“It’s different, huh?” Ivy sits down next to her. “He’s more than your best friend. He’s your boyfriend. Is he your boyfriend? When you say that you both want to announce you’re together—”
“It’s different.” Kelsey starts to smile, the phone forgotten in her hand. “He says I’m the one he wants. It’s like I’m living in a dream. But this woman worries me. My reactions to her… that’s not who I am. But then I’ve never felt like I could lose so much.”
“This is Riot we’re talking about. If he wants to tell his brothers it’s serious, then it’s serious.” Although he told them he was dating Ro.
“Exactly. I’m betting my entire world on him wanting me more than his life as a rock star, with no commitments to hold him back. I’m betting more than a decade of friendship, my relationship with the L.A. Riot boys, and my friendship with you all—with Rebel and Rogue.” She stares down at her lap. “It’s the secrecy that’s getting to me. She’s posting pictures that make it look like they have crazy chemistry, and telling the world they’re together, and all I can do is wait for him to be ready to go public. I know they’re not seeing each other. She’s a problem to shut down, not a threat. What I’m feeling probably isn’t about her.”
“It’s hard.” I’ve had my fair share of green-eyed monster moments, but that’s my own insecurities I’m projecting onto our relationship in the moment. As long as Rebel and I are good, I know I have no reason to feel that way. “When it’s not a secret anymore, that will help. I’ll help you write a statement to jointly share on your socials.”
“Thank you,” she says. “I’ve been trying to formulate what to say all day, but I keep coming back to Sonatina and wanting to tell her to keep her skanky hands off my boyfriend. Considering her father is my boss, that’s a bad idea, right?”
“I’m sure we can come up with something better.” I open my notes app and jot down a few sentences.
“And in the meantime, beautiful girl...” Adira takes her hand and helps Kelsey to her feet. “Shall we pick out something pretty, or sexy, or country? Or all three, perhaps.”
“I’m here.” Dizzy prances into the marquee in a pair of pink pajamas and fluffy slippers. Her hair is hanging in wet tendrils over her shoulders. “I got here as quickly as I could.”
“Where have you been?” Ivy jumps up and hugs her sister. She wrinkles her nose as she steps back and uses her thumb to brush something from under Dizzy’s ear. “Why are you dripping wet? And is that mud?”
She didn’t go to the pit by herself, did she?
“I got distracted helping West with something.” She tucks her wet hair behind her ear, and I swear she looks guilty. “Then I needed to take a shower.”
“I get it.” Ivy’s features take on a faraway look. “There’s something about Maddox men.”
“So true.” I rest my palm over my belly as Kelsey and I exchange secretive looks.
Dizzy checks out Ivy’s get-up. “Your costume is cute. Adorable. I love it. West is getting dressed up too. I have a feeling it’s going to include a mask. I shouldn’t tell you that but you’re all my best friends, and I hate keeping my excitement to myself.”
“Settle down, tiny firecracker.” Adira chuckles as he wraps an arm around her shoulders. “My God, sometimes you are all pure energy and no lightning rod.”
“You love it.” She beams at him as he guides her over to a seat where he starts blowing out her hair. “You think I’m divine.”
“I do,” he coos playfully. “Not all of us kinky bitches are as lucky as you and Ivy.”
Ivy was the queen of the costume changes and theatrical makeup when Rogue first met her. She kept him on his toes for weeks before she let him see who she really was.
“I’m going to need you bitches to tell me where I get one of these mask wearing men. And what happens when I find him? Is it like Spiderman? Do I get to be Mary Jane?”
“Do you have someone in mind, cousin?” Ivy waggles her brows.
“I might.” He presses his lips together. “But I never kiss and tell.”
“That’s such a lie,” she says.
“You’re right.” He grins. “If a masked man kissed me, I’d be telling all you bitches. I’d want you to die of jealousy like I’m doing right now.”
My phone vibrates and the screen lights up. I straighten to my feet as he adds, “Alas, I suspect it’s not to be.”
“I have to go find Rebel.” I don’t have my car keys. I don’t have my car. But there’s the rental. The keys are back in the house. In the kitchen. “Ro was in an accident.”
27
Ivy
“Is she okay?” I follow Summer out of the tent and into the yard. Please tell me our friend is okay, and that nothing bad has happened.
She’s walking fast, practically jogging in those heeled boots I handed her. “It sounds like it was a fender bender. She says she’s all right. EMS checked her over and said she could leave.”
