Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
“Even if we don’t do anything except go for a nice dinner here, I’d rather it just be us that weekend,” I say, twining my arms around his neck. “No exes. No drama. Just me, you, and bon temps.”
“That’s always a good time,” he agrees, making my heart plump in my chest.
It is always a good time.
And knowing we aren’t saying goodbye when our old “deal” is done is better than any revenge.
Way fucking better.
Later that night, after we get dinner at a bistro near Nix’s apartment, we grab Bea, her guitar, and her suitcase and head back to my place.
She’s going to stay with me while he’s on his trip with the Voodoo.
Just in case.
Even though miraculously, the plan she cooked up with Laurel, her publicist, seems to be going off without a hitch.
Laurel reached out to Kai and the rest of the band late last night. By early this morning, they’d all agreed to cancel the last two shows and enter a brief “mini retirement,” while presenting a united front.
Just after noon, Kai, Beatrice, Cab, the drummer, and Stavros, bass guitar, all released the same post on social media. It stated simply that they hated to let their fans down, but due to the needs of a chronically ill band member, they would be going on immediate sabbatical. All ticket sales for the Mobile and New Orleans shows would be fully refunded, and they hoped their fans could understand the need for privacy and healing at this delicate time.
It was simple, elegant, and shockingly easy.
Almost too easy, if you ask me, but I’ve kept my reservations to myself.
There’s no need to borrow trouble, and Beatrice won’t be alone if something goes wrong. I’ll be right there, with backup on hand from Makena and Elly, both of whom insisted on taking Beatrice out to brunch on Sunday to celebrate.
Everything’s going to be fine.
I hope.
“I’ll have my phone on twenty-four seven,” Nix says as he turns into my neighborhood. I swear, it’s like he can read my mind sometimes. “And I’ll check for messages as soon as I get off the ice between periods,” he continues. “If anything happens, I’ll get home to help as soon as I can.”
“Stop,” Bea says from the back seat with a good-natured sigh. “I’ll be fine. Kai’s already posted the announcement. There’s no going back now. And even if he decided to show his ugly side, he doesn’t know where I am. He doesn’t know where you live, let alone Charlotte.”
“And I have an excellent security system,” I remind them. “And super nosy neighbors. If a tattooed guy with long black hair is spotted anywhere in a five-block radius, Mrs. Spear will let us know. For good or for ill, Brenda is not about tolerating alternative lifestyles. She called the cops on my friend, who was helping build my outdoor BBQ, three times. And his neck tattoo barely shows when he has a collared shirt on.”
“See?” Beatrice says. “We’ll be fine. Alarms and Brenda will make sure of it. Just go have fun, win games, and we’ll be here when you get back.”
“We will,” I whisper as Nix pulls into my driveway. “I promise.”
“I just worry,” he whispers back.
“I know,” I assure him as we open our doors. “But it’ll be okay.”
Nix grabs Bea’s roller suitcase from the trunk, she slides her guitar onto her back, and I lead the way up the walk. Inside, I hit disarm the security system and motion to the stairs.
“The guest room is the first door on the left,” I tell her. “But we can do the downstairs tour before you get settled, if you want?”
“For sure,” she says, reaching for the suitcase when Nix steps over the threshold. “I’ll just put all this on the landing until we’re ready to go up.”
“I can take it,” Nix says, resisting for a beat before releasing the handle when she insists, “No, I’ve got it. It’s not that heavy. And you need to get home and get to bed. You have an early flight tomorrow.”
He sighs. “I do. All right. Be good, you two. Save the crimes and misdemeanors until I get back, okay?”
Beatrice grins as she leans in for a quick hug. “We will. Can’t get our crime on without our getaway driver.”
“No lies detected,” I agree as I slide in for my goodbye hug.
“You know what, I think I’ll take my stuff up to the room now and use the bathroom before our tour, Charlotte,” Beatrice says as she backs away. “Love you, big brother. Thanks for everything.” She punches his shoulder one last time before darting up the stairs with her things, leaving us alone.
Nix pulls me close, cupping my ass. “Thank God, she gave us a second. I was afraid I wouldn’t get to squeeze your ass one last time.”