“He’s just my brothers’ friend.”
“I’ve read a romance book like that,” She sips her coffee.
“This is no romance book,” I laugh, “Trust me.”
“Girl, just tell me what happened.” Sloane is my girl. My best friend. The person I trust more than anyone in this world and I know she’ll have my back.
“Nothing, really,” I shrug, “I’m just all up in my feels.”
“That doesn’t just happen for nothing, Savannah,” She says sternly, “You like him, right?”
With a roll of my eyes, I answer, “Please, it’s just a crush. I don’tlikehim. He’s hot.”
“He is hot,” She agrees, “All broody and shit but if it were just a crush, then why has it got you all sad?”
“I don’t know, something weird happened,” I explain, “We were good, you know? Like fine and everything. Friendly even, but after I came off tour, something changed, and I don’t know what. One minute, we could have hour long conversations, the next he can barely say two words to me.”
She nods, “And?”
“Well, he turns up at my house the first morning I’mscheduled to shoot that music video, and I figured Sebastian sent him because that’s what my brother does, and he followed me and waited until I finished. Then he did it again the next day except he came inside with me,” I leave out the hair washing and the shouting at the stylist, “And then the other day, he supposedly tripped but Killian isn’t the clumsy type and knocked over Adrien fucking Matthews but when we got back to the dressing room he seemed pissed because he was close to me.”
Sloane purses her lips, “That’s it?”
“No,” I sigh, “He told me Adrien wasn’t being friendly, so I pointed out that neither was he and he told me we weren’t friends. Honestly, it all sounds a little silly.”
“I don’t think it’s silly, I think he hurt your feelings.”
I nod in agreement. “I guess I can get over the crush not being reciprocated, I mean what girlhasn’tcrushed on their older brother’s best friend, but I thought we were friends too. I don’t know what I did wrong.”
“It sounds like a him problem, to be honest,” Sloane curls her lip, “I mean that is rude as fuck.”
“I guess so.”
“And what about Adrien?” Sloane continues, “Was he being friendly?”
“I mean, a little too friendly. The man is touchy.”
“So, he likes you?”
“Maybe?” it comes out more of a question, “He asked me for drinks the first day after shooting and asked me again, right before Killian knocked him on his ass.”
“So go for drinks,” She says, “What could it hurt?”
I nod although I’m not sure. Adrien is nice, a little handsy but I think his intentions are good and people seem to like him. It’s not like it’s a date or anything.
“Maybe I’ll text him back,” I say, “No harm, right?”
“Right,” Sloane jerks her head in a nod, “Now, I want margaritas, wanna go out?”
I pull on the end of my dress just as I spot Olivia waving at me from the booth at the top of the stairs. Malakai and Olivia sit closely together, but that’s standard for them with Dean sitting to the side. There’s no Sebastian or Willow, which is hardly surprising since they have a newborn at home, which leaves only Killian left. He is staring toward me, his face an expressionless mask before his eyes dip down the length of me once, taking in the red dress I chose for the evening before he dismisses me entirely.
Well fuck him.
Linking Sloane’s arm, I guide her toward the booth, but I already know she’s uncomfortable. “Want to leave?” I ask her, “We totally can.”
“No,” She breathes, “I’ve got to do this.”
“You tell me the moment it’s too much,” I whisper, “We will leave.”
