Page 48 of Tangled Up In You

“Meaning?”

“Well, I’m sensing a bit of attitude, is all.”

“Oh, I’m onlydelighted. I’m just one of those who believe in focusing on the music.”

“Okay, Conor, tell me about the music. Tell me about the writing process.”

Conor took a deep breath and was happy to launch into a detailed description of how the band worked together to create their music. Gavin joined in and the two inadvertently demonstrated the fluid way they played off each other. It was a display of how their childhood bond had developed over the years into an indispensable music partnership.

They were so involved in the conversation that they were startled when Gavin’s cell phone rang.

“Really, Gav?” Conor said. “You should have switched it off.”

“I’ll do it now,” Gavin said. But when he took the phone out of his pocket no one in the room, least of all Riley, could mistake the change that came over him. His posture straightened, his shoulders pulled back, and an excited gleam came to his eyes as a broad smile lit up his face.

“It’s Sophie,” Gavin said. “Just?—”

“Don’t you even think about it,” Conor said. “We’re in the middle of a fucking interview.”

Gavin visibly struggled with what he would do next.

“I’ll be just a second,” he said, and got up.

Conor wasn’t used to Gavin putting the band in second place, and he seethed as he watched him walk out onto the balcony. He could just imagine the impression Riley had now and how the article would be written. It would be all about the whipped singer of the up-and-coming Irish band that could have made it to the big time, if only their Yoko hadn’t taken over.

“So, Conor,” Riley said, “do you get along with Sophie?”

It wasn’t easy, but he thought he did a good job of hiding his temper over the question.

“Sure. She’s grand.”

“Gavin is notorious for being . . . generous in interviews, happy to pontificate on any given subject. Why do you suppose he’s holding back now?”

It was a good question. Not that Conor wanted to focus on Sophie, but he was just as surprised as the reporter was by Gavin’s lack of candor. Maybe it was because Gavin wasn’t really sure how to define this fling with Sophie.

But he simply raised his eyebrows and offered nothing more than a shrug. Whatever was going on with Gavin, he wasn’t about to throw him under the bus.

“Sorry about that,” Gavin said as he returned.

“Anything wrong?” Riley asked.

“Hmm? Oh, no. Thanks.”

“So, Sophie lives in Los Angeles. You live in Dublin. How does that work?”

“We’ll figure it out. It’ll work.”

“How?”

“Love conquers all, doesn’t it?” Gavin said with a wink.

Love? Conor had to summon all his strength to keep from questioning Gavin on that one. He didn’t want to provoke a bigger reaction out of Riley than he already had. But with that one word, Gavin had just revealed he’d been keeping quiet about Sophie, not because he wasn’t sure what they meant, but because he thought they meant somethingtoospecial to share.

Just what the fuck was happening here? It was ridiculous to think Sophie was going to play a part in Gavin’s—in the band’s—future. They were too focused. They were having too much fun touring and partying and bedding a different girl every night.

Thankfully, James stepped in before he could go any farther down this rabbit hole of worry to suggest they end the interview so the band could get ready to go to the Craig Kilborn taping.

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