After Ace’s last song, he pulled TKC back out, thanked them, and wished them the world. They took a final bow for the rowdycrowd and exited the stage. After an hour of photo ops and interviews, they all made their way back to Ace’s hotel suite for the after-party.
Bodies packed the room. Furniture shoved back to make a dance floor. Dim lights. A DJ near the kitchen, spinning a mix of current hits. Daisy spotted Erik Soriano, a few of Ace’s bandmates, and a sea of beautiful women—three of whom were practically draped over Ace and Jameson. Ace basked. Jameson disengaged, found Daisy’s eyes, shrugged, and shouldered through to her.
“Jealous?” he teased, handing her a drink.
“Me? Never. Why would I be jealous of model-pretty girls hanging off my boyfriend?”
He bent to her ear. “Only you, Daisy.”
Goose bumps rose. “Only you.”
“Well, isn’t this precious,” came a flat voice.
Daisy guardedly rolled her eyes.
“Hi, Harley.”
Harley angled her body away from Daisy, attention fixed on Jameson. “Erik wants to speak with you. He’s over near the guest room.”
“Okay,” he said, kissing Daisy’s cheek before heading down the hall.
They stood in uncomfortable silence until Harley spoke. “You’ve been quite the champ this tour. Must’ve been hell being away so long. You’re so… trusting.” While her words were sympathetic, her tone reflected anything but as she sipped her champagne.
“He’s worth it,” Daisy said.
“Of course.” Her tone saidnaïve. “Who wouldn’t stay for a hot lead singer about to make millions?”
Daisy refused the bait. “He’d be worth it if they were still playing at Bullets every week. This”—she swept a hand across the room—“doesn’t matter.”
Harley didn’t respond to her point; she instead sipped. “Too bad he’s leaving again. For even longer this go-around. Don’t worry—I’ll take good care of him.”
Daisy faced her, smiling just a little. “Didn’t you hear?”
“Hear what?”
“I’m tagging along for the NYX 5 tour.”
Harley narrowed her eyes. “That isn’t possible. Girlfriends aren’t allowed—”
“Actually,” Daisy said lightly, “Jameson cleared it with Erik.” She didn’t add the part aboutsummer only. She was busy enjoying the way Harley’s expression pinched. “So it looks like you won’t be needing to take care ofmyboyfriend after all.”
Daisy’s body fluttered with satisfaction. She turned away from Harley and made her way to find Jameson. Petty? Maybe. But she wasn’t about to let the band’s blonde troll test her relationship, manager or not.
Daisy’s satisfaction carried her down the hall and to the guest bedroom door.
When she opened it, the room was empty. Turning to leave, she heard a muffled noise from the bathroom. The door was ajar.
At first, she felt relief. Jameson stood by the counter, looking devastatingly handsome.
Then her smile fell when he bent and snorted a line from the vanity.
Ace stepped up from the side of the tub and took his turn.
Daisy clapped a hand over her mouth, containing her gasp. She stepped back, careful, careful, and slipped out.
She left fast, only stopping to ask Lenny and Kyler to tell Jameson she was tired and heading out.
Back in the room, she tried to rationalize it but failed. She’d just watched her boyfriend do drugs. Not a little weed. The heavy kind. Her heart galloped. She curled into his sweatshirt, tightened the hood, slid under the covers, and stared into the sleepless night.
