“I love you too, babe.”
He kissed me and ran out of the bathroom.
I joined the producers, agents, and journalists, listening to their comments. They analyzed their style as a mix of pop-punk with vibes of classic British punk-rock but with a new twist and edgy lyrics.
Two people were texting furiously, three left the room and were talking on the phone in the corridor, and one guy was glued to the screen as if he wanted to go through it.
Me?
I listened to my boyfriend’s voice as he stood in front of the microphone, baring his beautiful soul.
I opened a few top buttons on my shirt and took off the jacket. I hated stiff clothes, but hopefully, they served a purpose today.
Charlie met my gaze and smirked. “The next song is calledLollipop Kisses.”
Chapter Nineteen
Charlie
Three months later.
Holding Trent’s hand was not enough today, neither were his lollipops or even the dino pancakes he’d eaten. I wanted to talk to him alone, but that would have to wait.
We were sitting at Randy’s in a packed booth: Trent and I on one side along with Louise, Trent’s sister. Facing us were Sabrina and Trixie with her fiancée, Cindy.
The tiny minx had Trixie wrapped around her pinkie, to the utter amusement of all of us. With her high voice, small stature, and angelic face, Cindy could fool anyone that she was a demuregirl. In reality, her small stature packed bad-ass energy she utilized when running an independent record store downtown. Once Trixie had introduced her to us, she became an integral part of the group. Good thing too, as Trixie proposed to her last week, and Cindy now sat sporting a sparkly ring on her finger.
The usually shy Sabrina leaned over the table to draw something on Louise’s napkin as the two bonded over serial killer documentaries. Louise was as tall as her brother and with the same kind expression, but with long blonde hair tied in a high ponytail and dressed in a colorful mini skirt and a denim jacket.
Since she’d moved in with Trent two months before, she’d latched onto helping Trent launch his business and flirted the socks off Sabrina in the meantime. Resourceful and sexy. Must run in the family.
“Oh, Trent said I could decide on the office space furniture as long as I don’t interfere with the gym equipment,” Louise told Sabrina. “Right?” She elbowed Trent, who snapped to attention from looking into the distance with a lost expression on his face.
“Yeah. I told you you’ll have a lot of freedom of decision in some areas. You said you wanted that.”
“Yup. I reached out to several sponsors this week. I don’t know much about gyms but I’ve been doing admin for a local flower shop, so I’m familiar with that side of the business and customer service. I can learn the rest if needed.” Louise swirled the straw in her milkshake and winked at Sabrina.
Once again, she was downplaying her resume that had a BA in Business Administration at the top.
“I’ll help you if you need me.” Sabrina volunteered, smoothing her sky-blue dress.
“I can put you in for part-time.” Trent tapped the small notebook he’d been carrying around since he’d started investing his time and sweat into making his dream a reality.
“Nah.” Sabrina waved a hand in dismissal. “I’d be happy with a free membership. Then I can look over Louise’s shoulder and whisper gym advice.”
“You’ll get that, anyway.” Trent pointed a finger at Sabrina. “But don’t you go corrupting my baby sister.”
“Hey, I’m not a child!” Louise gasped.
“You’ll always be my lil sis even when you’re sixty and I’m sixty five, so better get used to it.” Big brother Trent was hot as hell.
Louise rolled her eyes so hard I was sure she saw her brain. “I swear if you use the phrase ‘while you live under my roof’, I’d barf and move out.”
“Geez Louise, I won’t.” Trent teased, reminding me how I witnessed him bickering with his sister when we were kids.
“Not this again.” She groaned, burying her face in her hands.
It was my cue to act.
