Girl in Love(17)

“Oh my gosh, I so am!”

“Figures,” Mia muttered under her breath.

Kylie shot her a quick shut-the-hell-up look before grinning at Rae. “I’ll have to introduce y’all sometime.”

Before Rae could respond or do a cartwheel, Trace’s older sister appeared at her side. “Rae, I need to speak with you privately. Now.”

“See y’all later,” Rae called out as she was practically dragged away. Kylie tried to catch Claire Ann’s eye so she could offer the woman a friendly smile but the two women were gone in a blink.

“When and if you introduce her to Lily, please warn me so I can flee the tri-state area.” Mia grabbed a glass of wine from the waiter’s tray next to them and nodded at someone approaching. Kylie glanced in the same direction and saw Trace’s manager.

“Hi, Pauly,” she greeted him. He looked as nervous as a cat at a fireworks display.

“Hey there, kiddo. How about you and me head over to the stage and get you set up? You’re going to perform first and then you’re free to go. I’m sure you have better places to be.”

“In other words, you’re herding me the hell out of here as soon as possible. I’m sure he’s thrilled about me being here.” She snorted even though the truth hurt like hell. She wasn’t wanted here. She could feel it. Had seen it in Trace’s eyes in the house. Her heart grew heavier in her chest, causing a dull ache as Pauly took her elbow. What stung even worse was realizing a part of her—a tiny, stupid, naïve part—had hoped maybe he’d be happy to see her. Or at the very least, not horrified by the sight of her.

“It’s not…” The man next to her let out a loud breath as they reached the truck. “It’s a complicated situation, which I think you’re aware of. I mean, you can imagine what all he’s dealing with.”

Yeah, she could imagine all right. Someone at the label must have pushed her being here. Trace’s girlfriend was probably going to be super pissed and might make a scene, and Trace looked like he’d seen a ghost when she ran into him. But there was something more important to her than whether or not anyone wanted her around. She shoved her broken heart aside and gathered all the courage she had.

“Is he happy, Pauly? I mean, did rehab work and is everything okay with him and Gr—”

As if she’d been conjured by the mere thought of her name, Gretchen Gibson appeared before she could finish. Which was for the best since the lump rising in her throat was choking the shit out of her.

The statuesque, raven-haired woman narrowed her eyes as she gave Kylie a hard once-over.

“What’s she doing here?” Gretchen’s flashing gray eyes flicked over to Pauly.

“None of your concern, Gretchen. Let’s keep in mind this is a charity event. And that Trace needs for things to go smoothly.” The manager swiftly guided Kylie behind the lights and around to the metal stool that she’d use to climb into the back of the truck they were using as a stage. But not before she heard Gretchen’s bitter words.

“Oh, I know all about what Trace needs. What he doesn’t need is her here causing him to—”

“Enough,” Pauly commanded, using a tone Kylie hadn’t ever heard from him. “You’re up next, Gretch. The only words I want to hear out of your mouth are the ones you sing when you’re up on this truck. Otherwise, you’re free to go. We clear?”

Damn. Who pissed in his Cheerios? Not that she wasn’t grateful for his intervention. But Pauly Garrett seriously needed to get laid.

“Sure, PG. We’re clear.” Gretchen glared at Kylie once more before stalking off in the other direction.

As much as Kylie hated to admit it, Gretchen looked good. Pretty, even. Not at all rough and ragged like she had the last time Kylie had seen her. Sobriety agreed with her apparently. More salt in the wound.

“You good?” Pauly asked her as a young female assistant clipped Kylie’s earpiece in and handed her a microphone.

She couldn’t help but notice that her knees were shaking as she stepped up on the stool. She swallowed hard and forced her head to nod. “Pauly, the song I chose…It’s…It might…”

The manager shook his head and regarded her with warm, kind eyes. “It’ll be fine, kiddo. He knows it will be about him. They’re all about him, right?”

She nodded and tried to swallow the lump rising in her throat. Dammit. She’d put all this away. Behind her. And now it was crashing into her head on at full speed. “I didn’t even realize until—”

“Ms. Ryans? We’re ready.” The assistant practically shoved her forward. The crowd wasn’t nearly as big as she was used to and yet it was the most intimidating one she’d ever faced. She was thankful for the blaring spotlights practically blinding her. Because she knew he was out there. And she was about to sing out all the pain he’d caused her right in front of him.