He had laughed and said, “Sound Music received an invitation, but Aerie will be attending since my ownership of the company won’t be made public until the following day.”
Admittedly I was relieved. I still am. I’m not ready to tell my family anything—there are just too many variables. And thank God ownership of Sound Music has never come up so I haven’t had to feign ignorance or lie.
“Garrett, get off the stage and stop goofing around,” I scold.
His brow creases. “What’s wrong with you? You look really red.”
I feel my forehead. My temperature seems normal, but I’m burning up. “No, I don’t. Do you think you can help me out and find Leif? I want to make sure he has everything set up for Ivy to take the stage.”
He scuffs the carpet with his foot and offers me a bright smile. “Anything for you—tomato face.” He grins.
I shove his shoulder. “Cut it out.”
He strides toward the bar area but stops and tosses over his shoulder, “Red and green.” He points to my shorts romper. “You’re practically ready for Christmas.”
I chase after him grabbing a napkin off the table, ready to swat him.
“I better make like a hockey player and get the puck out of here.” He laughs.
I really missed the gang while they were gone on tour. I’m glad that even though the Wilde Ones broke up they are all still working together at the studio. And of course we have the addition of Ivy now and her bassist, Leif Morgan, both of whom I adore. Speaking of adoring—in walk my brother and Dahlia.
Dahlia looks amazing. She’s wearing a pewter-colored halter dress with a chain neck and a large brooch at the center of the deep V. River looks pretty good himself in a suit much like Xander’s, and he has opted for no tie. He and Dahlia are fashionably late as always, but since today is their one-year anniversary and I was practically late myself, I think it’s perfectly acceptable.
I watch as River and Dahlia meet up with Xander and Ivy. I notice River search Xander’s eyes, and if I hadn’t been looking, I would never have noticed the slight nod Xander gives him. River grabs Xander around the neck and pulls him forward. Oh my God, the engagement. And it’s River and Dahlia’s anniversary too. What’s wrong with me? I rush over but it’s too late. The four of them are huddled together. I move fast, as fast as I can in these heels, but still Garrett beats me to them.
“Aw . . . I missed out on the hugs and kisses. What, because we all work together now I get shafted?” he says.
I try to push forward to congratulate my brother, but there’s a tap on my shoulder.
“Hey, Dino, everything all set with the food?”
“Well, there were a few changes to the menu,” he says softly.
“Like what?” I ask sternly.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Garrett grab River by the collar and jerk him backward. “Dino, I’ll be right back.”
I head over to Garrett with my hands on my hips.
“You’re late, dick. Come on,” he quips to River. Then he starts to shake his h*ps and sing, “LA, let’s get this party started!”
I guess the old band is going to have a jam session, because when I look toward the stage they’re all up there—River, Leif, Garrett, Nix, the drummer, and even Zane, River’s replacement before Ivy. Since the crowd rushes the dance floor and throws their hands in the air, dancing to a cover of “Hands All Over,” I decide to leave them alone. It’s a record release party after all. It’s then I notice I still have the napkin clenched in my hand, and thoughts of Ben instantly surface. His hands on my body, the way he knows just how to touch me. The way he made me come right there on the beach with firecrackers behind my eyelids.
“Bell, do you want the trays of champagne brought out now or after Ivy sings?” Matt asks.
I blink away my dreamy state, a little embarrassed that Matt might have just gotten a glimpse of what I was imagining. I shake away the thoughts for now and decide it’s also time for me to get this party started.
“After, I think,” I say, and then go in search of Ivy.
“Finally,” I say when I find her. With my nerves calmed I get to look at her for the first time tonight. She looks utterly beautiful in her short dark blue sapphire satin dress. I’m shocked that Xander hasn’t had a heart attack yet over her wearing it—it’s not only sleeveless but backless as well. He’s very protective over, as he says, what is his. But since the dress matches the color of her eyes as well as her sapphire star earrings, he must have let it go or maybe he’s just more secure. Her earrings glitter from her ears like shooting stars from the sky. They make me smile every time I see them. They were my grandmother’s and Ivy always admired them when she wore them. It seemed fitting that Mimi gave them to her, because she always thought Ivy was going to be a star.
“Come with me,” I tell her. “So?” I ask.
She looks at me blankly.
I grab her hand and turn it over and there it is—the engagement ring my father gave to my mother. I hug her tightly and whisper, “Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Bell.”
I pull away. “Now come on, we have things to do.”
I drag her over to the photo booth I rented. I have her pose a few times, well, maybe more than a few. Next Dino captures my attention and points to the table centers. They are missing the silver stars I asked to be confettied around the flowers.
“I have to go,” I say, running off to place some of the photographs in the centers instead.
Aerie sashays up to me as I’m fixing the tables. “Bell, you look amazing. I love your outfit,” she says in a really bubbly manner.
“Thank you. I love your look too.” She looks very businesslike with a touch of sass—her hair is in a bun and she’s wearing a purple pantsuit with pumps, but surprisingly it’s low-cut and shows a hint of cle**age.
She smiles. “So, how are things?”
