Esteban was pulled away by Thea at that moment, the other woman smiling at Sarah and Kit both before she led the singer toward a group of people Kit recognized as industry heavyweights.
Sarah returned Kit’s squeeze of her hands. “I kept meaning to call you,” she said in her lovely contralto. “Thank you for the flowers, the card. It meant a lot.”
“I was so sorry to hear about the baby.” Giving in to instinct, Kit hugged the taller woman.
Sarah stiffened for only a second before hugging her back. “Sorry,” she whispered hoarsely when they drew apart, her dark brown eyes wet, haunted. “I’m still raw about it.”
Kit just squeezed her hand again.
“They did too, you know.” Quiet words. “David, Noah, and Fox. They sent me flowers.” She shook her head. “I didn’t expect it, those four are so tight. I know they think I’m a bitch after the divorce and everything, but they still…”
“They knew you for a long time.” Sarah and Abe had been married for two years before their separation and eventual divorce.
A smile that wasn’t a smile. “I don’t think we ever really knew one another. My fault, but none of that matters now. Please thank them for me when you see them. And… thank Abe too.”
Accurately reading Kit’s surprise, Sarah said, “No, I wasn’t expecting it, either.”
“I’ll tell them,” Kit said when Sarah didn’t continue, obviously done with the topic. “Sarah, I have to ask—what are you doing here?” Schoolboy Choir was the headlining band, no way to miss that piece of information.
Sarah wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing at her bare forearms. “My fiancé, Jeremy Vance, is backing Stir Crazy.”
A band that wasn’t as big as Schoolboy Choir but that was starting to make its mark. “Oh.” It hadn’t been a surprise to Kit that Sarah had ended up with someone else in the industry. After so long with Abe, she must’ve formed deep friendships of her own. “Well, I guess you and Abe can’t avoid each other forever.”
Sarah’s smile was tight. Lowering her head and the volume of her voice, she said, “I heard about Abe’s drug overdose on tour.” Lines fanned out from the corners of her mouth, her shoulder muscles stiff. “Is he back on them?”
Kit shook her head. That “drug overdose” had actually been extreme alcohol intoxication, but she didn’t know if she had the right to tell Sarah that since the band had kept it out of the media. Abe’s problems with drugs were old news and no one paid it much mind. “He’s clean,” she told Abe’s ex-wife. “You know how I am about drugs—I wouldn’t tell you that if it wasn’t true.”
A visible relaxation in Sarah’s features. “I’m glad. I—” She cut herself off. “I tried to be there for him for so long, Kit.”
“I know.” Kit touched Sarah’s forearm. “No one thinks you gave up.” Sarah had gone through the wringer with Abe, had helped him through relapse after relapse. Kit didn’t know what had finally caused Sarah to walk away, but she knew it had to have been brutal to break the will of a woman so strong.
Taking a deep breath, Sarah said, “You were incredible in Last Flight. I read online that you might be making another movie with the same team?”
Kit nodded, and they spoke about the movie business for a bit. Sarah wasn’t involved in it except on the periphery, since Jeremy dabbled as a producer of teen-oriented movies when he wasn’t backing bands, but she had a keen interest in all aspects of the entertainment industry. Kit was just starting to think disaster had been averted when she felt the hairs rise on the back of her neck.
Turning, she saw Abe coming toward them with Noah behind him. Catching her eye, Noah shook his head. Abe, it seemed, was hell-bent on seeing Sarah.
Chapter 24
“You’re here,” Abe said to Sarah when he reached her.
With Abe being such a big guy, most women looked ridiculously delicate next to him. Not Sarah. She looked hot and sexy and as if she could take him. Except right now her spine was stiff, her expression holding a fragility Kit had never before seen.
Not sure what to do, Kit fell back with Noah. “Shall we leave them alone?” she whispered.
Eyes grim, Noah leaned down to murmur against her ear. “I caught a glimpse of her fiancé in the crowd. Have to make sure Abe doesn’t go off on him if he appears.”
“Abe’s over Sarah. Why would he go off on Jeremy Vance?”
“Why do you think he’s over Sarah?”
“Er… huge, ugly divorce and countless groupies?”