Jessi Blade stepped into Tommy’s embrace and offered her cheek, which he promptly kissed. His muscular arms wrapped her in a tight circle of love that projected from this man and hung in the room as if it were its own entity. “This is Jessi Blade.” Tommy made the introduction. “Jessi, this is Sindy.”
Sindy extended her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Blade. I’m a big fan of your designs.”
Jessi waved Sindy’s hand away and hugged her. “Please call me Jessi. And thank you.” She held onto Sindy’s upper arms and smiled at her. “You’re so pretty. I love your hair. You’re a natural redhead. I can tell.”
Sindy never considered herself a redhead. Her hair was more auburn, but she wasn’t about to argue. “Thank you. I love your hair, too.”
“Thanks.” Jessi ran her fingers through it. “I’ll be sure to tell my colorist you like it. So I hear from my daughter that you’re a very talented guitar player, and my son is very impressed. He says you’re sharp as a whip, an eager learner, and passionate about the music. He doesn’t throw accolades around lightly, so that’s a big deal.”
It surprised Sindy to hear that Lucas had bragged about her.
“How long have you lived in New York?” Jessi asked. “I heard you’re from Baltimore?”
“Yes. I’ve lived here a little over a year.”
“What made you come to Long Island?”
“Well, I couldn’t afford Manhattan so I settled in Queens. The woman I worked for opened a diner out here, so she asked me to transfer. I fell in love with Long Island and moved here. I haven’t seen many beaches besides Long Beach, so I’d like to explore the shoreline, and I’d like to see more of the boroughs.”
“You have been to Brooklyn, right?” Jessi was full of questions, and it was obvious where Tessa got her bubbly personality from.
“No,” Sindy answered.
Jessi, Tommy, and Angel all looked at her as if not visiting Brooklyn was absurd. “You have to see it.” Tommy said. “Williamsburg is filled with little bars and local music. You really need to experience the underground music culture.”
“It’s very trendy,” Angel added.
“The three of us grew up there.” Tommy stated.
Angel smiled at his husband and extended his hand. “Have we met? I’m Angel Garcia. I grew up in New Jersey.”
“Oh. Yeah.” Tommy Blade smiled back. “I forgot. We met after you moved to Brooklyn, so, to me, that’s where you’re from.”
“Tsk. Tsk.” Angel shook his head slowly from side to side. “You don’t even remember your own husband’s history.”
“I remember plenty. Including the first time we met.”
“Oh really?” Angel raised one of his ebony eyebrows. “Where was it?”
“It was in the studio. When I auditioned for Immortal Angel.”
“Yes, my prince.” Angel stared at Tommy with a smoldering look in his eyes. “You do remember.”
“Of course.” Tommy turned to Jessi. “And the first time we met was at a frat party. But the first time I saw you was across the football field a few weeks before that.”
Jessi melted and threw her arms around Tommy, and Angel threw his arms around the both of them. Sindy had never seen three people so full of love for one another, not that she had any experience with polyamorous relationships.
“Oh God, not again,” Tessa rolled her eyes at her parents as she walked into the entry foyer. “Why can’t you fight once in a while like other people’s parents?”
They stared at her for a second, then burst out laughing.
Tessa looped her arm through Sindy’s. “Glad you could make it. Let’s go upstairs and leave these three alone.”
“It was nice meeting you Sindy,” Jessi Blade called after them.
“You too. And nice seeing you again . . .” She had no idea how to address Tommy Blade and Angel Garcia, so she just waved and let the sentence trail off as she followed Tessa up the circular staircase. It led to a large landing on the second floor with couches and music memorabilia on the walls. There were two wide corridors on opposite ends of the landing, and they took the one that veered to the right.
“This is Lucas’ suite,” Tessa waved her hand at a doorway halfway down the hallway. “I’m just around the corner.”
