Page 281 of Hot Mess
“What?”
“I mean, how is it fair that some people get so many good genes? She’s a songwriter with a major band, and she looks likethat?”
Ashley smirked, amused with me, apparently. “Well, it’s not like she rolls out of bed and just slogs around in a garbage bag. It takes some work to look like that. Definitely takes work to write like she does, too. So it’s not like she doesn’t put anything into it.”
“For sure,” I said. “I don’t doubt it. But let’s just admit, genes have something to do with it. Like I’m never gonna be five-ten and willowy.”
Ashley’s blue-eyed gaze moved slowly down my body. “You don’t have to be.”
I sipped my drink and tried not to glow too much when he said that. “Hey, Ashley. I like your friends.”
“Good. Pretty sure they like you, too.”
* * *
We made our way through the growing party, though we didn’t get very far very fast. Every few steps, Ashley stopped to say hello to someone. There were alotof beautiful people at this thing, and every time one of them hugged my boyfriend, it was kind of… a turn-on.
Everything about being with Ash turned me on. Every time he brushed against me, or put his arm around me, or looked at me… And no matter how many people he stopped to talk to, he always held my hand or touched my back when he introduced me to them.
I’d never been so proud of a man at my side as I was of him.
Ilovedbeing his plus one.
He introduced me to Zane, Dirty’s lead singer, which was kind of a trip. I’d met several famous people through my boyfriend by now, but Zane Traynor wassofamous that I’d seen his face, well, everywhere. He was even more gorgeous in person, though, with his blond hair and ice-blue eyes. His features were this striking mix of pretty boy and Viking, and even in a suit—well, dress pants and dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a suede vest—he felt… dangerous.
He was nice enough, though, and clearly impressed that Ash had brought me to this wedding. I wasn’t sure if he was floored by me, or simply by the fact that Ash had brought a woman with him at all, but he slapped my boyfriend on the back and said, “Nice work,” with a grin on his face. Then he looked Ash over and said, “And take it easy. Give the other guys a chance.”
“No chance,” Ash said, and put his arm around me.
Zane laughed.
I met Zane’s lovely grandma, Dolly, who lived in the gorgeous house, though I’d heard that Zane actually owned it.
I met Seth, Dirty’s rhythm guitarist, and Elle, Dirty’s bassist. I knew the two of them had just had a baby together. Ashley had filled me in, long ago. They had the baby with them, sleeping in a bassinet. She wasn’t quite three months old yet.
And while Ash got talking with Seth, Elle introduced me to the baby, Emma. Elle was also so famous—more famous than Zane, maybe—that her face was everywhere, too. I’d seen her on magazine covers. She had her own line of lipstick, which Taylor swore by.
I could definitely see why Ash had wanted to be with her at one time. She was beautiful. And there was depth in her steely-gray eyes. She wasveryrock star, with her platinum-blonde hair, and very cool.
And she was incredibly nice to me.
Then I met Jesse, Dirty’s lead guitarist. And… yum. Everyone in this band wasgorgeous. He had thick, dark hair, dark eyes and a bright, white smile. And he seemed quite nice. He introduced me to his wife, Katie, who was definitely nice. And pretty. Dark hair, big blue-green eyes and a sweet smile.
She was also six months pregnant, and already carrying around a fairly large baby belly on her curvy, petite frame. Despite that, she had a spring in her step and a definite pregnant glow about her. Or maybe she just always glowed like that?
She seemed genuinely excited to meet me, which was cute, since I was hardly as exciting as all these people she already knew.
After we’d chatted for a minute, she touched my arm and said, “Have you met Amber yet?”
“I haven’t,” I said. I glanced at Ashley, but he was busy talking to Jesse. So when Katie beckoned for me to come with her, I let her draw me over to Amber.
“Hey Amber, this is Danica,” Katie said, as Dylan’s girlfriend turned to us. “Ashley’s date. Um… girlfriend?” Katie looked at me with a question in her eyes.
“I am,” I said.
Amber stared at me. It seemed to take her a moment to recover from that statement. “Danica?” she said.
“Yes.” I extended my hand. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
