to Alden.
“Stop your bitchin’.” Alden steps around me. “It’s been forever since you’ve come to hear me.”
“Don’t talk to me like that.” I kick the back of his chair. “Besides, I had a spectacular night planned.”
“Yeah, I know. I saw the vats of ice cream.” He rolls his eyes. Fucker.
“Whatever, I’m in mourning,” I huff, crossing my arms in defiance.
“Your sex life,” he quips. I tip his chair with my foot, narrowing my eyes at him. So what if he’s right. He doesn’t get to be smug.
“Smartass.” Or that.
“Easy, kitten. Daddy loves you.” He winks through the mirror as he primps.
“Are you pretty yet?”
“Again, stop your bitchin’. Damn, woman.” His brows hang low over his eyes. “You need to get laid.”
“Well, find me an eligible bachelor.” I glare at him.
He smirks, winking at me just before blowing me a kiss. “I gotcha, baby.”
“Eww, no fucking way.” I shudder. “Gross!”
“Fuck you.” He sticks his tongue out at me.
“No, thank you. We both know where that tongue’s been.” I wrinkle my nose.
He stares at me until we both burst out laughing. “Could you imagine?” he asks.
“No, we’d kill each other.” I stand, walking over to straighten his collar.
He takes my hand, catching my attention. I gaze at him through the mirror before he turns to me. “One day, sweetie, the most amazing man will take you away. And I’ll be here to kick his ass if he hurts you.”
I place a soft kiss on his forehead. “Thank you.”
“What are best friends for?” He crosses his eyes.
“Oh, I thought it was raiding my fridge. Go figure, I’ve been using you all wrong.” I slap the back of his head.
He laughs. “What-the-fuck-ever, you love me.” He stands, grabbing his guitar. “Let’s go see if everyone’s ready.”
He takes me by the hand, leading me to the other side of the hall. The place is packed. We can barely squeeze through the crowd. Women call his name and guys snarl as he passes. One day, Alden is going to be a country music superstar. But right now, he’s just my best friend.
He gives the band a heads-up before pointing me in the direction of my waiting seat. Something catches my eye as I snap my head around. Standing in the corner, Mr. Tall, Blond, and Sexy. Walker Pennington. A tight white t-shirt calls like a beacon.
So does the gorgeous, hot-as-fuck woman standing to his right.
“I knew it,” I seethe.
“Knew what?” Alden asks.
“I figured Mr. Pennington liked them tall and perfect.” I glower in their direction.
“Damn, death glare.” He elbows me. “Don’t be envious.”
“I’m not. He’s an asshole. I feel sorry for her having to deal with him,” I say, heat racing to my face.
“Then you need to wipe that jealous look off your face.” He steps in front of me.
“I’m not jealous.” I wrap my arms around myself, feeling self-conscious about my choice of dress.
“Good!” He takes my chin, lifting it until our eyes meet. “If he can’t see you for who you are and what you have to offer, he’s not worth your time.”
“True.” I twist my mouth to the side. “Does it count if I haven’t told him?”
“You’re kidding me?” He glares at me. “Get your ass over there and flirt.” He jerks his thumb over his shoulder as I peek at Walker. Who is now giving me a death glare. What the fuck?
“He’s staring at us,” I say, my mouth going dry.
“Should I kiss you?” Alden’s eyes grow wide as he puckers his lips.
“Eww, no!” I slap at him, laughing. My eyes dart to Walker, who hasn’t taken his eyes off us. “Apparently, this is enough.”
“Well, then.” He leans in, sweeping my hair behind my ear. “Let’s see what this does.”
When he pulls back, I glance at my target. “He’s gone.”
“Next time.” Alden slaps my ass. “You better hit the restroom and find your seat.”
“Dammit, stop that shit.” I slap him back before spinning toward the line for the restroom.
There I am, mid-squat, when I catch a flash of silver from the crack of the door. Fuck. It’s her. It’s Walker’s girlfriend. Should I speak? Do I play it cool and see what she’s like? Probably as fake as he is. Yeah, she’s probably… shit!
No toilet paper.
I have to do it. I’m gonna ask Walker’s arm candy for toilet paper. Maybe, I’ll just drip dry. No, I’m asking.
