Page 46 of Synced to Us

Brad breaks our spell. “Winnie might’ve brought some devoted fangirls back with him, too. But you don’t mind, do you, Dee? You must be used to it. Maybe you even like it.” He winks. The guy always tries to come off like he’s joking, but he must know what an asshat he is.

Wyn tears his gaze from mine and visibly stiffens beside me. “Dude, are we really going to kick off the night like this?”

“Why would I mind?” I ask Brad while laying a gentle hand on Wyn’s forearm. “Fans are part of fame. And Wyn is very well-known. I’d think in his hometown, he’d practically be a god.”

“I guess,” Brad mutters into his pint. “If you like washed-up rock stars.”

I swear I see red. At this moment, I’m glad Lucy and Wyn had an affair, if that’s what they did.

And I almost fucking tell him so. I mean, if I can sense it, can’t he? Jesus, maybe I got it wrong and that’s why he is the way he is with his brother. Because he already knows.

“Here’s the thing,” I say before Wyn can growl—or take a swing. “Rock stars, whether former, current, elderly, or one-hit wonders...” I give Brad a wink. “They’ll always be fuckable to us girls.”

Lucy snorts into her cocktail. Wyn glances at me in surprise and smirks. And Brad…Brad glares something fierce, but all I do is respond with a pleasant grin before taking another sip of my own drink.

Lucy glances between all of us, and says loudly, “What I want to know is: How are we going to make this night super fun? Wyn hasn’t been back in years. I have an idea—shots!”

Wyn groans at the same time Lucy wriggles in her seat. Aiming for her good cheer, I nod my assent. The thought of spending more hours with Brad without the aid of some serious alcohol sways me enough to ignore my usual one drink rule.

“Honey? You mind getting us some red-headed sluts? That is, if Wyn hasn’t found them first.” Lucy laughs at her own joke.

My brows jump and I glance at her empty drink. It’s not surprising that the first time she takes a shot at Wyn’s new relationship, she’s knocking back liquor. What is shocking is my instant need to claim him, and I follow that urge all the way to wrapping my arm around his bicep and pressing a lingering kiss to his cheek.

“This man’s taken by a brunette,” I murmur, and Wyn softens in my hold.

“Damn straight, woman,” he says, wrapping a possessive arm around my waist and pulling me closer.

Lucy blinks once, twice, like cold water was just sloshed on her. She twists to her husband, but he’s already gotten up and headed to the bar.

“Well.” Lucy’s palms hit the table and very obviously shifts in her seat. When my attention moves to her, I notice her mouth is stretched to its limits, and her eyes forcibly bright. Usually, it’s a rush to put people in their place, but it didn’t come this time. I gently pull out of Wyn’s embrace.

Lucy says, “How do you like our hangout so far, Dee? This used to be the place Wyn, Brad, and I came on nights we snuck out of the house. Remember, Wyn? How you and Mason would flash your ID’s and sneak me and McKenna drinks?”

“Holy shit.” I palm my cheeks. “I totally forgot McKenna went to school with you guys, too.”

Lucy looks at me, blinking rapidly. “Oh, did Wyn introduce you to McKenna?”

“No, actually. I was friends with McKenna first. It’s how Wyn and I met.” I lean forward as the music gets louder. “We went to college together. She’s my best friend.”

“Wow.” Lucy widens her eyes comically, and then looks to Wyn. “Small world.”

“Very,” Wyn responds in an off-tone gruff. I study him closer. Is this a sore subject?

Lucy says, “Wait…isn’t college where McKenna, um…”

“Became an escort?” I finish for her. “Yeah.” Then I look to Wyn, remembering his warning before stepping into his family’s house not to bring up what I did. “I think so. She kept that part of her life very private.”

“Crazy. I didn’t know McKenna that well, she was two grades below me—Wyn’s age. But when she was exposed in the media a few years ago…” Lucy shakes her head. “She was so quiet and mousy when she was at school. Remind me, Wyn, was it Amy that made her life hell?” Lucy adds for my benefit, “Amy was another cheerleader. Always angling for my spot. She’s sixty pounds heavier with four kids and two ex-husbands now. Make sure to tell McKenna that.”

I doubt McKenna cares, after all she’s been through, but maybe this is Lucy’s way of saying she’s on McKenna’s side, despite her past. And even though I’m not supposed to care about Wyn’s family’s perception of me after this weekend, it’s nice to believe there might be somebody in my corner if my past ever came to light. Amazingly, that means a lot to me.

Lucy’s hard to read, though. One minute she has me lowering my defensive walls, and the next, I’m convinced she’s angling for Wyn.

Ugh. Is this what jealousy feels like?

Brad comes back with six shots, which he demands we swig immediately. His face is flushed, tiny beads of sweat dotting his brow. It’s obvious he imbibed at the bar, but out of all his traits, that’s the most pleasant. I motion for the shots to come closer.

Lucy was right—within minutes, the bar has transformed, packed with more people, music blaring, and the band taking the small platform stage and testing their mics.

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