“I must,” I agreed wholeheartedly. “You want something?” I asked, turning to Sid.
“Nah, I’ll go catch up with Cade.”
I watched him, trying to assess if I should press him yet again. Instead, I let him be with a simple nod, allowing Danny to snag my hand. “Sarah’s here,” she shared as she pulled me toward the backyard.
I’d invited Sarah, wanting her to get to know Cade and Danika. I knew they’d both like her. “Great!” I beamed, forcing some enthusiasm despite Sid’s mood weighing heavily on my shoulders.
We found Sarah and the three of us sat in the backyard under their beautiful lemon tree, sipping cocktails and watching the revelers. Between the tattoo shop, our former band, and Caden being Caden, he knew a lot of people.
“Your house looks great,” I told Danika, admiring the sweet one-story house and fenced in backyard. “I love seeing Caden so domesticated.” I winked.
Danny smiled. “I’m long overdue for thanking you, Sam. You gave him that nudge I think he needed to take things to the next step.”
I shrugged. “He would have done it anyway. It was time.”
“It turned out to be a nudge for more than just Caden. I’m so happy to see you and Sid together.” She grinned. “It’s where you both belong and it’s about damn time.”
I nodded. “I’d like to think so. We still have some stuff to sort out. What’s next, mostly. House-sitting for Brad has bought me some time, but not much. And our communication still needs some work,” I muttered dryly. “He’s pissed about something but he won’t talk about it.”
“Yeah, he looked kind of grouchy,” Sarah put in.
“When he’s upset, he completely shuts down.” I shook my head in frustration. “He’s always been like that, but being on the receiving end of it as a friend is much different than a girlfriend.” I took a sip of my drink, watching as the man himself came out to the backyard with Caden. “I’m nowhere near perfect but I want to try. For him and for me.”
Sarah clinked her glass with mine. “That’s half the battle. And I have to say even this conversation is progress for you, Sam. You didn’t used to be so forthcoming.”
“True,” Danny agreed. “I have to say, honey, it sounds like this is your first fight—as a couple, anyway. Never easy.”
“Just wish I knew what we were fighting about,” I muttered, unable to take my eyes away from Sid. His presence was so compelling. He still took my breath away.
Danika, Sarah, and I sat catching up and drinking cocktails for quite a while before Danny went to go see the birthday boy and Sarah headed home. I sat taking in the party, enjoying the ability to people watch. I was just getting up to find Sid when a guy I recognized as a friend of Cade’s stopped in front of me.
“Hey, you’re that lead singer from Cade’s band, right?” he asked as he sat himself down next to me. “Sam, right?”
He was a good-looking guy with closely shorn blond hair and colorful tattoos running up and down both muscular arms.
“Yeah,” I replied. “We don’t play anymore but I still write music.”
I realized I was more and more comfortable with that explanation. Cade, Sid, and I, we were all working on our own sense of happy. It was harder and harder to regret the band breaking up. It had allowed us all to follow our dreams.
He offered a charming smile. “I saw you guys play a couple of times; you were great.”
I couldn’t tell if he was hitting on me or just being nice. Nevertheless, I kept my tone neutral as I replied with a simple “Thanks.”
“Sam.” Sid’s growl came from my left as I swiveled my head to look up at my man. “Let’s go.”
“Hello to you, too,” I muttered, thoroughly done with his mood. He hadn’t talked to me all night, and now he did so only to order me around. “Sid, this is... sorry, I didn’t catch your name?”
“Braden.”
“Braden, this is my boyfriend, Sid,” I introduced, trying to make up for Sid’s rudeness.
“Nice to meet you, man,” Braden replied easily, raising a hand to shake.
Sid’s steely blue eyes stared down at him. “You hitting on my girl?”
I gasped, my cheeks heating with embarrassment. “Sid,” I hissed.
Braden dropped his hand. “Nah, man. Just making conversation. You guys have a good night.” He stood up as I offered him an apologetic wave.
