“The wedding is one day with an open bar, uncomfortable shoes, and bland chicken. Focus onafterthe wedding.”
She hugged me. “You should be nice more often.”
“I’m nice,” I argued. “Get dressed and let’s go eat. And, for the record, men like skin. Naked is always better than any piece of lingerie. No need to spend hundreds of dollars on shit that will just end up on the floor or ripped to shreds.”
She giggled. “See! I needed this! Thank you.” She rushed into the dressing room.
Several minutes later, we were walking down Peachtree Boulevard. The clouds had moved east, and the sun was shining. Being from Michigan, I’d take the mild temperatures any day over the unpredictable weather.
After more shopping and a quick tour of the wedding venue, Skye led me into a restaurant she wanted to try. We talked about work and family over ramen and sake, and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food.
“You like it?” Skye asked, dipping her chopstick into my lobster ramen. She moaned. “So good. Let’s switch.” She slid her garden ramen my way.
“This is good,” I told her once I tasted it.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it. You’re so damn picky with food.”
“That’s because I can make everything better myself.”
She shook her head. “So cocky. How’s the YouTube Channel going?”
Recently, I’d started to venture into digital marketing. Social media had never really been my thing, but my agent suggested I use it to expand my brand. So far, it was working. My following had grown tremendously once I started making Instagram Reels and videos on TikTok. “It’s going… I probably need to hire an assistant. I don’t have time to be posting all day.”
“Isn’t Raven still helping you?”
My niece had been a godsend because I didn’t know what the hell to do, but she lived in Michigan. “Yeah, but she’ll be going into her final year of college soon. She needs to concentrate on that."
Shrugging, Skye said, "If she’s willing, why not let her at least handle your social media? It’s good experience for her since she wants to go into marketing. You can always hire a manager, like I’ve been telling you. Or even a local producer for your YouTube videos. Influencers are making money out here.”
“Already on it.” I gave her a high-five. “X gave me some names.” My friend was a former child star and had stepped into his father’s role as CEO of Pure Talent Agency. They’d recently expanded their digital division, which benefitted me because I was a client of the agency.
“Love it.” She sipped her drink. “Just don’t sleep with your manager or your producer.”
I smirked. “I can’t make any promises.”
She rolled her eyes. “Do better.” Skye focused on something behind me. “There’s Sasha.”
I didn’t bother turning around. “Really?”
Grinning, she explained, “I just saw her yesterday. I want to invite her to the wedding, but isn’t that too close? Sheismy therapist.”
“Do you think she’ll come?” When Skye didn’t answer right away, I glanced up at her. “What?”
“Did you sleep with her?”
I leaned back in my chair. “Come on, now. Stop asking me that.”
“You told me—”
“I told you not to ask questions if you don’t want to hear my answers.” I finished. I remembered what I’d told her because I meant what I said. From the moment Skye started seeing the therapist, she’d been on me about Dr. Sasha Williams. Although, Sasha and I did have a complicated history, I wasn’t the one that had a romantic past with her. I didn’t go around telling other people’s business either. “Let it go.”
Skye frowned. “Oh.” She gasped. “She’s with Tristan.”
I craned my neck to see what Skye was talking about. Sure enough, Sasha was seated at the bar, all smiles, with my brother. To some, the interaction might seem innocent. After all, the clinical psychologist was good friends with my sister Paityn. She knew our family well. I knew it wasn’t merely two friends catching up over drinks, though. I’d seen them with my own eyes, huddled up together, sneaking off to quiet places. He’d admitted there was something between them himself. He also told me their relationship was over. But watching them now, the way she placed her hand on his knee and the subtle brush of his palm against her arm, only confirmed that he’d told me a bold-faced lie.
Demi. I closed my eyes and sighed. Picking up my phone, I noticed she’d texted me back from earlier that she’d arrived.
Me:Where are you?