“Excuse me, can you pass some paper?” I stick my hand beneath the wall.
“Sure thing.” Suddenly, my hand is full. “Good?”
“Yes, thank you.” Dammit. She sounds nice. I hurry up, hoping to make it out before she does. Whipping the door open, I rush to the sink. Turning the water on, it splashes me. Ugh.
“I hate that shit,” the gorgeous woman in the shimmery silver dress says, handing me some paper towels.
“You just keep saving me, don’t you?” I give her a tight smile as I watch her through the mirror.
“Huh?” She furrows her brow.
I motion toward the stalls. “Toilet paper.”
“Oh, well, we do what we have to, girl.” She smiles and to my dismay, she’s even more beautiful. “I love that dress. It’s one of my favorites,” she says, eyes roaming me from head to toe.
“Your favorites?” I cock my brow. She must be making fun of me for the dress I’m wearing. The black and silver Ombre sequin dress hits me mid-thigh and has quarter length sleeves.
She smiles as she adjusts her dress, a Bodycon, V-neck silver sequins with cap sleeves. She’s killing it. “Yeah, I have one.”
“Oh, I’m sure it looks much better on you.” I bite my lip, feeling extremely self-conscious.
“Not at all. Your red hair sets it off.” She smiles wide. “Kick ass, babe.” She steps around me and pauses. “By the way, I’m Ava.”
“Reese.” I offer my hand. Shit, she’s nice. “You here with your boyfriend?”
“Fiancé.” Her face glows as her smile spreads. “Although, I may rethink marrying him after today.” She winks.
I chuckle. “Uh-oh.”
“He’s great, honestly.” She rolls her eyes. “Just being a man.”
I raise my brows. “I get it.” We walk toward the door.
“Come over and join me,” she offers to my amazement.
“I’m here to support my friend. He’s performing.”
“All right, the offer stands.”
Geez, here I go. “I have a booth if you want to join me.” Glutton.
“You don’t mind?” Eyes wide, she offers a crooked smile.
“Not at all.”
“I’ll tell them and grab a few drinks. What do you want?” Ava asks.
“Bahama Mama.” I return her smile.
I sit, chewing my lip for my ridiculous notion that being this close to Walker won’t affect me. It’s absurd to be jealous. I have no relationship with him. Well, except for the admiring him from afar. I need to get over my infatuation with him and get down to business.
“Excuse me.” The deep, rough voice startles me as he places a glass in front of me.
I look up to find Walker standing to the side of the booth. “Walker, please.” I motion toward the other side for him to sit when I realize someone’s standing behind him.
Ava steps around. Sitting down, she scoots around the bench, followed by a man. He’s taller than Walker but looks so much like him, I do a double take. “Reese, my fiancé Riley.” She points at him, then to Walker. “And this guy is my soon-to-be brother-in-law, Walker.”
My mouth hangs open as Walker slides in next to me. “Sorry, I thought you knew.”
“How? I mean, how would I know?” I stutter.
“Wait a second. Do you know each other?” Ava’s eyes are wide.
“This is the attorney from The Historical Society.” Walker grimaces.
Riley slowly nods, his smile growing wider. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Walker hasn’t taken his eyes off me. I swallow hard, trying to coat my ever-drying mouth. I chew the inside of my lip, trying to think of something clever to say. But when I open my mouth, this is all that falls out: “He’s suing me.”
Walker tilts his head. “I’m suing you?”
I fumble over my words. “I mean, I’m the opposition.”
“And we work together at the crisis center,” he says, spinning his glass on the table.
I straighten my hair. “Yeah, we work together.”
“Something like that.” He frowns.
“When does your boyfriend go on?” Riley asks, to my surprise. Walker takes a long drink from his glass as he glares at his brother.
I glance at my phone to find the time. “Should be right about now.”
“I hear he’s on the brink of a contract,” Ava inserts.
“He is.” I smile at Alden from across the room. “He’s amazing.”
And as if on cue, Alden dedicates a song to me. “This is for my favorite girl, Reesie Cup. I love you.”
“Come on. I wanna watch you shake your fine ass.” Riley slips his hand around Ava’s.
“If you think that’s gonna get you a piece of ass after today, you might be right.” She kisses him before leading him to the dance floor.
“Ha! I like her.”
