Page 12 of Embracing the Beat
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he tells the writer to change it. But for now, we can’t shoot until it lets up a bit, so I get to spend my time talking to you.”
“Wouldn’t you rather talk to your husband?” I tease.
She and Garrett are freaking adorable. They’ve been friends since childhood and have tons of inside jokes and stories, but their chemistry is still hot enough to set the world on fire.
“I’ll talk to him later. I feel like I haven’t talked to you in months.”
“You’ve been busy kicking Hollywood’s ass,” I say.
“You’ve been busy on your tour too.”
Two different levels. But I don’t want to debate with her right now. Mia is a successful movie star. I sing to disinterested drunks at smoky bars.
“I’m not going to argue with you. But you know what I think.”
She sighs but doesn’t push. “Fine. How’s Pennsylvania?”
Good question. I haven’t stopped to think about it, too focused on trying to keep my career from dying completely.
“Meh.” I shrug. “It’s home.”
Sort of. It’s like a shirt that’s a little too small—it doesn’t quite fit, but I’m not willing to stop trying it on.
“You should come stay with me. I’ll see if Garrett knows any entertainment attorneys.”
Her interruption pulls me out of my thoughts. “Maybe.”
“Maybe? C’mon, it’ll be fun. We have a whole guest house you can use.”
“I doubt you want a third wheel hanging around all the time.”
“You’re welcome anytime,” she assures me.
I snort. “You say that now. Aren’t you still a newlywed?”
“So what if I am?”
“Mi, don’t you want to be alone with your new husband?”
“You’ll have your own space,” she says again. “I’m heading home in three weeks—hopefully. Once I know for sure, we’ll set everything up.”
“I’m fine. I’m enjoying my break for now and helping West with the basement.”
“West? Sawyer’s friend?”
“Yeah. Long story short, he’s living here and finishing the basement while my parents are out of town.”
“Ohhh. Is he cute?” she asks.
“Aren’t you married?” I tease.
“Not for me, goof. For you.”
“I dunno.” I do know.
Cute is the wrong word. As the college guy I had a crush on when he came to see my brother, he was cute. Longish blond hair, green eyes sparkling with laughter over something he and Sawyer were talking about. He was the perfect specimen for my thirteen-year-old heart to fall in love with.
As a man? He is lethal to my libido. He still has the green eyes, but they’re more watchful, more observant than they were when he was younger. Gone is the baby face of youth—his jaw is sharp and angular, and by the time I see him each afternoon, it’s covered in a layer of scruff I want to catalog with my palms.
