Jemma motioned for me to take out one of my earbuds, and instantly, noise filled my ears again, but not as bad as before.
“I’m going to go scope a few things out and look for some drink alternatives.” We had water on the table, but knowing Jemma, she was searching for alcohol.
“Tea, please.” I rubbed my hands over my dress again, grateful for the lace fabric that was almost identical to the dress from last night.
Last night.
The mystery man ran through my thoughts, my fingers now making circles on my thigh. He’d been forward, and while I was nervous at first being left alone with him, I had felt comfortable. It wasn’t just his touch that calmed me, but he let me word vomitand out myself to him. He also made it seem like it wasn’t a big deal.
When the crowd had died down after the announcement of my Hall of Fame entry, I searched for him, but he was nowhere to be found. I’d enlisted Jemma to assist, but she seemed to be in her own world and distant for the rest of the evening.
“You okay?” Jemma looked worried as she stood above me.
“I think so.” I looked around, looking at any face I could make out.
“Are you still trying to find him?” Jemma sat back down, moving her chair close to me. “Your supposed new muse?”
“Yes, and don’t act like this wasn’t the plan to help with this book. A man who, for once, is taller than me in heels is exactly the kind of muse I needed.” I gave her a knowing look, but I wasn’t going to hide that this man I’d spent barely thirty minutes with had a chokehold on my mind.
Jemma took a deep breath, looked up to the ceiling, and then back down to me.
“Look, I know very little,” she started. My head snapped to her, waiting to hear what she had to say. This is the most she’d given me since she found me on the dance floor last night. “And what I do know is just because of his family’s background. I mainly know his friend.”
She grabbed the water on the table and took a drink, then handed me my glass. I absentmindedly took sips, wanting her to tell me more.
“I should have gotten alcohol before I started this.”
“How do you know him and his friend?”
“I already said I don’t know much about him, but I’ve known his friend since I was in elementary school back in Tennessee. We grew apart in high school and didn’t really run in the same circles together.”
“Oh,” I took another sip of water. I knew about Jemma’s family and past, what little she’d spoken to me about them. She’d left Tennessee because she didn’t want to be in her family’s shadow, and nothing was left to keep her there.
“Ryker and Beckett,” the names slipped from her lips. “Your man is Ryker.”
“And yours is Beckett,” I suggested, because it definitely seemed that way with how she was acting.
She stood quickly.
“Beckett isnotmy man.” She looked around as if he would appear at any moment. “I’m going to get our drinks.”
“Oh, come on! You need a big, beefy man in your life!” I laughed at her, but she left as quickly as she’d stood, and I was alone again.
I put my earbud back in and took in the surroundings. The room wasn’t as decked out as last night, but there were hints of greenery lining the tables and stage. I watched as people made their way into the main theatre, looking for their seats. A few people whom I knew from the industry waved at me, but none made their way over.
I felt my phone buzz in my clutch.
A few messages had come in from my team, all wishing me good luck.
They were not ones for award shows. I had an entire team behind me working onLeague of Witches,and they were just as deserving of this award as I was. They were always invited, and they always declined, all eight of them. I think it was Ember who’d mentioned a few years ago that if they never had to go to an event, they would forfeit their Christmas bonus. I laughed, thinking it was a joke, but then the rest of the team agreed. They were an amazing group and loved being behind the scenes, but hated the spotlight as much as I did, and someone had to be the face for all of this.
So, here I was, sitting in a theatre alone, trying not to break down.
Even with my earbuds in, I could hear a rush of conversation had started in the theatre. I took a bud out, trying to hear what everyone was talking about.
“CovertRetriever is here tonight,” Jemma came up behind me with her drink and mine.
“Didn’t we already know this?” I asked, remembering our conversation when I’d gotten my invitation in the mail.
