“What happened?”Clay’s concerned, and that makes me fall for him a little harder.
“It’ll be fine, just girl stuff.We’re going to hit a bar and dance and drink and complain about school friends.”
“Tell me the name of the bar.I’ll stop by.”
My hand stills on the hanger of a dress.It would be fun to have him there, especially if he brought some of the guys.But that might not be the best given Brooke's current state of mind.
“I think she wants a simple night out.No Kodiaks.”
When silence comes down the line, I’m worried he took it personally.
“There’ll be a bottle of champagne waiting with her name on it.Plus a car to take you there and back,” he says gruffly.
My lips tug up.“Just a simple night out, huh?”I tease.
“That’s my compromise, Pink.You go out without me, I’m making sure you’re looked after.”
“Thank you.”His gesture makes my chest ache.I tug the dress off the hanger, hold it up in front of me in the mirror.“You’re not mad?”
“No.Text me when you get home.”
My lips curve.“I will.”
I tug my shirt over my head and kick off my leggings, glancing back at the mirror to see the cute lingerie I was planning on wearing for him.
“And in the meantime, I’ll send you a picture to help you make it through.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
CLAY
“Finisher?”I uncork the bottle and take a sniff, grimacing.“How much are we getting paid to promote this?”
“It’s part of the campaign to get you to the all-star game,” my agent says.
I set the product on the conference table.“It’s terrible.”
“Bad enough you’d risk not getting to the all-star game?”Chloe demands.
I sling an arm over the back of the next chair.“I don’t want to hawk shoe polish.”
My agent says, “It’s whisky, not shoe polish.You want anything sexier, it’ll have to come in a paper bag.”
I leave my meeting bottle in hand and swing by the wall where Nova’s working.Since Christmas, we’ve been on the road and I’ve barely seen her.
Today she’s not on the ladder but on her feet, working at the bottom of the wall.
I stop beside her and inspect her work.The mural is more than halfway done.The skyline is crisp and clear, and she’s putting final touches on the starters.
My girl has a talent, that’s for sure.
“Needs more muscle,” I decide.
Nova looks up and beams.“You’re back.”
“I’m back.”
Nova presses up on her toes and throws her arms around my neck—at least as far as they’ll go given our height difference.
