My jaw ticked with how tightly I was clenching my teeth. There’d been a time—a few short, alcohol-filled hours—when I’d adored hearing him call me sweetness. Now Ihatedit. “Yeah. Later.”
I disconnected the call with a knot of dread sitting in the pitof my stomach like a lead weight. Sure, since Liddy was born I’d been forced to step foot in that house more than I was happy about, but I’d always had my daughter with me to cushion the blow that came with the memories from that night. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t have her with me this time.
“Liddy’s out like a light. Only took three readings ofGoodnight Moon,” Corrie said as she came back into the kitchen. “So what did the douchebag rocker want this time?”
I looked at my friend and let out a sigh of defeat. “The rich and famous have summoned. Looks like I’ve got plans for tomorrow evening.”
“You meanwe’vegot plans.”
“Really?” I asked enthusiastically. Relief that I wouldn’t have to walk into that den of wolves on my own made breathing a little bit easier.
She let out a loud laugh. “Of course. No way would I let you anywhere near that bitch Kimber without backup.” A sinister smile stretched across her lips. “I’ve been itching for a good catfight for weeks.”
“If anyone gets a chance to draw first blood, it’s me,” I told her, reaching across the counter to snag the bottle of wine I’d opened the night before.
“Fair enough.” Corrine smiled. “If shit starts to hit the fan, you give me the signal and I’ll hold her down while you shave her hair off.”
Having poured each of us a glass, I recorked the wine bottle and lifted my glass in the air, clinking the rim against hers when she followed suit. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
FIVE
“Great,”I muttered sarcastically as Corrine navigated around the sea of cars parked in Garrett’s drive.
“Looks like we’re overdressed.”
That was putting it lightly. From what I could see of the party spilling out of the house, the attire for the evening was nonexistent dresses and hooker heels, despite the chilly temperatures outside. It was October, for Christ’s sake.
I told myself as I was getting ready for this evening that I didn’t care what Garrett thought of how I dressed, that I wasn’t trying to impress him. Unfortunately, that just wasn’t the case. No matter the past or the disdain I carried for him, he was still an insanely good-looking man, and the woman inside of me couldn’t help but want to appear attractive.
I’d worn my favorite pair of skinny jeans, the ones that made my ass look amazing, and a soft lavender cowl-neck sweater that fit at the waist and hung off one shoulder. I’d been pleased with the results just a half hour before; I thought it looked hot without being obvious I was trying too hard.
Pregnancy had definitely changed my body. I’d gone from a tiny girl with moderate-sized breasts to a woman with hips, ass,and boobs to spare. My stomach wasn’t as flat as it once was, but the extra weight on my frame gave me a more womanly figure than what I’d had before. I’d dressed to accentuate that figure, and when I walked out of my apartment on my tall black ankle boots, I’d felt really good about myself. But compared to the women at the raging party, I looked like a prude virgin.
“Jesus, don’t these guys ever take a night off?” I murmured as Corrine found a spot and put the car in Park.
“Just ignore them,” Corrine replied as we both climbed out of the car. “We’ll be in and out before you know it.”
“What?” I asked teasingly, giving her a smile as we made our way up the stone walkway that led to the big house. “You mean you’re not gonna try and bang a member of yourfavoriteband?”
She smirked and bumped my shoulder with hers. “Hell no. Besides, you know they aren’t my favorite anymore. You screw over my BFF and you lose a diehard fan.”
“Aw.” I put my hand on my chest. “It’s so sweet that you’d give up your lifelong dream of being nailed by a member of Civil Corruption all for me.”
“What are friends for?” She looped her arm over my shoulders as we made it to the front door. “Anyway, leaves me free to set my sights on other bands.”
“Dream big, Corrie,” I laughed.
“Always.”
The first person I noticed when we stepped inside the house was Ian, the band’s head of security. He was probably the only person associated with Garrett and the other guys that I didn’t loathe with a passion, mainly because he hardly spoke a word. His silence, coupled with his size and the fact that he looked like he could easily stomp a person into dust beneath his boot, made him one scary dude. But he’d never been anything but polite to me. And most importantly, he wasalways patient and kind to my baby girl whenever she was around.
“Hey, Ian. How’s it going?”
“It’s going well, Miss Carson. I believe you’ll find Mr. Wilder in the studio.” He must have read the uncertain look on my face correctly, because he kept talking. “Straight toward the back, the door marked Private to the left of the kitchen.”
“Thanks. Take it easy.”
“You as well, Miss Carson. And be sure to tell Lydia I said hello. I’m looking forward to seeing her now that the tour’s ended.”
