Page 56 of Tangled Up In You

“Soph, it’s grand. Okay?” He shifted in his chair, and something about the way he looked away revealed more than his words.

“You’re hurt,” she said, her eyes widening as she understood where his anger was coming from. He and Gavin had been friends since they were seven years old. Conor had no siblings but had always acted as if Gavin was his brother. It was natural that he would feel possessive of their friendship.

He raised his eyebrows. “Em, not sure what you’re talking about.”

She touched his forearm and he looked down at her hand. “Nothing will change with the band, you know.”

He scoffed and pulled his arm from her. “It’s already fucking changed, hasn’t it? Instead of running with a lead for a song—three in the morning or whenever—instead of getting to our gigs on time, instead of hanging with us after the show, he’s withyou. And that’s all well and good, but don’t go telling me nothing’s changed.”

Sophie nodded. “No, I get it. You’re right.”

“I know I am.”

“But—”

“But what?”

“I think I can make him happy.Trulyhappy. And we both know he needs that.” She pointedly skirted around saying what they both knew about Gavin—that a part of him was broken and would never be mended. But she could be—wanted desperately to be—of use in lessening his hurt.

Conor looked away from her as he took this in. He fixed his eyes on some middle distance for a long moment. At last, he released a heavy sigh. “I think you’re right,” he said softly. “At least I hope so.”

Sophie smiled and nodded, quickly blinking back the tears that came with her relief. She had bet right. They were united in wanting to take care of Gavin. She had known instinctively that this was important to assert, that it would make them into allies rather than adversaries.

There was an outburst of laughter from the other side of the floor and it served to instantly lighten the mood between the two of them.

Sophie smiled. “Thank you, Connie.”

“Don’t start that again.” He stood.

She had naturally used Connie as a nickname for him when they were in school together but was the only one to do so. Everyone else knew how much he hated it. He vehemently shut down any attempt to call him that. But he’d always let Sophie have her way, his protests mild at best.

“Anyway, sorry to interrupt your little …” she said, gesturing to the makeup counter and back to him suggestively.

“Little what?” he asked, amused.

She laughed. “Whatever it was you two were about to do.”

“Ah, you saw that, did you?”

“Just a bit.”

“Well, do you think I have a chance?”

“I don’t think there’s any doubt about it.”

He put his arm around her neck familiarly as they started toward the backdrop for photos. Leaning down, he whispered conspiratorially in her ear, “I don’t either.”

“Congratulations on your engagement,”John Riley said as he took a seat next to Sophie.

She had been watching the boys for the last forty-five minutes as they were photographed. The outburst she and Conor had heard earlier was Shay and Martin’s reaction to seeing Gavin wearing dark brown leather pants with a softly draping white long-sleeve shirt. The style was perfect for a rock star singer but not one Gavin had ever tried on. He had always been a jeans and T-shirt guy. But despite his bandmates’ jokes, he took to the ensemble well. The trousers were made of the softest calfskin and molded to his body. The shirt was tucked in front, showcasing a silver belt buckle low and tight across his hips. The unmistakable effect was that he exuded sex.

The others looked exactly like themselves: casual yet cool in well-worn jeans or work pants and distinctive tee shirts. Shay wore an old Clash shirt, while Martin wore a brand-new baseball-style shirt with Mickey Mouse holding up what seemed to be a middle finger. Conor’s military-style black short-sleeve shirt with gray striped epaulets, combined with his black jeans and silver pocket chain, served to make him even more darkly handsome.

They stood together, varying their positions now and again, and Sophie thought they made a striking group. Each brought so much to the band and their personalities came through as they stood staring into the lens of the camera. As the photographer grunted his approval and gave minor directions, she imagined the impact this cover would have. The sudden rise their career had already taken was merely the beginning, and she knew she wasn’t the only one to sense this.

“That’s the one,” she murmured.

“What’s that?” Riley asked.

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