“So, tell me what you’ve been up to?” he said, leaning back as he stretched his arm across the back of the leather bench seat. “I know the tour’s been goin’ well. Sellin’ out every stadium and that’s no easy feat.”
“Yeah, it’s been going good. Auden seems to be the right fit.” Though I didn’t know how much longer he’d be a fixture, in light of the awkwardness between him and Knox.
“Yeah, that kid’s got some real talent. I wouldn’t mind having him open a few dates for me.”
I smiled. “I don’t think Knox would have a problem with that. He and Auden haven’t been getting along all that well lately.”
“Oh yeah?” His dark eyes sparked with interest. “Do tell.”
I normally wouldn’t confide in anyone about this, but Dade and I went way back and it wouldn’t hurt to have a guy’s perspective. “So, um, I might have done something kind of stupid.” I cleared my throat when the waitress returned with our drinks and a bowl of pretzels.
“I’m waitin’,” he said, rolling his hand. “Tell me already.”
I bit my lip, knowing Dade wouldn’t judge me, but it still felt weird, talking to him about sex. “I kind of slept with Auden,” I whispered, leaning in.
Dade grinned. “And that’s a problem because…?”
I wasn’t ready to tell him about the weirdness between me and Knox. If he sensed something tonight he’d no doubt come right out and ask us. “Because we work together.” I snagged a handful of pretzels and started munching. “And I think maybe he wants a little more than I can give him now.”
“I know how that can go,” Dade said, biting into a pretzel. “Worst mistake I ever made was sleeping with a girl who worked for me.” He sliced his hand through the air. “From then on, that was it for me. I only work with guys or really ugly women now. That way there’s no temptation.” He winked. “So far, it’s working.”
I laughed, nudging his knee under the table. “You’re crazy.”
“Hey.”
I’d been so busy filling Dade in, I hadn’t even heard Knox’s approach, and I was pretty sure he’d endured the same fanfare Dade had.
“Why’d you guys take off without me?” Knox asked, frowning. “I texted you to tell you to meet me at the bus. Didn’t you check your phone?”
He seemed pissed and Dade obviously picked up on the tension because he chuckled. “Relax, man. We’re all here now, that’s all that matters.”
Knox looked at his friend. “You two come here together?”
I couldn’t believe he was making such a big deal about this! “No, I grabbed an Uber.” Not that I felt I had to explain myself to him. “And Dade just got here a few minutes ago. Now shut up and sit down.”
Dade laughed, pointing at Knox. “You’ve been told, buddy. Better take a load off.”
Knox narrowed his eyes at his friend before sliding in beside me. “So, what’re you two talking about?”
Dade pointed at me. “This little lady was just tellin’ me how she got in over her head with your opening act.”
Knox side-eyed me, ratcheting up the anger. “Is that so?”
“Uh oh.” Dade looked from me to Knox. “Did he not know that? I thought you guys told each other everything. Sorry—”
“Don’t worry, Dade.” I held up my hand. “He knows all about me and Auden.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Dade frowned. “Since when do you care whether the people on your crew date? You had no problem with Cece seein’ that Leo character.”
Ugh. If I never had to hear that man’s name again I’d be happy. “Please, let’s not talk about him.” Dade knew that he’d cheated on me with a groupie in Knox’s dressing room, but he didn’t know about the endless harassment that followed that little indiscretion.
“Am I missing something?” Dade asked.
“He’s gone,” Knox said. “Fired his ass.”
“Good.” Dade nodded. “You did the right thing. I know he was good at his job, but you don’t need assholes like that workin’ for you, man.”
