“If she’s goin’ on the road with anyone,” I said, ignoring the shot. “It should be me.”
Reed chuckled. “Nah, you’ll find a way to screw this up long before that happens.”
I snatched his phone and slammed it down on the table. “Stop that! You don’t even know if Charli’s interested in going out on the road. Don’t you think you should talk to the girl first? Find out if she’s even interested?”
“You’re right,” Reed said, slipping his phone back in his pocket. “I’ll steal her away after her set.” He smiled. “Have a nice long talk, get to know her better.”
Sometimes my best friends felt like my worst enemies. Assholes. “Whatever. If you think you’re gonna get anywhere with her you’re wasting your time.”
“Why is that?” Reed asked, draining his long neck. “I’m single. So is she.”
I was gonna kill this guy, friend or not. “You may be single but you’re still in love with your ex. Charli deserves better than that.”
At the mention of his ex, Reed’s smile slipped. “There’s no goin’ back for me and Brook. She told me to move on. Maybe it’s time I took the lady’s advice.” His gaze drifted to the stage before he said, “And I can’t think of anyone better to get back in the game with.”
I didn’t know if he was serious or baiting me, but we all subscribed to bro code. We didn’t screw around with each other’s exes. Not that Charli was my… anything. She was my assistant. We’d slept together a couple of times. But my friends didn’t know the whole story. They sure as hell didn’t know how I felt about her.
“Look at me,” I said to Reed, waiting until he made eye contact. “You value our friendship, you’ll back off. Charli’s off limits. I mean it.” Charli would probably lose it if she heard me issue that warning, but I couldn’t help myself. It would kill me to see her hook up with one of my friends.
Archer whistled before he said, “I’d heed that threat if I were you, Harris. Doesn’t sound like he’s messin’ around.”
Reed shook his head. “You can’t speak for the lady. I won’t make a play for her… because I do value our friendship, asshole. But in terms of going out on the road with me, that’s an incredible opportunity for her and you know it.”
He was right. And since I wasn’t going back out on the road for at least a year, I couldn’t offer her a similar opportunity. She was working for me, and I had a feeling she’d be an invaluable member of my team if she chose to stick around. But we’d agreed to a trial run. That meant she was free to pursue it if something better came along.
“I don’t own her,” I mumbled. “If she wants to go on the road with you, obviously she can.”
“Good, glad you see it my way.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and fired off a text. Probably the video of Charli that he wanted his label and manager to see.
“Jesus,” Archer muttered. “I knew I should have bailed.”
I looked up in time to see Sky walking toward us. She looked nervous, maybe a little hesitant as her eyes locked with Archer’s.
I slid out of the booth to give her a hug and Reed did the same, but Archer remained rooted to his seat, tipping his beer back.
“Nice to see you guys,” she said, sweeping her gaze around the table to include the man trying to ignore her. “How’ve y’all been?”
“You just saw us at the wedding,” Archer snapped. “Not much has changed in a couple of days.”
“Obviously,” she said, smiling at him. “You’re still crusty as hell. When are you gonna pull that stick out of your ass, Archer? Admit that we could be one hell of a songwriting team if you set your wounded pride aside and—”
“Wounded pride?” He shook his head, chuckling. “Sweetheart, you do think highly of yourself, don’t you?”
She blushed before stealing a glance at me and Reed. “I just—”
“You just, what?” Archer demanded. “You just thought you could manipulate me into doing what you want just ‘cause we had one shitty night together a lifetime ago?”
Ouch. It wasn’t like Archer to be so openly hostile. At least with women. Other dudes dealt with his wrath all the time. “Look guys,” I said, trying to diffuse the situation. “Maybe we should all—”
“Maybe you should mind your own goddamn business,” Archer said, while flagging the waitress. “I don’t get up in your business, so stay the hell out of mine.”
Everyone gave Archer a wide berth because of hisissuessince returning from active duty, but I wasn’t afraid to dress him down when he was being an asshole. Like now. “Look,” I said, bracing my hands on the table as I leaned in to face him. “Sky happens to be a friend of mine. That means you’ll treat her with respect in front of me or you and I are gonna have a problem.”
Archer rolled his eyes. “Gimme a break, man. She doesn’t mean shit to you. You’re just callin’ me out because you’re pissed about Reed wantin’ to make a play for Charli.”
“You don’t—”
Skylar curled her hand around my bicep. “Don’t, Dade. He’s not worth it.”
