“You really need to be more specific,” Presley says. “Amazing in bed? Amazing on stage? All of the above?”
“C. Definitely all of the above,” I respond.
“So, are you guys gonna be a thing now?” Harley asks. “Or was this just one night?”
“Well, it’s at least two nights,” Jesse points out. “Ya know, since she’s still here.”
“He says he wants to try,” I say slowly. “Even though it’s going to be hard to be long-distance.”
“Oh, just quit your job and come on tour with us,” Harley says. “Carter left me more money than I will ever spend. There’s no reason for you to work a job you hate.”
Harley knows how much I’ve been struggling since I started this new job.
I sigh. “You know how I feel about that.”
We’ve had similar conversations so many times.
“We’re sisters,” she reminds me needlessly. “What’s mine is yours.”
“You and Tommy are starting a whole new phase of your life—the last thing you need is your spinster sister mooching off you.”
“You are neither a spinster nor a mooch,” Harley says firmly. “You’re a nurse, for fuck’s sake, and you’ve always had a job.”
“Z supports a lot of his family,” Presley says gently. “It’s what you do for the people you love.”
I know they mean well, but this isn’t a conversation I’m ready to have, so I deflect. “Come on, you guys. Ross and I have been together five minutes. I might fly home tomorrow and never hear from him again.”
Harley rolls her eyes. “You know that’s not going to happen.”
“Can you just let me enjoy my first man-induced orgasms in over a year?” I demand playfully.
“It’s been that long?” Jesse asks, grimacing.
“I work a lot of hours,” I say defensively. “And historically, I spend a lot of time with River.”
“Sometimes it’s good to take a break,” Jesse says thoughtfully. “And usually that’s when someone fantastic just falls into your lap.”
“Well, he didn’t exactly fall into my lap,” I say, chuckling. “Ross and I have known each other for years. But we lost touch once Harley and Tommy got divorced.
“Yes, but we’re back together now,” Harley says quickly. “So, this is your chance.”
“He carries a lot of demons from the past,” I say quietly.
“You think so?” Presley asks curiously. “It’s been almost twenty years, hasn’t it?”
“He watched the members of his band and his fiancé die right in front of him,” I say gently. “I don’t know if you ever get over that completely.”
“That’s so horrible,” Jesse says softly. “I can’t even imagine.”
We’re all quiet for a minute, until Harley spots a chocolate shop. She makes a beeline in that direction and we trail after her.
“This right here is why I don’t think I can go on tour with you guys,” I say. “We eat too much when we’re together.”
“Eat during the day,” Jesse says, her eyes twinkling, “and work off those calories all night.”
We dissolve into giggles as we buy a ton of chocolate.
“You really need to think about making some changes in your life,” Harley says to me in a soft voice as we wait for Presley and Jesse to finish paying. “Even if things don’t work out with Ross, you’ve been miserable at this job. I know you, and I see the signs.”
