I did too.
But I made the mistake of mentioning I’d been asked. The look on her face told me everything I needed to know.
We were both treading into dangerous territory.
When she asked me not to go, I played it off, saying I wasn’t sure, even though I had no intention of going. Then I tried to distance myself from Hendrix’s little sister.
Tried being the operative word.
I finish reading the rest of the text.
Pres
It was none of my business, and I shouldn’t have interfered. So, can we just call it even and forget about the other night?
“Are you going to text her back?”
“No. I think I’ll call her. Our last conversation didn’t end well, and this is definitely her way of apologizing—although I’m not sure I entirely deserve it.” Jonas rises from the couch and makes like he’s going to leave. “Wait. What about the expansion discussion? I didn’t mean I was going to call her now.”
“It can wait,” he shrugs, as he heads to the door. He reaches for the handle and then turns. “Presley still live in Malibu?”
“LA, but yeah. Why?”
“Just curious,” he says with a knowing look on his face. “Oh, and a bit of advice, Hollis. Call her now. Despite what we’ve been told, it’s best never to leave a woman waiting. Learned that one the hard way. Keisha never let me forget it.”
Chapter Nine
PRESLEY
How do you know if you’re in an unhealthy relationship?
Are you miserable all the time? Or are you just happy enough to ignore all the warning signs flashing in neon around you?
It’s something I contemplate as Jace and I drive to my parents’ house for Sunday dinner. It’s a weekly tradition for the Creeds, but it’s been months since he’s made the trip out to Malibu with me, so I was surprised when he brought it up this week at the bar.
He has been working hard to earn my forgiveness for walking out on his shift—both as his boss and as my boyfriend—so perhaps this is part of that.
“How was the concert last night?” Jace asks. I turn my attention from the ocean view outside the window and focus on him.
“It was great,” I say, unable to hold back the huge grin spreading across my face. Manic at Midnight’s LA stop was last night, and everyone in the family was gifted VIP tickets to see my brother and the band. “Watching Hendrix on stage with Zander was surreal. My dad was practically beaming. He was so damn proud, and I think my mom cried at least three times.”
A shadow seems to pass over Jace, but just as quickly as it appears, it’s gone, and his megawatt smile is back in place. “That’s great. Happy for him. I’m assuming he’ll be at the house today?”
“Yeah.” I nod as we approach the driveway. “And he’s bringing his girlfriend.”
“He has a girlfriend?”
He parks behind Cash’s car, and I check my watch, grateful we’re not late. I don’t want to hear my eldest brother make a snide comment about that right now. “I don’t think they’ve made it official yet, but yeah,” I answer. “I’ve told you about her. Zara. The doctor?”
His blank face reveals no recollection as he unfastens his seat belt. “Right, the doctor. I remember.”
Something makes me think he doesn’t.
We both get out of the car, and he joins me on the other side as we walk up the walkway. His arm slips around my shoulder, and he gives me a lazy smile.
I try to copy him, offering one in return, just as the door flings open, and my niece races out. “Auntie Pres!”
“Tay Tay!” I meet her halfway and scoop her up in my arms. She’s warm, wiggly, and smells like kids’ shampoo and happiness. She bursts into giggles when I spin us around, her yellow sundress and pigtails flying behind her. Taylor has her mom’s dark brown hair, but she got the blue eyes from her dad. “What are you doing out here? Are you escaping already?”
