Both hands around her mug, she takes a sip, and sighs. “I worry about the band. Those guys didn’t marry a multi-millionaire like me. Shit. Now, I don’t know what we’ll do. It feels wrong to continue and even worse to cancel.”
Suds nods. “Let your agent sort it all out.”
“Did you find your kitty?”
“No, that’s odd.” I shake her food bowl again.
Usually, Catrina zooms down the stairs. Instead she mews pathetically, so I take it up to her. Halfheartedly, she picks at it, then slinks into a back corner of the loft and eyes me.
“Mew.”
Back downstairs, Suds takes over breakfast and cracks eggs into a pan. “How many can y’all eat?”
I hold up two fingers. “Anyone else need the bathroom?”
When I don’t get any takers, I quickly wash my hair. I dry it thoroughly because my nonna taught me well. If you’re Italian and go out with a wet head, you’ll surely die. The rest of the world, for some reason, is exempt.
Upon finishing breakfast, Suds slides an arm around my waist and squeezes. “Why don’t you take our guest to the salon while I pick up Andy?”
My brows raise. “Okay…”
The country singer turns on the TV, sees a glimpse of footage, then scrolls through channels until she finds another report.
“…In other news, Calvin Peat, bass player to the country singer, Sienna, died last night on stage in front of thousands. Please be advised, this next clip may be disturbing to some viewers.”
A phone video plays last night’s horrifying moments and I curse the media for the sensationalism. No wonder Suds doesn’t want her at the airport.
“…police are investigating and refuse to comment.”
“They make it sound like I murdered him.” When her mouth drops open, my partner sits down beside her.
“You did argue with him and supposedly had a torrid love affair. You also were the last to touch his amp.”
“They’re going to arrest me, aren’t they?”
I squat and take her hands in mine. “Don’t worry. I’m sure they’re just being cautious.”
“I need to come to the airport with you. Explain to Andy what really happened.”
Her blue eyes lift to my guy who shakes his head, no. “The paparazzi are swarming. It’d be better if you’re not photographed as you greet your lawyer. Even though he’s your husband, it makes you seem guilty.
Glancing at the time, I point our overnight guest to the bathroom. “It’s all yours. Then we should go.”
Not long after, we stroll into my aunt’s hair salon and my two cousins drop their jaws.
“Sienna?TheSienna? You should’ve warned us.” Rose punches me in the arm. “Oh my God, come in, sit down, have some pastry? Cup of joe?”
“Sure, thanks.”
My guest sits at the sink next to mine while Mia, my younger cousin, wraps her fingers around the cross at her neck. “I amsosorry about Calvin. That must’ve been awful. I’ve been praying for you.”
Taking the coffee offered by Rose, the famous star nods. “To be honest, we weren’t close. He is, I mean hewas, a bit of a jerk. What’s worse, now I feel guilty for yelling at him. Our last words were pretty heated.”
“What did you two fight about?” Stars in her eyes, Mia sips on her coffee and hangs on her every word.
“Calvin was trying to sell one of the songs we were working on together. When a musician friend recognized the lyrics, and told me, I was pissed.”
The bells on the front door jingle and we all wave at Aunt Marion, carrying a huge purse and a white cardboard box of more goodies.
