Tonight they were celebrating in style. Recording their first single was another step closer to realizing a dream that Sindy didn’t even know she harbored. She honestly never thought she’d be able to make a living from her music, which proved to be a full-time job. Her shifts at the diner were dwindling to a few days a week. In a month, they’d be on a promo tour and she’d be forced to take a leave of absence.
The rooftop bar at 230 Fifth offered a spectacular view of the New York City skyline. The Empire State Building, lit up in majestic red, white, and blue, seemed close enough to touch. “This city is magnificent.” Sindy sighed. “I wish I could afford to live right here, in the heart of midtown.”
“Really?” Lucas shrugged. “Midtown isn’t for me. I prefer the East Village. It’s more grungy. All those little bars and places to play music. The people are more organic. There are so many tourists here with their noses stuck up in the air.” He nudged Mason’s shoulder, teasing his best friend. “Uptown’s even worse.”
“I can’t help it if my family’s high class,” Mason joked.
Lucas laughed. “Are you saying my parents aren’t classy?”
Mason displayed one of his charming smiles and held up his hands, innocently. “Never. Stop twisting my words, man.”
Sindy noticed that Mason never had a bad word to say about anyone. He never argued with anyone about anything. Everything just rolled off his back, and he always had a smile on his face. He was such a pleasure to be around, and he was almost as extraordinarily good looking as Lucas. “Why are you single?” she asked him.
“What?” Mason looked as if he found the question absurd.
“You’re good looking. Famous. Talented. You have money. Why aren’t you married?”
“Married?” Tessa asked, more surprised than Mason at the question.
“A girlfriend, at least,” Sindy added.
“Why does he need a girlfriend?” Tessa asked, raising her brows. “Are you interested in Mason?”
“No. I wasn’t asking for me. There’s nothing wrong with being single. I was just curious.”
“I don’t know,” Mason shrugged. “I devote most of my time to my music. I travel. I don’t really have time to date.” He displayed one of his killer smiles, which dimpled both cheeks. “I’m not celibate or anything, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Tessa put her hands over her ears. “I don’t want to hear about this. I told you guys, I don’t want to hear about your sex lives. If you start talking about yours, I’ll start talking about mine.”
“What sex life?” Lucas put his elbow on the table, leaned over and glared at Tessa, brows pinched together.
“I’m 21. I can have a sex life. If I wanted to. If I had time.”
“Then just keep working,” he said, before relaxing and sitting back in the booth.
It was the first time Sindy had seen Lucas get macho and overprotective of his sister, and it made her smile. As she stared at him, he seemed to be more handsome than ever, and she wondered if it was because she couldn’t have him. She had no idea how someone as devastatingly gorgeous as Lucas Blade didn’t already have a girlfriend when she met him. She would have thought he’d have a different girl lined up for each night of the week, but he proved her wrong. “What about you?” she asked him with a teasing smile. “Why don’t you have a girlfriend?”
Lucas raised his brows and challenged her. For a second, she expected him to say, you’re my girlfriend. But instead, he said, “Why don’tyouhave a boyfriend?”
“I just moved here.”
“You moved here a year ago.”
“Yeah, but I work double shifts. Who has time?”
“Exactly.”
“Don’t listen to him.” Tessa waved her hand at her brother. “He just broke up with his girlfriend.”
Sindy felt as if someone punched her in the stomach. She slowly turned toward Tessa for clarification. “What do you mean? How long ago?”
“Not that long ago.” Tessa answered. “Actually, right before you joined the band.”
Now Sindy felt as if someone karate chopped her in the throat. Was she the rebound girl? Was that why he had pursued her so relentlessly? She was such an idiot! She tried to keep the anger out of her face and stop her eyes from bulging. It would have been easier if he didn’t look so damn guilty. “Were you with her for a long time?”
He fiddled with his napkin. “About a year.”
Oh my God. He’d been in a serious relationship.
