“Good shit, huh?” I laughed as she nodded, unable to speak. “Not much of a drinker?”
“Not yet. Pour me another.”
“What’s up with you today? Not a fan of weddings either?”
She shook her head, and her gaze dropped to the bottle. I nodded and poured her another shot, giving her a little extra this time. I slid the glass over to her again and she took it, her fingers sliding over mine. The electricity between us was undeniable today and I tensed, hating my attraction to her. She wasn’t my type. She wasn’t anyone’s type. She was closed off and angry at the world. She used her work as an escape from living her life and enjoying herself. I also knew that any attraction she felt toward me was purely physical. Which wouldn’t be a bad thing, except that she was our manager. I had to keep reminding myself of that.
“Wanna talk about it?”
She drank the shot, a trail of whiskey running over her chin and down her throat. I grabbed a paper towel and wiped it off for her, careful not to mess up her makeup.
“Just brings back bad memories.”
I nodded, completely understanding. Even as Donna and I had grown closer over the past few weeks, I knew there were things she wouldn’t tell even me. But I guess that was only fair, given how much I kept to myself, too.
“That’s life,” I said as I poured myself another drink. “A series of struggles strung together with the occasional moment of joy that makes it worth going another day.” I turned around. Drink in hand as I looked over at Tucker. He was nervous but smiling in his charcoal-gray suit. Chris and Terry laughing and helping him shake his nerves.
“You think he is happy?” she asked as she leaned back against the counter, her body brushing against mine.
I cleared my throat and moved over a fraction of an inch. “Of course he is. Look at him. He’s in love.” I smiled, genuinely happy for my best friend.
“The deeper your love, the harder you fall when it goes bad.”
I grinned, glancing over at Donna’s profile; for twenty-seven she could really be intense. “Careful . . . you’re dangerously close to opening up to someone.”
She laughed sardonically and shook her head as she looked down at her shoes. “I won’t make that mistake twice.” She gave me a sideways glance, and the corner of her lips curled up in a small smile.
I didn’t want to push her to say anything more, so I just offered a halfhearted smile in return. “I’ll drink to that.” I poured the amber liquid down my throat and tossed my glass in the sink behind us.
Donna grabbed the light blue tie from the counter and wrapped it around my neck. She was standing so close I could feel the heat radiating from her and the faint smell of her minty, alcohol-laced breath.
“You’ll drink to anything.” Her eyes narrowed as she worked quickly to secure the tie and fold my shirt collar down over it, her fingers lingering on my shoulders. My body moved on its own as I leaned forward a fraction of an inch, as if a magnet were pulling me toward her, or maybe I had drunk a few too many shots. I was thankful when Cass returned, her hair swept back at her nape. She was still wearing an old T-shirt and shorts.
“How you feeling?” she asked as her eyes danced between Donna and me.
Donna took a step back, looking embarrassed. “I’m going to freshen up.” She left us and Cass smiled widely. We watched Donna walk away.
“She really has a thing for you.”
“Nah. She just wants a distraction.”
“You could both use one.”
“Cass, you know I can’t do that. There isn’t anything there. The last thing I want to do is mess things up for the band over some chick.”
Cass raised an eyebrow and I realized that probably sounded like an insult to her.
“You know I didn’t mean you. You’re like family to all of us.”
“I wasn’t always. I remember what it felt like to be an outsider in this group. Maybe Donna just needs to find her place.”
“Donna is one of us, she just doesn’t realize it.”
Cass sighed loudly as she looked around the room. Her face looked sullen as her eyes glassed over.
“What is it?” I reached out and took her hand. She glanced down at the ring on her finger and shook her head, fighting back the tears.
“My dad.”
“Hey . . .” I pulled her against me and wrapped my arms around her neck, giving her a nice firm hug. “We talked about this. You don’t need him. I’m going to walk you down the aisle with the twins. You have all the family you need.”
“I know.”
I pulled back from her and ran my thumbs carefully under her eyes to catch the tears that began to spill over. She jerked back and made a gagging sound.
“Jesus, E! You smell like a bum! How much have you had?”
“Not nearly enough.”
She smiled. “I could use a little relaxing myself. I can’t stop shaking.”
“You scared?”
“No, I’m not scared. I’m happy. I can’t believe it is finally happening. It’s overwhelming.”
“What are you women talking ’bout?” Terry asked as he made his way into the cramped kitchen space and threw his arm over my shoulder. I pushed it off and took a step away from him.
“Just because I am sensitive to the ladies doesn’t make me a chick.”
“Doesn’t make you much of a man either.” Terry laughed.
“How much have you drunk, Terry?” Cass asked. He just laughed, his eyes glazed over and bloodshot.
“What does make you a man, O wise one?” I asked as Chris made his way to us.
“This,” Terry shot back as he grabbed his crotch.
“A small package?” I joked, and glanced over at Chris.
“Let it be known we are fraternal, not identical,” Chris replied as he winked at Cass, who let out a giggle.
“Thanks for the backup, Brother.” Terry ran his hand through his hair and cracked his neck. Chris just shrugged and took a swig of his bottle of beer.
“Beatfest is in a few days,” Chris said to no one in particular.
“Great. I wonder which one of you will get in a fight first at the festival.” Cass rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“They all promised to behave,” Tucker spoke up in our defense. “They know how hard it was to convince you to stay here longer just for a concert.”
“You still owe me one,” she replied with an eyebrow raised.
“Oh, I will give you one tonight.” He winked at her.
Chris made a heaving sound. “Seriously. That is gross. Cass is like a little sister to the rest of us.”
“This is fun, guys, but you all need to get out so I can put on my dress. It’s bad luck for Tucker to see me in it before the wedding.”
“Fine, but I’m taking my whiskey with me,” I smirked as I grabbed the bottle and headed for the hotel door.
The rest of the band followed, but Donna stayed behind to help Cass get ready. They didn’t always see eye to eye, but Cass was lucky to have another female around for times like this.
The band all filed into the elevator and waited for it to make it to the expansive lobby. The doors popped open and a blinding flash caught us all off guard.
“Don’t you have a fucking life?” I put my hand out to block the photographer’s lens as Tucker and the guys hustled by to get to the waiting car outside.
Ever since we had performed at the MTV Music Video Awards about four months ago, we’d begun attracting more attention, especially from the paps. Most days we could go about our daily business freely and without interruption, but ever since word got out that Tucker had proposed, paparazzi had been counting down the days until he tied the knot, stalking us with obnoxious persistence.
Tucker has been pretty laid-back about it, but I couldn’t keep my cool as easily.