I do and as my eyes adjust to the brightness of the room, Kellie’s satisfied smile comes into view along with Stu scrolling through my phone.
“Go ahead and read it to me.”
His gaze lifts and his eyes widen a moment. “Damn, girl.” He turns to Kellie and lifts his hand for a high five.
She steps forward, a pencil in hand. “Lips and we’re done.”
I hold still and as she paints them with color Stu reads from my cell.
“Sound checks wrapped up early. We are getting food. Meet you at the station. Car will be waiting when you’re ready.” He glances up from my phone. “Lucky. You get texts every fucking day from that delicious hunk of man.”
I smile but Kellie’s brow furrows. “Almost done. There.”
“Trent? He’s like a brother.”
“Brother I’d like to fuck.”
“Stu. Enough. No scaring.” Kellie rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “He came without a filter.”
“And you love me.” Stu hands me my phone along with the most ridiculous pair of shoes I’ve ever seen. “Put these on.”
At my puzzled expression he unzips the inside of one and pulls it up my leg. Made of what looks and feels to be a velour fabric, they’re ten times more comfortable than they appear. I stretch out my legs and with a hand from Stu, step out of the chair.
“You ready, darlin’?” He braces my shoulders and turns me toward the large mirrored wall.
Who?
How?
“Oh, goodness.” I finally breathe out, still not able to reconcile the woman in the mirror to myself.
“You like?” Kellie steps to my left, her smile full of pride and admiration.
“I don’t even look like me.” It’s the honest to goodness truth.
“Is that a good thing?” she asks.
The outfit is badass. With the shoes I’m powerful, in charge, and edgy enough to be considered an actual part of the Three Ugly Guys’ staff. Gone is the timid country girl. “I’m not sure.”
“In this case, I’d say it’s a fan-fucking-tabulous thing. Girl, you look ready to slay,” Stu says.
“I do, don’t I?” Still, it’s strange to see a confident, sexy woman when I don’t feel it at all. Deep down I still feel like a misplaced child. An orphan.
Kellie surprises me, her hand coming around my waist and tugging me forward with her until we’re only a few inches from my reflection. “Who do you want to be, Opal?”
I stare into the mirrored glass. The girl who smiles back feels ready to take on the world. Or a group of gorgeous rock stars. “I don’t know. But I’m ready to find out.”
16
Leighton
“Leighton. A minute?”
We’ve just wrapped up sound checks for tonight’s show, and I’d like to grab a bite with the guys before an afternoon of interviews. Apparently my uncle has other ideas.
“Sure thing.” I feign nonchalance as I set my sticks down and hop off the seat, careful not to bang any of the cymbals.
“We’ll airdrop the address.” Sean catches me for a half-hug handshake. “Like what you did with Hunger. Let’s rock that tonight.”
