Page 74 of Synced to Us

“Indeed. They only produce the best,” Larry says. “Say, I hear rumors of a possible Nocturne Court reunion. I keep trying to press the execs about it. My daughter’s a big fan, you see. But the label’s staying mum. Can you tell me about any backroom dealings on this?”

My brows pull in. “Can’t say I’ve heard of anything like that, but since you have Emerald Spin in your capable hands, you’ll know when I know.”

Larry laughs like I’ve told the best joke in the world. His date (I’m not about to make the mistake of calling her his daughter) smiles tightly, and then searches the room as if looking for an adequate escape route. She lands on Dee, and her lips both relax and widen at the same time.

She exclaims in a wispy voice, “Oh my God, I can’t believe—”

“I don’t think we’ve met properly,” Dee cuts in, offering her a hand. “I’m Deonne Sparrow.”

The girl pauses and collects herself, tucking her hair behind her ears. “My bad, I thought you were someone else. I’m Maggie.”

“So lovely to meet you, Maggie,” Dee says, but it’s as if her teeth have fused together. She turns to me. “Darling, I’m dying for a drink. I’m going to head to the bar.”

“I can get it for you—” I start to say, but she waves me off.

“You and Larry keep chatting. Can I get you something?”

I let Dee have the exit she clearly wants, but I can’t help pinging my gaze between her and this Maggie chick. “Sure. Whiskey neat.”

“Be right back,” she says and kisses me on the cheek before she slices through the crowd.

“Tell me, son, how did you wrangle a girl like that?” Larry draws my attention away from Dee. “Don’t get me wrong, she’s one of my best girls, but she’s a cold one. I didn’t think she made any time to date.”

My hackles rise, but I smooth them with the reminder that I’m Dee’s Ken doll, not her mouthpiece. “We met through mutual friends.”

“Right!” Larry snaps his fingers. Maggie’s gone back to being bored. “Your bandmate, Mason, is it? Quite the scandal with the call girl of his. They’re married now, aren’t they? What a shock, am I right? Good thing our Dee is a top notch college grad with multiple honors, despite her dubious connection to that girl. Who marries a hooker? Only one movie I know of where that happens, and all that does is give young girls incredibly unrealistic dreams.”

Maggie blinks out of her mental la-la land and turns sharply to Larry. “You don’t think Pretty Woman could happen in real life?”

Ah-ha. That explains Maggie.

Larry blubbers, his face reddening from more than just bourbon. “That’s not entirely what I’m saying, doll. I’m only referring to my daughter, giving her the proper expectations in men. You don’t have to…”

I politely duck away from that mess, deciding to wander the expansive room and wait for Dee to find me. To my surprise, I’m stopped a few times by men and women who recognize me. Even the Emerald Spin top dog, Pietro Mattson, finds me and mentions offhandedly I should get back in touch with Rex. That gave me pause, considering Rex is spending most of his time with his two daughters and wife, uninterested in the famous life.

“You sure you don’t mean Mason?” I fold my arms across my chest. “He’s the one with the successful solo career going on right now.”

“No, I’m talking about your lead singer. When’s the last time the four of you got together and had a chat?”

“Holidays, maybe?” I screw up my face as I think. “Christmas? I dunno, we’ve pretty much gone our separate ways for now. Which is actually the perfect segue.” I laugh, hating that I’m nervous, but this is the moment I’ve been waiting for. “I’ve been working on my own stuff and it’s really good. I’d love for you to hear it. Maybe we could sit down and—”

“Are you sure that’s necessary?” The guy smacks me on the back. “Give your boys a call. I don’t want to be the one to break the news.”

“What news?”

“You’re gonna make me do it, huh? The reunion tour.”

But my eyes leave the executive as he says it, drawn away by a flash of a sexy red dress.

And react with ever-loving, fucking rage.

28

Dee

Dennis was wrenched away from me so fast, so completely, that I collided with the wall, almost stumbling off my feet. I stiffen once my horizon rights itself and I see Wyn, gluing Dennis to the wall with a forearm to his throat.

“Wyn, stop—” But my words are meaningless. Wyn lowers his face to Dennis’s, growling threats while Dennis turns purple. “Wyn!”

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