Page 59 of A Way Out
“I miss Riley,” he said, sounding as surprised as she felt.
Great, and now she felt guilty too. She sighed again. “I have to figure it out. I’ve taken a job, working with Holly.” Technically, she was working with Demigoddess Revival, but explaining that to Vic would take far more time than she had at the moment and real talk; he wouldn’t care.
“I have commitments, at least through next weekend.”
They had the two shows in Tulsa. Then Phoenix on Friday, followed by Vegas on Saturday, before the band was due back in LA for shows Bridgette had previously booked.
It was a lot of driving without a tour bus, but she’d let Oz know they could use her Cadillac. It was plenty big enough for the members and their equipment. Although if Bridgette kept booking shows like it seemed she intended to, they were going to need to look into renting a tour bus sooner than later.
Maria shook her head. “I really need to get dressed for the wedding. I’ll take a look at my calendar and call you tomorrow, okay?”
“Talk to you then,” Vic said cheerfully before disconnecting the call.
There was so much to do. So many details to iron out. Damn it, Vic’s call could not have come at a worse time.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Vic, I have other things going on. I cannot just hop on a plane when you’ve decided you’re ready to play nice.”
Shit. Oz did not like the sound of that.
“You okay?” he asked as soon as Maria lowered the phone. He’d stayed even though Riley was totally ready to go and he still needed to change clothes. But he hadn’t been able to leave, not when he could hear the frustration in her voice.
And the words coming out of her mouth.
Maria shook her head. “Nothing I need to deal with right now. But I do need to get dressed and get downstairs.”
He’d heard her tell her ex that she had commitments through next weekend. And she seemed to be shaking off whatever they had discussed; her smile was genuine when she offered it up.
Chill, Oz. Everything’s fine.
He started toward her, to pull her into his arms, when she stopped him with a pointed look. Oh, right, she needed to get dressed for the wedding. Without him in the room. Although he’d seen her naked not twenty minutes ago, now was not the time to try to explain to a three-year-old that it was okay for Mommy to undress in front of a man who wasn’t her husband.
He glanced down at Riley. “You want to come help me choose my outfit while your mom gets dressed?” The least he could do was give Maria a minute to breathe without having to worry about another little being.
Bonus that she wouldn’t slip away downstairs without him if her kid was in his room.
“Aunt Holly didn’t tell you what to wear?” Riley asked, confusion coating her childlike voice.
Oz chuckled. “Nope. I’m not in the wedding. I’m just a guest. Guests can wear whatever they want. Well, within reason. I have two shirts, and I can’t decide. Will you help me?”
“You don’t have to do that,” Maria said.
“Sure,” Riley said, clasping his hand and leading him through the bathroom into his bedroom. He barely had time to wink at Maria before she disappeared from sight.
Riley picked the baby blue button-down, and he stepped into the bathroom to dress, pairing it with a pair of navy slacks. He was tempted to peek in on Maria but resisted. Besides, that first glimpse of the finished product, he knew, would be worth the wait.
When he returned to the bedroom, Riley was checking out his empty guitar case. The guitar was downstairs, propped on a stand on the stage, ready for their concert later tonight.
“Mommy says we have to stop listening to KIDZBOP because your band is better.”
Oz laughed. “Did she now? Well, you’ll get to decide for yourself. We’re playing for all the wedding guests tonight.”
“Do I get to stay up? Mommy says I have to go to bed before the wedding is over.”
“You’ll probably be able to hear the music when you’re in bed. It’ll be like a rock lullaby.”
She canted her head, and then she shrugged. “Okay.”
