I knew exactly what he was talking about, and it hurt my heart for him. His ex, who also happened to be Chance’s ex, had done him dirty and treated him horribly.
Ego happened to be a great guy, but he was currently at the top of his game and dominating the charts. I couldn’t promise Scotty that he wouldn’t act somewhat prideful.
While Stevie had a whispered conversation with his little brother, Jetty asked Kingston, “Are you sure you’ve never heard of Ego?”
“Maybe if you saw his face,” Chance suggested.
“That’s a good idea.” I picked up my phone, went toInsta,and pulled up Ego’s profile. “He has a sneak peek for his next song.” Then, because I’m nothing if not shameless, I scooted in as close to Kingston’s large, warm body as possible, and showed him the video Ego posted this morning.
Chapter
Five
Kingston
The dark-haired manwith glam paint and glitter on his face gyrating on Skylar’s phone screen was gorgeous. Like, hotter than any human had a right to be with his toned muscles, penetrating eyes, and husky voice. This was Skylar’s client? The guy he’d be spending countless hours with? Quickly, I pulled my eyes from the screen. The five lasagna rolls and half a loaf of French bread I’d consumed suddenly felt like a huge boulder in the pit of my stomach.
Pasting a smile on my face, I lied, “Yeah, now that I see him, he sounds familiar.” He really didn’t.
Not that I talked about it much, but I was kind of a metal head. I liked that old stuff from bands like Metallica or artists like Ozzy Osborn and Steven Tyler. I didn’t mind listening to James Brown, Otis Redding, or Marvin Gaye either. That was the music Gran listened to on her record player as she reminisced about my grandfather. He’d been gone since I was small, so I didn’t really remember him, but I’d never forget how he’d made me feel as loved as she did.
“See. I knew you’d know him,” Skylar said, shutting off his screen. “It should be an interesting job. The old mansion we found needs to be gutted and completely remodeled, so it won’t just be a step in the right direction for my career, it’ll pay really well.”
“Mm…that’s great. Congratulations.”
Even though I low-key felt like I was going to throw up, I shoved another piece of bread in my mouth so I wouldn’t have to say anything else. It worked as Chance, Jetty, and Skylar started discussing the new job in detail.
Good grief. What was wrong with me? I should be happy for Skylar and Jetty. Hell, for Chance, too, since apparently the star would be renting a room here for an unlimited time. It was win-win for all of them financially, but instead, all I felt was uncomfortable.
I’d never had an easy time being around people. Social situations made me anxious, which made it hard for me to make friends. Until recently, all I’d had was Jetty. I’d lost sleep when he first met Chance, sure that it would be the end of our close relationship, but instead, I’d gained a whole friend group. Me. Kingston Porter. Awkward grandson to the town’s crazy lady.Blech. Screw anyone who called her that. My gran was a bit eccentric and marched to the beat of her own drummer, but she didn’t hurt anyone.
Neither did I, for that matter, but my chance of holding on to friends was as slim as hers. Especially if my dreams kept their current trajectory. The locations were getting creepier. They continually felt more real every single night, so I’d begun fighting sleep. I wouldn’t be fit to socialize soon, and I’d never want to embarrass Jetty or Skylar. Ego couldn’t have decided to come to town at a worse time.
“When will he be here?” I blurted, interrupting whatever Jetty had been saying.
Skylar’s head whipped my direction, and he beamed at me. Why did that question make him so happy? Was he that excited to spend time with this guy?
“The original owner is in NYC, so they’re closing there tomorrow, and then Ego is taking the train down here on Wednesday. I’ll pick him up at the station.”
“Hmm.” Silence descended around the table. Was it something I said? Something I didn’t say?
“Hey, Kingston, you want to hang out one night this week?” Jetty asked.
We tried to get together just the two of us at least every other week to catch up. As much as I was here all the time, we were rarely alone. “Sure.”
“Does Tuesday work for you?”
He asked that like I ever had plans with anyone else but him. “Sounds good. Actually, I should get going.”
“Already?” Skylar asked, batting his ridiculously long lashes. If he didn’t do it so often, I’d wonder if he had something in his eye.
“Yeah. I, uh…promised Gran I’d be home early.” I didn’t, but I felt so off-balance. Maybe it was how restless my nights had been. “Harry, Buck, thank you for dinner.”
Harry gave a slight smile, but Buck’s eyes held concern. We’d become close since we both spent a lot of time hanging out at the pond, but he didn’t need to worry about me. I just needed sleep. Scotty and Stevie added their goodnights, and I promised Jetty I’d see him Tuesday.
“I’ll see you sometime this week, too, right?” Chance asked.
Why was everyone being so weird? “Sure. I promised Trixie I’d be around to check on her.” The poor young spirit was newly passed and struggling with the circumstances she found herself in.
