I was picturing that expression on her face as I sat on Leif’s sofa while we all waited for Beau to arrive—again.
“Having deep thoughts?” Ryker rumbled next to me.
I shrugged. “Just how when women say everything’s fine that means—”
“Nothing is,” Ryker finished for me.
I laughed and nodded. “Why the hell do they do that?”
“Fuck if I know, boy-o.” Ryker sank back into the couch with a smile. “If I knew the first thing about women, I’d be a happily married asshole and not a single asshole.”
“Committed relationships are overrated and pointless distractions,” Leif grumbled as he bounced down on the opposite sofa with a highball glass in his hand.
I raised my eyebrows. “I’m taking this to mean things are done with you and June Gibson?”
“Ah, you must be the only one who doesn’t read the tabs.” Leif raised his highball in a toast to me then frowned and set his glass down with a click. “Shit, I’m sorry, bro. I didn’t think.”
I shrugged, although I eyed his drink like it might jump up and bite me. Lately it felt like I was barely hanging onto my sobriety. Losing Gio while I was on my fucking honeymoon—literally—had me all kinds of messed up.
But I couldn’t control what other people did. I could only control what I did. Maybe. When I wasn’t giving up control to my higher power. I had a hard time with that step to be honest. Especially at times like these.
I sighed and sat forward, rubbing my temple. “He’s not bringing his wife is he? I thought this was a bandmember only meeting. I mean, Danny’s not here.”
“Yeah, I mean, he shouldn’t be.” Leif shrugged and tunneled his fingers in his long, blond hair. “I wanted to talk to you guys first. I don’t know what’s taking Beau so long. He literally lives only three streets away; he could’ve walked here and back home by now.”
“Phoebe is livestreaming on social media right now, so it’s not like he can blame her,” Ryker said as he stared at his cell phone.
“You follow Phoebe on social media?” I chuckled. She was an influencer who posted beauty tutorials and diet bullshit. Not exactly Ryker’s thing. “Are you looking for eyeshadow tips?”
“Fuck off.” He pushed my shoulder. “I follow all you fuckers and the women in your lives so I can stay up to date on all your bullshit. It’s what a good friend does. And now I’m unfollowing June Gibson.” Ryker tapped at his phone screen with a flourish.
“Okay, now I feel like an asshole.” I shook my head. “I don’t even know who I’m following on my socials. I usually just have Naomi post shit for me. I don’t really look at it.”
“It’s not my official account.” Ryker scoffed. “What do I look like—a moron?”
“You have a finsta?” Leif pulled out his cell phone. “What’s your handle?”
“Fuck no.” Ryker scowled. “Having Leif Eccles follow my finsta kinda negates the whole purpose.”
Leif frowned. “I’m not going to follow you on my actual account, moron. You’re not the only one with a finsta.”
“Clearly I’m not doing social media right.” I rubbed at my temple. “You all have fake accounts?”
“It’s what all the cool kids are doing, Mal. You should ask your child bride about it. I’m sure she could clue you in.” Leif chuckled while he tapped away at his phone.
I rolled my eyes.
But I still got my phone out and started setting up a finsta too.
“How’s that going?” Ryker asked, stowing his phone in his pocket. “She seems pretty cool. Not into the cameras at all, which is refreshing.”
“It’s…It’s really good, actually.” I smiled down at my phone. On a whim, I pulled up Saylor’s account and grinned at the top picture of her and Paige, I assumed, in bikinis at some Vegas resort. “She’s pretty amazing. You know she made that dress that she wore to the service? She wants to get into fashion.”
“So not so much with the fame ducking then,” Leif drawled sarcastically.
“What the fuck? What’s with the judgement?” I looked up from my phone and glared at Leif. “Saylor actually isn’t into the fame bullshit. She just wants to make clothes. She’s going to go back to school or get an internship. What’s that gotta do with fame?”
“Are you saying she’s not using you? That she didn’t marry you for your connections?” Leif sat forward and scowled back atme all confrontational. “Because unlike you, I actually keep up on the tabs, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Saylor wanted to cash in. She seems like that type of girl.”
