“Shit.” Leif shook his head then tossed his drink back with a gulp. “Are you fuckers ever gonna stop bustin’ my balls?”
Beau cocked his head. “Not likely. Now where’s the booze? I have a feeling I’m going to need a drink.”
“Maybe we should abstain for—” Leif nodded his head toward me.
“After you’ve already drank your shot?” Beau laughed incredulously. “Seriously?”
“I’m fine with this level of drinking. It’s the partying in the greenroom before and after shows…” I waved a hand. “Anyway, whatever you all need to do to get through the next few minutes. But could you hurry already? Some of us have wives to get back to.”
“I think you’re the only one eager to get back to the missus,” Beau grumbled as he stepped behind Leif’s bar and played bartender. “I, for one, was happy for the break. If I have to be in the background of one more of her stupid ass videos…”
Ryker pursed his lips and sent me a look.
I shook my head back at him.
Like hell was I going to say shit.
Chapter 23
Saylor
Since Mal had to go to a band meeting, he’d put Naomi in charge of arranging transport for me to the airport to pick up Paige. LA traffic was intimidating, and I was afraid of another clash at baggage claim like the last time.
“You ready to go?” Naomi asked from the front door.
I looked up with a frown. She hadn’t knocked; she just let herself in. “Yeah, no. I think we’re going to have a talk first.”
“Fine.” She huffed before stomping inside the house like an annoyed toddler. She flung herself down on the couch with the grace of one too. And she didn’t look at me once. She pulled out her cell phone and tapped away at the screen.
“Right.” I blinked a few times. “I don’t like you letting yourself in. This is my house too, so in the future, you need to ring the bell and wait to be let in. I don’t mind you letting yourself in through the gate, but you don’t enter the house unless or until one of us opens the door.”
She sighed heavily, dropped her phone into her Prada bag, and then closed it with a quick zip. “Let’s get one thing clear here. I work for Mal. I’ve worked for Mal for years. So I’m only going to listen to what he says. He’s my boss, not you.”
“And I respect that. I’m not trying to boss you around; I just need you to respect me and my place in Mal’s life.”
She scoffed like I’d said something ridiculous.
“What do you have against me?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She had the gall to roll her eyes at me like this conversation—and me—were totally beneath her.
“Right.” I let out a little laugh. This was all so weirdly insulting. I honestly didn’t know how to handle it.
“Is that the only word you know?” Naomi mocked.
“No, actually it’s not. Let’s go with bitch because that’s what you’ve been to me since day one.”
“Oh honey, you’re not special. I’ve seen girls like you come and go.” She flicked her long fingernails at me. “You’re a dime a dozen.”
“I beg to differ because, unlike those other girls, I have this.” I held up my left hand and flashed the huge rock on my finger. “And something tells me that bothers you the most. Is that the problem here? If so, I’m sorry he didn’t pick you.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Fuck. You.”
“Right.” I laughed. “This is you being professional? Being all bitchy and snarky and disrespectful?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” If she lifted her nose any higher, she’d tip over.
“Right,” I replied mockingly. I was so done with her bullshit. “Get the hell out of my house.”