I know exactly what she’s asking and I can’t take the chance of discussing Ben here, so I deflect the question. “Where’s Jagger?”
She gestures toward the makeshift bar with her wineglass. “Oh, Jack caught him on our way in and they’re huddled somewhere.”
“Film talk?” I roll my eyes.
“Yep.”
“That’s so Jack. So, how’s the movie anyway?”
“Still hasn’t started filming. Production issues.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
She shrugs. “I’m going to get another drink before I tell Xander and River about Ben acquiring Sound Music magazine.”
I gulp. “Oh.” I want to say thanks for the heads-up because I plan to be nowhere near either of those conversations. I watch Aerie approach Xander and quickly avert my gaze, not even wanting to witness his reaction. When I scan the room, my eyes land on not only Tate but Romeo too. Romeo grins with a slight wave and I wave back, then head toward the hallway and into one of the offices we’ve turned into our prep room. I suspect Tate brought Romeo as his plus one. Tate has been a friend of Jack’s for a while, so I knew he’d be invited. His father was Jack’s business associate many years ago. But when did he become buddies with Romeo?
Once I have everything as organized as possible, I check my phone. No texts from Ben since before I left. I can’t understand why. I feel so disappointed I could have invited him to come with me—but I was too chicken. The thought of Ben in the same room with River and Xander seriously makes me almost break out in hives. In fact, my skin is itchy just thinking about it.
But Ivy and Xander offer the perfect distraction when I meet them in the hallway. We haven’t spent that much time together since I’ve been living in Ben World, but I’ve known her since I was ten, so I feel a connection to her.
“No more pictures, Bell,” she jokes.
I have to laugh. “Oh God, no. I think Xander might lose it if I ask him to smile one more time.”
“What’s so funny?” Xander asks, putting his arm around Ivy and pulling her to him. I love seeing him like this—happy and in love.
“Nothing. Nothing at all,” we both say in unison.
My phone dings and I quickly pull it out of the pocket of my little romper. Finally . . . Ben. Why is seeing him in such a short time making me so nervous? It’s not as if we haven’t sleep together before. I read his text.
Did I tell you how much I enjoyed the noises you made in the parking lot earlier?
A slight rosy color blooms on my cheeks—I can feel it. My body already feels ten degrees hotter than it should, and his message only intensifies the heat.
“Who’s that? A guy? Maybe a boyfriend?” Ivy teases.
Xander snorts. “You don’t know Bell well enough yet—she always has a boyfriend.”
I try not to let his quip jab me in the heart, but it does. Yes, I always had a boyfriend, but they were never really boyfriends, not that he’d understand that. I’ve always had this overwhelming need to make men happy. It’s deep-rooted, my therapist said—stems from feeling that I couldn’t make my father happy so I was trying to make up for that. But I’ve worked through those issues now.
I redirect my attention to my brother and put my hands on my hips. “I’ll have you know, brother of mine, I have not had a boyfriend since Tate almost a year ago.”
Xander raises his arms in surrender. “Wow, calm down. I didn’t know. But I’m just teasing you.”
I roll my eyes at him and quickly text Ben back.
Did I tell you I make those sounds when I eat my favorite foods?
I slide my phone back into my pocket and watch Xander slip a stuffed mushroom in Ivy’s mouth.
“Um . . . these are so good,” she says, and I want to gag. Fungus with bread crumbs is definitely not something I had selected for the menu tonight. I wonder what else got messed up.
“Hey, little sis, aren’t those your favorite?” he asks, pointing to a silver tray with scallops wrapped in bacon.
“Very funny.”
“Why don’t you try one of them for old times?” Xander asks.
“No, thank you,” I say almost menacingly.
“I dare you,” he challenges.
My gaze flits over him in an assessing manner. In our family we never shut down a dare. So I reach for the appetizer. I squish my nose in disgust and pop it into my mouth, swallowing it without even chewing. Then I cover my mouth to stop from gagging.
“Happy?” I wave my hands in the air at me.
“What? Are you going to throw up?” Xander asks, now with concern in his voice.
I cover my lips again, not really sure if I’m going to, and decide I’d better hurry to the bathroom just in case. “I just remembered. I forgot the Bellinis. I’ll be back.”
I make it into the bathroom and I’m fine by then. There’s a chair in the corner and I take a seat, pulling out my phone to see if Ben responded. He did.
Do you forget, I’ve heard the sounds you make when you’ve eaten and they are nothing like what I heard today. Just admit it, you want me.
I smile hugely and my cheeks prickle when I do. Quickly I text him back.
That’s a fact I’ve never denied. You just never asked.
I was being respectful of your “guidelines.” But tell me now, “Do you want me?”
I’ve always wanted you.
Fuck me.
That’s the plan.
My stomach flutters and I’m feeling pretty proud of myself for my wit. I shove my phone in my pocket and stop to look in the mirror. When I do I’m a little shocked by how red my skin is. I splash some cool water over my face, but my discomfort level is starting to rise. A dab of powder takes away the shine and dulls the color.
A few hours later, I’m tired but happy watching everyone enjoying themselves. I’m also feeling eager for it to end.