“MaybeIambeing paranoid, Dev, but …” She shook her head, casting her gaze tothe side, staring at the coffee table, the TV … anything but me. “Just becareful with him, okay? I don’t trust him.”
Ileaned forward, rested my elbows on my knees and looked up at her intently.“But you trustme, right?”
Shenodded, still working that lip between her clenched teeth. “Of course, I do.”
“Then,that’s all you need to know. I don’t know what you’re worried about, KJ, butwhatever it is,nothingis going to happen. I won’t let it.” I beckonedher with a finger to come to me, and she complied, stepping forward. I pulledher down to my lap, wrapped my arms around her and pressed my lips to hershoulder. “I promise, okay?”
Slowly,she exhaled with a nod, conceding, but I didn’t feel she was entirely convincedof my promise. It irked me and jabbed at my nerves with a warning, but it wasokay, I told myself. I would show her that everything was fine. Because nothingwas going to ruin any of this for me, forus. Especially not Robbiefucking White.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Kylie
Iwoke to the chimingof my phone, and Igrabbed it from the nightstand.
Itwas Brooke.
“Heybirthday girl,” I answered, groggy with sleep. “How’s your weekend vacaygoing?”
“Hey!Amazing! How’s the roadie life treating you?” The distinctive sound of honkingcars and city noise overpowered the sound of her voice. “Ugh, it’s so damn loud… hold on …”
Irubbed a hand over my face before noticing the quiet of the room, and I sat up.
Devin’sside of the bed was empty, and his phone and wallet were missing from thenightstand. I sighed sadly, realizing I’d missed him before he left for bandpractice, while feeling grateful that he had let me sleep.
Withmy wandering eyes, I spotted a note on the desk and I climbed out of bed tograb it.
I’ll meet you at the Magic Gardens around noon.
Love you,
Dev
Ismiled at his chicken-scratch handwriting and shuffled into the bathroom beforeremembering I was still on the phone. “Brooke? What the hell are you doing?”
Shegrunted with aggravation. “I’m trying to find a quiet place and these peoplewon’t … move …” A door closed, and she sighed. “Finally. Okay, so, as Iwas saying … How’s the roadie life?”
Ilaughed, sitting down on the toilet. “This is the first stop. I’ve barely evendone anything.”
“Butyou slept in a fancy-schmancy hotel last night, right? That’sgottabe—wait, are you peeing?”
“Yeah,why?”
“Ohmy God, so am I! It’s like our bladders are in sync,” she said with a laugh.
Ilaughed with a roll of my eyes. “Even from afar, we’re going to the bathroomtogether.”
“Iknow. It’s like we’re best friends or something,” she said. “So, how’s loverboy?”
“Busy.”I flushed, smiling as I heard the same from her end. “I feel like we’re apartmore than we’re together, but it’s worth it, you know? He’s finally doing whathe wants to do with his life, and that makes me so ridiculously happy for him.”
“Oh,yeah, for sure.But… it’sgottabe a littlehard on you, especially when you’vereally onlybeentogether for a handful of months. You guys are still in the honeymoon phase.”
“Oh,believe me, we’rejustfine,” I laughed, fondly recalling the unexpectedtryst in the alley. “What about you guys? How’s your birthday been? Youdidremember to lock the store, right?”
“Yes,andI left a note on the door to let everyone know we’re closed for theweekend,” she groused lightheartedly, and then she sighed in that way girls dowhen they’re about to gush about the cute guy. “Oh my God, Kylie … I knowyou’re the one with amazing things happening right now, but—”
“Hey,come on,” I protested, walking back to the bed and flopping back in. “It’s allrelative.”
