Page 92 of Composed
I jolt in my seat and spin to face her. “How do you know that? I don’t even know that.”
“Axel told me.”
“Did he now?” I turn to Talia, my eyebrows raised to the sky. Talia mirrors my expression, lips twisted in amusement. “Did you know they text?”
“Do they?” Talia drags the question out. “I had no idea. It seems you aren’t the only one who keeps secrets in this friendship, Hendrix.”
“I’m right here,” Riley says, impassively.
I snicker. “I love you, Riles. Now spill, they own a private plane?”
“No.” She shakes her head, her fingers drumming in her lap. “But they lease one. It’s safer when they’re touring. So, I’m pretty sure if you asked Cole he’d lend it to you if you needed it.”
Talia’s eyes widen.
“The more you know,” I say, twirling my fork again. “But I was talking about driving anyway. No private planes for me, thank you.”
“Okay.” Riley shrugs.
“So, my wedding?” Talia asks, lips twitching.
“Is in eight months,” I remind her with a grin. “I’ll be back by them, I promise. It really shouldn’t take too long for the album to be finished. A couple weeks at best. Two months at most. Then, I’ll be home for good, and life can resume as normal.”
Talia watches me, head titled, eyes gleaming with something I can’t read.
I squirm under her gaze. “A weird thing happened today, by the way. Theo reached out to me.”
“Saint’s wife?” Riley asks.
“Yeah, she wants to get together when I get back down there,” I tell them.
“That’ll be nice,” Riley says.
“Yeah, I think so, maybe…” I exhale, and quiet falls around us.
Talia’s watchful gaze never strays from my face as I duck to finish Riley’s pasta. I want to ask her why, but I don’t. Pretty sure I know what she’s thinking already and it’s not something I’m willing to put into words yet.
Chapter twenty-nine
Hendrix • Now
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Shark Bait
“Christoncracker!”
I startle, spinning towards the high-pitched voice.
Theo whistles, low and slow as she takes me in. Nerves swirl heavy through my body.
She drags her eyes over me, taking in my straight-legged leather pants, black slinky crop, and five-inch stilettos, before landing on my full glammed face and sleek hair.
Did I overdo it for a few drinks on a Thursday night?
Maybe.
But I need all the confidence I can get.
I wonder if she feels the same.
