“Not hungry.”
Sebastian strummed a few chords and shook his head at me. “What’s up with you, man? You’ve been weird since last night.”
Last night. When I saw that damn billboard with Crystal’s face on it as I rode in from the airport. I'd made the driver stop as I got out and stared at the gorgeous face I saw in my dreams. Angel. Since the moment it hit me what a huge fucking mistake I’d made ten years ago. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
Tia arched one dark, thin brow. She was five foot-nothing with a spine of solid steel. No one messed with us because no one messed with her. She could curse like a sailor. I’d seen her back down venue owners, bouncers at the seediest bars in the country, and contract lawyers. She was pure fire hidden beneath a hundred pounds of black silk hair and bad attitude. “Good. Then I’ll call the front and tell them to bring back your guests.”
“What?” Reese opened his eyes and looked up at me from where he rested on the floor. “Man, what the fuck? No one backstage, not this time. We’re all tired, man. Who is it?”
“I’m not putting on the pretty boy act tonight. Whoever it is will just have to eat a piece of pizza and chill.” Sebastian returned his attention to his guitar, and whatever new song he was working on in his head.
“Whatever. I’m not moving.” Reese closed his eyes and resumed his Zen meditation pose. I didn’t care. Nothing they said mattered.
“When did they get here?”
Tia checked her phone. “About ten minutes ago.”
Ten minutes? She'd been here that long and I hadn't known?
“I put them on storage in the owner’s office. Wasn’t sure what was going on because someone didn’t tell me.”
“Sorry.” Okay, yeah, that someone was me, but I didn’t care. She was here. I looked down at Tia. “I need a favor. A huge, owe you for the rest of my life, favor.”
She rolled her dark eyes, but was already grinning. If there was one thing in the world Tia loved, it was being needed. “What?”
I grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her with me into the hallway, and away from the band and their prying eyes. They were like a bunch of gossiping old ladies when they wanted to be. “Two women, right?”
“Yes.”
“One tall, gorgeous blonde and a redhead not much bigger than you?”
Tia nodded. “Yes.” I hurried toward the back office where she’d stashed Crystal but Tia dug her heels in and brought me to a full stop. “Kit, what the hell is going on? Who are they? And why are they back here?”
“The redhead’s name is Vi. She’s a publicist for a major New York publishing company. The blond with her is Crystal Kerry.”
Tia’s eyes went wide and I knew I had her. “The writer?”
“Yes.” I started walking again, eager to see Crystal. “I need you to take Vi around, give her a tour, introduce her to the band.”
Her grin became more than a little suspicious. “And what will you be doing?”
“Begging forgiveness from the only woman I ever loved. Like ever.”
Tia stopped moving again. “Crystal? Your Crystal? From high school?”
For fuck’s sake. Were there no secrets around here? “How do you know about Crystal?”
Tia laughed. “You used to drink a lot, Kit. And when you get drunk, you like to talk about her. For hours.”
Jesus. “Shut up. Just be my wingman, all right?”
Tia shrugged. “Sure. But you owe me one.”
We opened the door and there she was, Vi’s presence beside her like a shield. The office was really like a green room. An old couch, a few chairs, one of those makeup stations with a mirror and round lightbulbs all around it.
Tia rushed in and took charge like a battle hardened general and Vi was only too happy to be escorted out of the room before Crystal had a chance to blink, let alone protest that we were alone.
“Crys.”
Shit, she looked good. In a pair of skinny jeans, her legs looked a mile long. Her hips had widened, a reminder that I'd hurt a girl, but before me now was a woman. She wore a pale pink top, soft and flowy, with cutouts at the shoulders. It was flirty, not too sexy. But she could have worn a sack and I'd have found her hot. Because clothes didn't matter. I knew what was underneath.
“Kit.” The door latched behind me and I didn’t bother to turn around. I would thank Tia later.
I took two steps closer and thanked my lucky stars that Crystal didn’t back away. But then, that wasn’t her style. Backing off had never been her style.
“What are you doing? What am I doing here?” The last was said with a hint of laughter. But at least she wasn’t screaming, or throwing shit at me like she had before. Not that I hadn’t deserved it that night. That, and more.