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At least one of the other girls at the table is friendly. Sky discusses the menu with me, asks about my day, with genuine interest. She pokes Dylan and she makes a teasing complaint that she’s in the city of romance, and he hasn’t taken her anywhere special. In response, he moves her wavy blonde hair from her ear, lingering his fingers on her face before whispering something. I can’t see Sky’s expression, but Dylan follows up his words with a kiss. Uncomfortable by how touchy-feely they are when I’m sitting next to them, I focus on the menu instead.
Liam arrives and Bryn looks behind him. “No Cerys?” he asks.
“Ella’s sick so Cerys is staying with her at the hotel. I don’t mind doing the dad stuff, but when she starts spewing on me….” He pulls a face. “Just can’t.”
“Don’t you bloody catch something!” retorts Dylan. “Last thing we need is one of us sick before we make it to Berlin.”
“What do you think I’m doing here?” he replies. “I don’t intend to get sick!”
“The joys of parenthood,” sniggers Bryn and smiles sweetly at Jem who flashes him a look.
“Are we celebrating?” I ask as a waitress, dressed in clothes straight from a 1950s American diner, sets an ice bucket into a stand nearby. She proceeds to pour glasses into tall flutes.
“Not especially,” replies Dylan.
“Serious?” asks Bryn with a grin. “What about Jem and Ruby’s happy event?”
“Yeah, right, because we’d both be drinking,” Ruby snaps at him.
“Whoa, Ruby,” he replies. “Does being pregnant suck all your sense of humour away?”
Ruby scowls. “Stressful day, thanks to somebody’s big mouth.”
Jem stiffens. “Well, everybody knows now. We’ve talked things through with the rest of the band and things are sorted, aren’t they?” Jem squeezes her hand. “We can move on with the tour and stop stressing about secrets.”
Ruby doesn’t look at him; it’s clear in her drawn face, she’d like to retort to Jem’s comment.
I’m more surprised that Jax is okay with the news now. Maybe my pep talk worked, or he decided to be mature about the issue now he’s sober. “The rest of the band not coming tonight, Ruby?” I ask.
“Dunno. Probably.” Ruby stands and without another word heads to the other side of the room. Jem straightens and watches her until she heads in the direction of the Ladies Room and he relaxes down in his seat again.
I tip my head at Sky. “Are the band always sweetness and light like this?”
“Ha. Yes,” she says with a smile and slides a glass of champagne toward herself. “Have a drink and ignore them.”
As she drinks, Dylan watches and wraps an arm around her shoulder. She’s pale too and I’m suddenly aware that, beneath their display of affection, there’s a tension between them. I’m not sure what Dylan murmurs to Sky, but their attitude to each other shifts as she relaxes again.
I pick at the edge of the menu, unaware I’d feel this uncomfortable amongst the band.
“How’s the job going?” asks Bryn and pours me a glass of champagne.
I look up. I should’ve expected Bryn to notice my discomfort. “Fine. Would prefer to do something a bit more interesting.”
“What’s she doing?” asks Liam.
“Selling merch.”
“I’d prefer to help Riley out but no can do. But, keeps me out of trouble,” I say with a grin.
“Mostly,” mutters Bryn.
“How are you after the other night?” asks Sky. “Dylan told me about what happened.”
Crap. I focus on my fingernails. “Yeah. Good. Thanks.”
Silence descends and I wish Sky hadn’t brought up a delicate topic of conversation. As far as I’m concerned, the incident is filed away under ‘not to be talked about’.
My phone message alert sounds saving me from engaging further, and I immediately check the screen.
