Page 49 of Bitter Beats

“Your shit caughtup to you this time,” Derek chuckles as he hugs me and slaps my back. “How’s it going, Mav?”

I pound my fist into his back twice before releasing him. “It’s going.”

“Kenny cooking you dinner and giving you back scratches?” he jokes, knowing that Mckenna Byrne doesn’t do shit like that.

Reign drops onto a barstool and takes a swig from his takeout coffee cup from Java House.

“Mckenna is avoiding me like I’m gonna give her herpes,” I admit.

Derek tosses his head back and laughs. The sound is jarring because Derek Reiner was not a laughing, joking, bro-hugging dude a handful of years ago. He was aloof and caustic and moody as fuck. This new version still surprises me sometimes.

I sigh. “But A must be cooking and giving you back scratches.”

He grins and quips, “Allegra and I are in a good place.”

“Good for you, Reign. I mean that.” I point at him. If anyone in the world deserves happiness, it’s Allegra Rousell. The fact that she found that with Reign is an act of God, but it still counts.

“Yeah. Listen, we’ve got reservations at The Ivy tonight. Kenny is in.”

“Allegra convinced her,” I guess.

Derek nods. “And she’s under contract.”

I snort. Fucking contract. Girl signed on to be my fake chick for education funds. Witnessing her sitting in Aiden’s law firm, her shoulders slumped, and his arm around her pummeled my conscience. It twisted my stomach into icy green tentacles that had my jealousy soaring. It made me feel shit I’ve got no right to feel. Emotions I don’t want.

The lady of the hour enters the kitchen, her auburn hair twisted away from her face and fastened with a clip. She’s in baggy jeans and a basic T-shirt and looks beautiful. Fresh-faced, peaches-and-cream skin, and electric blue eyes. She smiles and throws a one-armed hug around Reign. “Derek! How are you?”

Derek wraps an arm around her waist and gives her a squeeze. “Good, girl. How are you doing? The place okay?”

“Perfect. Thanks again for letting me stay here,” she says, her voice low with embarrassment. Her cheeks turn pink. “You and Allegra really saved my ass.”

I avert my gaze, feeling like an interloper. I made numerous assumptions about Mckenna and hate that she felt the financial pinch as hard as she did.

“Anytime, Kenny,” Derek says sincerely. He slips from the barstool and swipes up his coffee. “I’m going to pass by the studio.” He points between Mckenna and me. “See you both tonight. The Ivy at 7 PM. Try to show up together.”

I scoff, and Mckenna rolls her eyes.

Derek fucking grins. “Later,” he grunts. He pulls the front door closed behind him.

The house falls silent with his departure. It stretches and twists between Mckenna and me. She fixes herself a coffee and takes Derek’s vacated barstool. I continue to shuffle around thekitchen, searching for something to say. It’s been two days since Whole Foods, and Mckenna and I have barely spoken.

She sighs. “Derek’s right; we should show up together.”

I nod, grinding my knuckles into the top of the butcher block island as I roll back and forth on my heels.

“What do you…like for breakfast?” Mckenna asks.

I give her a sardonic look.

She shrugs. “I’m trying, Mav.”

I sigh because, so am I. But I pull out a barstool and sit across from her. “Doughnuts.”

Mckenna bites the corner of her mouth like she’s trying not to laugh. “Oatmeal.”

I groan. “Stop. No one actuallylikesoatmeal. People only pretend because it fits their healthy lifestyle brand or makes them feel like grown-ups.”

Mckenna raises a hand sheepishly. “I really do.”

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