Page 12 of Her Dark Melody
“I know, and I feelwretched.”
Ebony had hugged Kate, who genuinely seemed ashamed. “Dude, look, sex is great, and I’m sure there are people who dig that whole scene. It’s just not forme.”
She’d told herself that it was fine over and over, that sex clubs definitely had their place in the world, but she couldn’t help feeling a little dirty, a little sordid. She hadn’t even seen the guy’s face, and now she was carrying his child.God.
But the thing was…it was something she tried not to admit to herself, but a small part of her was excited to be a mother.Lots of women have children young,she thought to herself,but it’s just the timing sucks. If I hadn’t metAtlas…
But shehadmet Atlas, and she was so excited about where this could go. So excited that she refused to think about the complications pregnancy would add to an as-yet nonexistent relationship. Why worry before anything had actuallyhappened?
Dragging herself up from the floor, she glanced at her phone. Just after 4 a.m. in Seattle, and she wondered if her brother, in New Orleans, would be awake. She went back to bed and textedObe.
Youup?
Hey,sis.
She called him immediately. “Hey Bubba, sorry to bother you soearly.”
“No sweat. What are you doing up soearly?”
“Just … stuff on my mind,” she deflected. “How’s our old huntingground?”
“Stuff like your performance, I’m guessing. The hunting grounds are beautiful, but cold. You withJuno?”
“Yeah, she’s still asleep. I was about to go to the gym but I’d rather talk to you. Miss you,kiddo.”
Ebony smiled down the phone. “Miss you too. Listen, the guy who’s working with Romy is a sweetheart, and he’s invited us to spend Christmas with him and his extended family. So, it’s something to think about, thought I’d mention it. Juno knows him…AtlasTigri.”
“Yeah, she’s mentioned him. That’s cool. I’ll talk to Juno about it, but I’m sure we can make it work if that’s what you want todo.”
“It is.” Ebony wondered if she should share the growing attraction between her and Atlas with her brother, but decided againstit.
“So. Nervous about your performance at the fundraiser?” Obe askedagain.
“A little,” she admitted, letting him keep thinking that was what was keeping her awake even though she didn’t know the meaning of stage fright. Never had. “I don’t want to let Atlas and Romydown.”
“Not possible,” her brother gave a short laugh, “you’ll kill it,sis.”
Ebony thanked him and ended the call. She lay in bed, her mind whirling with how much, in such short of time, her life was changing. She had no idea what was coming next, but she knew one thing for certain: This time tomorrow she would be in bed with the most gorgeous man she had ever laid eyes on…and she couldn’twait.
Chapter Five
It was a habit of hers to always check out a venue early on the day of the performance, just to get the vibe. A place felt so different the day of something than on any otherday.
Ebony walked into the party venue and stopped. Talk about a different vibe. “Wow.” Though elegant as ever, the large room had been transformed into a white and silver Christmas wonderland, with thousands of tiny, twinkling white lights. Ebony looked around the room as the staff set dinner tables and prepared theroom.
The money Atlas had put into this – his own money, Romy had told her – was a little unsettling. The man was rich –veryrich, and it freaked her out alittle.
On the stage, there was a curtain of crystals hanging like rain behind where she would sing. Ebony suddenly felt overwhelmed, an unfamiliar feeling she didn’t enjoy in theslightest.
“MissVerlaine?”
She turned to see a young woman smiling at her. “That’s me,hello.”
“Hi there, I’m Felicity. Mr. Tigri suggested you might drop byearly.”
Ebony looked at her in surprise. “He did, did he?” The way he seemed to know her so well when they’d barely just met could have been unnerving, but she found it somehow only amplified how hot the manwas.
“He asked whether you’d like any changes made. Any at all, and I’ll make themhappen.”
