Page 63
Daria folds her arms. “Nice of you to join us.”
“I got delayed.”
“You mean recognised. Occupational hazard.” Naithan grins.
Raffi eyes me closely. “You look stressed Viejo.”
“I’m fine,” I say, a bit sharper than necessary.
Daria narrows her eyes. “You’re absolutely not fine. You’ve got your worried face on.”
“I don’t have a worried face.”
“You absolutely do.”
The others nod. Traitors.
Naithan laughs. “So, what’s her name? Do we get to know now?”
I sigh, ready to deflect the question when an idea cuts through the panic. Locking eyes with Naithan, I take a shaky breath. “Her name’s Bri and I need your help. You’ve got your guitar, haven’t you?”
“When do I ever travel without it?”
Daria gasps dramatically. “Oh my God. He is in love.”
I laugh. “Maybe.”
“I knew it!”
My smile gives me away.
Naithan and Raffi jump on me, screaming "our boy has grown up!"
When they're finally done ribbing me they step back, massive grins on their faces.
“So, what’s the plan?” Raffi asks.
“The plan…” I glance towards the convention hall, “is convincing one incredible woman that last night was real.”
Daria smiles softly. “I think you’ve got a decent chance.”
I hope she’s right. Because somewhere in this building is a woman who I'm positive has convinced herself that I used her. Given my old reputation and Jason's catastrophic timing, I can't even blame her. But I'll be damned if I'm going to let her brain tell her this isn't real.
The photographer claps his hands. “Right, everyone! Positions!”
Stepping into place I smile for the camera, but my mind isn’t on the photos. It’s on Bri, and one thought keeps circling through my head; I need to find her and this time, I’m not letting her run.
Chapter 44
Saint
Icannot believe I’m having to coax a grown woman out from underneath a table. Actually, that’s a lie. Given the weekend we’ve all had, it feels entirely normal for us.
“Bri, come out from under the table please.”
“I live here now.”
“You absolutely do not.” Crossing my arms, I put on my best don’t mess with me face. “You’ve known me for all of three days. I sell extravagant wearable art for a living. I am gay and I am exceptionally dramatic. So, if you don’t come out immediately, I shall perform a musical number announcing to the whole hall that a woman lives under my table.”
