Yeah, she was a recovering Trace Corbin addict. This much she already knew. One day at a time and all that.
“Are you going to charge me for therapy sessions in addition to the stylist gig?”
Lulu regarded her with a straight face. “I’m like a bartender with a makeup brush, my friend.”
Kylie laughed. “I love you, Lu. I do. And I appreciate what you’re trying to tell me. I think deep down I know how I feel about him and that, to some extent, I’ll probably always be kind of mixed up inside where he’s concerned. But the truth is, I’ve also learned my limits. And putting my heart through that kind of hell again…It’s just not something I’m willing to do.”
Lulu sighed. “I promised Mike I wouldn’t say anything because Trace made him promise to stay out of it.” She bit her lip and then took a deep breath. “But Kylie, I think you deserve to know. Trace and Gretchen—”
Before she could finish, Kylie’s phone rang loudly in the cab. She glanced down to the center console where it was glowing. She answered and switched on the speakerphone.
“Hi, Hannah. We got tacos if you want some. What’s up?”
Her manager’s voice sounded strained when she spoke. “Um, hi. I’m good, but thank you.”
“Is everything okay?”
In the moment that the woman hesitated to answer, Kylie’s chest felt like it was seizing up. She had the strangest sensation that Hannah was about to deliver terrible news. Her traitorous heart prayed it wasn’t anything to do with Trace.
“Um, not really. Can you just get here as soon as possible?”
“Hannah, you’re freaking me out. What’s wrong? Did something happen to someone? Is someone sick or hurt? Should I call 911?”
“No, nothing like that. Just come see me when you get here, okay?”
“Okay, be there in a few.” Kylie pressed her foot down on the accelerator as she hung up the phone.
“What do you think the deal is?” Lulu asked while buckling her seatbelt.
“I have no idea. But something’s definitely up. Hannah sounded really stressed out.”
“Chick’s kind of uptight anyways. It’s probably nothing.”
Kylie nodded in agreement, but the tight bundle of nerves in her stomach didn’t feel the same way.
“I’M TELLING you, it was him. I saw her come out from behind the bus and then he came out right behind her. And he was adjusting his zipper. His zipper, dammit!”
“Trace, we’ve been over this. What goes on in her love life, or any aspect of her life, really, is none of our concern.”
Trace yanked his hat off and raked a hand hard through his hair before replacing it. He paced outside the bus his band road in. “Pauly, swear to God, I don’t care if it’s my concern or not. If he’s screwing a Tailgate Twin behind her back, I’ll fucking end him.”
“And what do you think that will solve, huh? You think she’ll come running back to you if you defend her honor?”
Trace sighed and leaned against the bus. “No, but at least she’ll know.”
“That her boyfriend cheats on her? How’s that helpful?”
He shook his head. “No, then she’ll know that I care about her and won’t let anyone or anything hurt her if I can help it.”
His manager frowned at him for a long minute. “I need to make a call. Promise me you’ll stay out of it for now, okay? It’s dark. He could’ve been taking a leak. Or it might not even have been him. At least wait until you know for sure.”
“Oh, I’m going to find out for sure. I’m going to go ask his sorry ass. I’ve known that kid since before he hit puberty. I’ll know if he’s lying.”
Pauly sighed. “Anything I can say or do to stop you?”
Trace was already turning to head toward Kylie’s band’s bus. “Nope.”
The entire walk over, he tried to calm his nerves. Pauly had a point. Steven could’ve been taking a leak. But there were bathrooms on the buses. Or maybe it wasn’t him. Except Trace was nearly one hundred percent positive it was.
Adrenaline pumped through him fiercely as he marched up to the bus door and rapped on it. His pulse ramped up so intensely it felt like his entire body was throbbing.
The door opened and Kylie’s drummer greeted him. “Hey, man. Come on in. Want us to deal you in?”
He didn’t bother with an answer. Because his eyes had already found their target. Steven Blythe was sitting in one of the captain’s chairs around the card table. And he was showing his cards to one of the Tailgate Twins. Not that he could’ve avoided her seeing his cards since she was on his lap and all.