He clocks the gentle hostility in my voice. “You seem to be doing pretty well for yourself now that you’re in LA, and you’re friends with Dirty Texas. Sorry, I’m stalking on my computer while talking to you.”
This makes me laugh. “Yeah, I am. They are family to me.”
Rowan nods. “I’m glad you’ve got them. Your business seems to have taken off, too, dressing all of Hollywood. Good on you.”
“It’s all I’ve ever dreamed of, and I wouldn’t have this life if it wasn’t for Dirty Texas. They took a chance on me and have supported me.”
“Love that. They sound like great people.”
“They are the best,” I tell him.
“Any other people in your life, I haven’t seen anything on your social?” Rowan asks.
I look over at Charlie, and he shrugs, leaving it up to me. “Yeah, there is, he’s here actually. This is Charlie, my boyfriend,” I say, pulling the phone out and introducing Rowan to him.
“Hey.” Charlie waves.
“Oh, hey. Nice to meet you. Hope you’re treating my brother well,” Rowan asks, his eyes narrowing on Charlie.
This makes me giddy. Can’t believe I have a brother doing brotherly things. This is insane.
“Derrick is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” Charlie says, staring at me intensely. The way he is looking at me gives me butterflies.
“I feel the same.”
“Aw, I’m happy for you both.”
“What about you? Anyone special in your life?” I ask him.
This makes him smile. “You’ll come to know that I am a workaholic. I don’t have time to date. Unlike my brother, who is a commitment-phobe.”
“So, I’ve heard, um, I’m friends with Olivia Pearce,” I tell him.
“You know Olivia and Penelope? No way. Our families know each other, not that there are a lot of us in Scotland. That is such a small world. How do you know her?” he asks.
“Olivia is married to Axel from Dirty Texas.”
Rowan seems surprised. “I knew she was getting married but had no idea it was to a rockstar. Good on her. Callum will be upset, he always had a thing for her.”
“Really?”
“They knew each other as kids through Penny,” he explains. “This is so surreal I can’t believe I’m talking to you and talking as if it’s what we normally do.” He’s right, it’s awkward but also not. “Callum is going to die when he finds out I got to speak to you first.” He chuckles. “When do you think we can catch up for real? Callum will fly in anytime you want.”
“When are you in LA next?”
Rowan’s brows pull together as he searches what I’m assuming is his calendar on his computer. “Next month, I have a meeting in LA. I can move things around and stay for the weekend. I’ll check in with Callum and see if it fits with him, but you will be around?” he asks.
“Yes. I’ll be here.”
He smiles. “Fantastic. I hate to cut such an important call short, but I do have to run to a meeting. Please, can we chat more?”
“Of course, any time,” I say.
“Good. That’s great. And thank you, Derrick, for reaching out. I can’t wait to get to know you better.”
“Me too.” And with that, we hang up. “Wow. I can’t believe that just happened.”
“How do you feel?”