“Me too.” I whip my head around, my mouth hanging open.
“Huh?”
“No.” He waves his hands, laughing. “We’ve known Ava all our lives. She’s like my sister.”
“That’s… actually… nice.” My mouth falls slack.
“I can be nice. I’m not always an asshole.” He smirks. “Besides, a love like theirs only comes around once in a lifetime,” he says, watching his brother and Ava on the dance floor.
“Yeah, few and far between,” I can’t help but agree.
He turns back to me, making my heart skip a beat when his blue eyes gaze into mine. Snap outta it, girl.
“You don’t feel that way about the big guy?” He jerks his head toward Alden.
“Not exactly, but things could change.” I shrug, knowing I’m a complete bull-shitter but there’s no way Walker’s gonna know I don’t have a boyfriend.
“How long have you been together?” What?
I swallow hard against the lies I’m about to spill. “We grew up together too.” That’s the truth, the only one I’ll utter tonight.
“And it grew into love.” I lick my lips nervously as Walker’s gaze flickers to my mouth. His lips part when I sink my teeth into my bottom lip.
“No, I’ve always loved him.” All right, that’s true also but not the way he thinks.
He blinks rapidly before his eyes flash to mine. “You’re in love with him.” Not said as a question. “If you’ll excuse me.”
Walker stands abruptly, striding away from me without a second thought. “What just happened?” I wonder aloud as I look around the room, astonished to be faced with Alden staring at me, mad as hell. He saw Walker’s dismissal of me. I shake my head in total disbelief.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” I jump as Ava’s voice surprises me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Oh. I’m fine.” I shake my head in dismay.
“Where did Walker go?” She scans the room.
“He left.” I shrug.
“What the hell? Well, it was good to meet you.” She smiles at me, but I still haven’t shaken Walker’s hasty exit.
“Yes, it was great to meet y’all.”
She grabs my phone. “Here’s my number. Text me sometime, and we’ll grab drinks.”
“You’ve got a deal.” I offer a weak smile.
As Ava walks away, I spot Riley near the door with Walker. Walker’s shaking his head as if he’s arguing with Riley. I narrow my eyes, trying to read their lips. It’s much too dark in here to see them clearly.
“What’d you do?” Alden.
“Ugh, I made him think we were a couple.” I throw my head back against the seat, covering my face with my arm.
“Why?”
I peek out and sit up, baffled by his question. “Huh? To make him jealous. Besides, you’re the one dedicating songs to people,” I growl.
“There’s a difference in me making him jealous and you messing it up. What did you say?” He stands with his hands on his hips.
“He asked if I loved you. I told him yes.” I blink innocently.
He roughly rubs his hand over his face before glaring at me. “Not all men want someone else’s woman. Just like not all women are gold diggers.”
“I know that, dammit,” I huff, crossing my arms defensively. “I was hoping he’d be jealous.”
“Some people don’t do jealousy,” he grumbles.
I jump from my seat, getting in his face. “Hey! You’re the one who started this. Don’t blame me because I’m no good at it.”
“And don’t blame me because you won’t be honest with him. Get over the ‘I’m fat and ugly’ horseshit. Nobody’s buying it.” His jaw ticks as his face grows red.
“They don’t have to buy it. It’s free for the taking.”
“Reese, one day a man is gonna knock you on your ass, and your walls are gonna fall.” He shakes his head with disdain.
“Men don’t see me the way you do.” I slump back into my seat.
“Walker does. Open your eyes.” He turns toward the stage.
“How do you know?” I call after him, making him twist around.
“I see how he looks at you. Open your eyes.” His eyes widen as he grins. I stick my tongue out at him. “Yeah, do that. I guarantee he’d respond to that.” He winks.
“It’s easy for you, Alden.” He walks closer to me. “You’re hot, talented, and have no baggage.”
“The baggage is the issue. You know you’re talented and if you can’t see how beautiful you are, I’m not sure how to fix it. Own who you are. That’s the hottest shit a girl can do.” He kisses my cheek. “You waiting for me or do I need to call a cab?”
“I’ll wait. Unless you’re taking home a groupie?”
“Just you, babe.” I watch as he saunters to the stage, women pawing all over him. He has no idea what it feels like to hate your own body.