Sherry gasps. “You don’t have to be a bitch about it.”
“Enough. I think you should leave,” Chance tells her.
“Leave?” She looks at him in surprise.
“Yes. Suddenly, I’m not in the mood anymore.” He glares at her.
Again, Sherry looks surprised by Chance’s request but flips her hair over her shoulder and storms out.
“Beware of the groupies, Chance, they can be more trouble than they’re worth,” Isla tells him. He nods. “Derrick, you ready?” she asks me.
“Yes.”
“Derrick, do you have a moment?” Chance asks, and I can see it on his face, he wants to talk about what just happened but I’m not sure I want to.
Isla loops her arm through mine. “Sorry, I need Derrick, there’s a fashion emergency.” Chance is surprised, but doesn’tpush it as Isla pulls me down the corridor away from his dressing room.
“Thanks,” I tell her as Chance fades away.
“You deserve better than whatever crumbs he is giving you,” she says softly.
“As do you,” I say, raising a brow at her, knowing how many times she’s fallen back into Finn’s bed, and he keeps doing the same thing to her.
“You’re right,” she says sullenly.
“But we’re the fools that keep going back for more.” I chuckle sadly.
“So true,” she says, shaking her head. “Come on, let’s forget about these rock stars and enjoy the party.”
“I can’t believe today is the day,” Sienna says, nibbling her nails as she stares out at the line of people outside the front doors. We’ve been working around the clock to get everything ready and to take some stress off Sienna’s shoulders due to her pregnancy. Evan and Christian have been helping while the other guys are working on their label. They have been just as busy launching their new label, so we have appreciated any support they have been able to provide.
“We’ve got this. Today is going to be the start of something big,” I reassure her.
“I can’t believe I’m here.” She rubs her growing belly. “A year ago, I lost everything and now …” Tears start to well in her eyes.
“Now you’ve got me,” Evan says, striding in from the back, where he walks over, cupping Sienna’s face and kissing her. “I’m so proud of you,” he tells her, and witnessing the way that man looks at my friend makes my heart ache, wishing one daysomeone would look at me like that. Is Chance the one? I’m not sure. He messaged me after the launch apologizing for Sherry, but then in the same breath, I saw him out on the town with another woman on a gossip site online. I told him with the shop opening and him getting ready to tour, that we should cool what is happening between us. He didn’t agree, and the next thing I knew he was on my doorstep with flowers, and of course, I folded like a stack of cards under a small breeze. I’m not proud of myself, but the stress relief was what I needed. Yes, I’m an idiot.
The rest of the Dirty Texas family arrive, Christian, Axel, Finn, and Oscar, with Vanessa, Isla, and Charlotte. They all ooh and aah at the shop and are excited over the excitement for it.
“Tee minus ten minutes till opening,” Stacey says, coming in with a bottle of champagne and glasses, and Layla, one of our shop girls, who has sparkling apple juice for Sienna. Stacey pops the bottle of champagne and starts pouring us all glasses. “Sienna or Derrick, would you like to say anything before we open those doors?” Stacey asks.
Sienna looks over at where I’m standing and moves away from Evan’s embrace to stand by my side. She loops her arm around mine.
“Thank you all for supporting Derrick and me. I don’t think we would have been able to open today without it,” she says through her tears. “Derrick, you have been my rock this past year, not to mention all the years before. I don’t know where I would have been if you hadn’t been by my side. I know I wouldn’t have met the love of my life if you hadn’t made me accept Vanessa’s crazy idea of joining the tour.” Tears start to well in my own eyes. “This isn’t where we saw our lives heading last year, but I sure am glad that I am doing this with you,” she says, hugging me as we both burst into tears. “I love you, D.”
“I love you too, SiSi,” I tell her as our friends all hoot and holler at us.
Sienna wipes away her tears. “And there’s another person I need to thank. Stacey,” Sienna says, looking over at our friend. “Thank you for taking this leap of faith with Derrick and me …”
“And flying halfway across the world to bring the three amigos back together again,” I add.
“That too.” Sienna chuckles. “We wouldn’t be opening today if it weren’t for your awesome organizing skills.” Stacey smiles as we rush over and pull her into a hug, too. “And lastly, to you guys,” Sienna says, raising her glass to the Dirty Texas crew. “Evan, I love you,” Sienna says, choking on her words as she looks over at her fiancé. He looks emotional, too. “Thank you for letting me be me. I know you’re protective about me working while pregnant, but I appreciate that you understand what I need.” She walks over and kisses him again, which makes us all break out into applause.
“Guess that means we’re ready, Wyld Jones is about to launch.”
And launch we did. There was a massive line out the door who were probably more Dirty Texas groupies than shoppers, but we’ll take it as they spent up big.
9
