Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
She screws up her face. “Are you threatening to ruin my reputation?”
“I’m not making any threats. There are consequences for behavior, though,” Duke says in an even tone.
“Someone should have taught her that back in preschool,” Trevor mutters behind me, making me almost crack a smile.
“I’ll pay the money,” Lindsey says before she abruptly turns and heads toward the door.
My shoulders sag when she’s gone, a physical tension I hadn’t realized was there, releasing all at once.
“She’s a piece of work,” Garrett says, shaking his head.
“Why didn’t I see that she was capable of this?” I wonder aloud.
Trevor hugs me to his side, rubbing my shoulder. “People can be on their best behavior and hide their ugly sides until something provokes them.”
“But I didn’t do anything to her.”
“I didn’t mean to imply that you did. Adrian and I were the ones that set her off, and she’s responsible for her own deranged behavior. I’m just glad you’re out of there.”
“That’s for sure,” Duke says.
“What happened to Kelly?” I ask.
“Last I saw her, she was at the other end of the bar, watching us talk to Lindsey, but keeping her distance,” Garrett says.
“I need to go back on soon,” I tell them. “I just want to get some water.”
“You sound so great!” Adrian says. “I hope my phone recordings are doing you justice. Maybe I can record you at the house sometime, where there’ll be less background noise.”
“You’re crushing it,” Garrett says. “Everyone loves you.”
“Thank you both. You’re so kind. Oh, Rusty’s owner says he wants to talk about future dates!”
“Of course he does,” Trevor says, bringing me in against his chest and giving me a quick, celebratory kiss.
After I get a bottle of water from the bartender, I return to the stage and play my second set. I’m going to need to learn more songs if Barrett has me back here. The bar probably has a lot of regular customers, so I can’t show up and play the same music.
I’m so excited! A return engagement. Things mostly sorted out with Lindsey. And an evening to look forward to back at Duke’s house after I’m done here. Will we pick up where we left off last night?
Even with so much going on today, my mind keeps returning to the four men, how they made me feel, and how I hope I made them feel. When I’m with them, it seems like I can never get enough. Is that a sign that I’m ready for more?
The lyrics of the next song I play are about having an aching need for someone, and I can’t help but think about the four men as I sing.
Garrett, an intelligent and caring friend, whom I never dared admit a crush on, and whom I’ve now shared intimate new experiences with.
Trevor, the most naturally charming and genuine man I know, who can always make me smile.
Adrian, who’s so supportive and kind, not to mention unbelievably gorgeous.
And Duke, protective, commanding, and a lot more man than I’d have thought I was ready for.
But I think I am ready. I want more from all of them.
And I want to give them all of me.
The post-show period at Rusty’s is a blur. Somewhere in there, after I put away my guitar and before I leave, Brittany from Club Red finds me to tell me how talented I am. Caz, Barrett’s partner, tells me how much she enjoyed the show and that she hopes I’ll return. I meet with Barrett at some point, and he puts me on the calendar for two future engagements next month.
Various coworkers from the office offer congratulations, and Kelly appears, asking if I have a couple of minutes to talk. We find a small table, and after offering compliments on the show, her expression turns serious. “I knew Lindsey was guilty as soon as I brought it up,” she says. “She denied it at first, but I could tell by her reaction that she was lying.”
“Did you get her to admit it?”
She shakes her head. “No, but apparently your friends did?”
I nod. “She apologized to me earlier.”
Kelly snorts in derision. “What good is an apology from someone who would do that?”
“She’s going to pay me back, too.”
“That’s good. I’d hoped that if I got her to come here tonight, the truth would come out. She didn’t want to come, but she didn’t have plans, and it made no sense that she’d avoid your show unless she was guilty.”
I pick at the label on my water bottle. “Do you have any idea why she would do something like that? It still makes no sense to me.”
“Why does a bad person do bad things?” she asks rhetorically. “Her boyfriend just broke up with her, and she’s had some issues at work, but no amount of bad luck in her life justifies what she did to you.”