He pulls out a velvet box from his pocket. “Don’t get too excited,Schatz.”
That nickname sends tingles between my legs. I inhale a sharp breath and stop breathing as he hands the little box to me.
“Open it.” I flick my gaze up, watching how he bites back a smile waiting for my reaction.
Exhaling and trying not to choke on air, I reply, “Alright.” I crack it open and see a pair of silver starfish earrings.
“Thought they were fitting for my mermaid,” he says, giving me a wolfish smirk.
“They’re perfect.” I close the box and wrap my arms around his neck. “Thank you!” I kiss him and pull him onto the bed with me. My legs wrap around his until we’re entangled in each other.
He kisses me and where his lips touch ignites into flames. His phone goes off, but he ignores it, tossing it onto a random pile of clothes, and presses me onto the comforter. He’s on top, kissing my collarbone as his hands tease my breasts.
The phone draws questions, but I don’t dare ask them. Instead, I enjoy Sully’s firm yet delicious touch and close my eyes. He’s tender but rough and I watch the fireworks explode behind my eyelids.
Hours later, Sully snores beside me. I pad into the bathroom to freshen up and check my phone. Alice is crashing at Emily’s and she sends kissy faces. It’s like she knew what this night would bring.
There’s a strange message on my Insta. Someone requesting to chat. It’s usually fans or people asking advice on how to kickstart their mermaid careers.
My stomach plummets to the floor when I see the name Amy and the picture is of the same stone-cold bitch I met at Sully’s. The message is simply: call me and her number.
How did she find me? Oh, I was a smartass and told her my damn handle. Good job, Veronica.
Crap.I pace in the living room as panic builds behind my eyes.
Why should I call her? I don’t answer to her. But Sully turned his phone off. Could something have happened and they need to get a hold of him and they can’t? Maybe it’s an emergency.
I’m about to dial her number when Sully stalks out of the bedroom, rubbing his eyes. “Do you want to go out for breakfast or do you have anything here to eat? I’m good with cereal or…” He rubs his jaw and notices my phone. “What’s wrong?”
“Amy sent me a message on Insta to call her.”
“The band’s Amy?” he asks, confused.
“Yeah…I don’t know anyone else by that name unless you count the singer of Evanescence, and I doubt she wants me to call her.”
“Don’t worry about it. She’s just pissed my phone is off.” He strolls into the kitchen. “I need coffee before I talk to her.”
“What if something bad happened?” I set my phone on the counter and watch him fill the coffee machine with water.
“She makes everything sound worse than it is. I’m needed at the studio. That’s all.”
“Hmm…” I steal the coffee can from him so he’ll look at me. “You can’t blow off your band for me.”
“Watch me.” He takes the can back and pours three tablespoons of grounds into the machine, closing the lid and turning it on. “Why do you think Scarlet Failure hardly tours? I don’t have it in me anymore, and they won’t find another bass guitarist because of the deal we made—that we’d stick together or the band’s dead.”
I cross my arms, studying him. “What about the music awards tonight?” My voice comes out sharper than I mean it to—part accusation, part wounded hope.
He pauses, glancing at me over his shoulder like he can feel the shift in the air. For a second, something flickers in his eyes—regret, maybe.
“We’ll see,” he says with a shrug, too casual. He turns and opens the fridge. “You need to go grocery shopping. Your milk’s gone.” He tosses the empty container into the sink.
“Yeah. Alice does that.” I roll my eyes. “But don’t change the subject.”
He closes the fridge and kisses my lips. “Don’t worry. I’ll sort it out after we eat. Now help me find food.”
“Okay,” I mumble, caving in.
We find cherry pop-tarts and eat at the two-seater table drinking coffee. He does what he promised, calls Amy, and orders a ride to the studio to meet up with his band.
