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“Two diet cokes please.” She looked at Marley and Alex. “Would you guys like anything?”
Marley shook his head. “One beer and we’re done. Until after the show, at least.”
“We’re professionals,” Alex added, winking at Grace.
As soon as she’d been served, the three of them walked back to the stage, and Grace passed Sabrina a diet coke, sipping at the other one as she took the second chair, facing the stage.
Presley had hooked his guitar strap over his shoulder, plugging it into the amplifier. Alex did the same with his bass guitar, and Marley was behind the huge drum set at the back of the stage, spinning the sticks between his fingers.
Cassie was bending down next to the amp, her jeans tight across her hips, her black top riding up to reveal a sliver of skin. Glancing at Presley, Grace noticed he was staring right at his keyboardist.
Interesting. There was something going on there. Not that it was any of Grace’s business. She didn’t want people prying into her own life, after all. But Presley had been alone and grieving for too long. Maybe things were looking up for him.
“Guess who just texted me,” Sabrina said, as Presley strummed some chords. “Again.”
“The President?”
Sabrina laughed. “Not quite. My brother. Telling me to behave for you.”
Grace’s throat turned dry. “Which brother?”
“Michael, of course. I blocked him. No wonder he and Lainey split up. She must have gotten sick of him bossing her around.”
“Lainey?” Grace said. “Is that his ex-wife?”
“It’s Elaine really, I think.” Sabrina shrugged. “I don’t know. I never met her.”
“Didn’t you go to their wedding?” It was like picking at a scab. And it was pointless. Michael was in London because he was cutting all ties. She trusted him. And she wasn’t about to go all green-eyed monster again.
Once was enough.
“Nope. They eloped. Didn’t tell anybody.” Sabrina rolled her eyes. “I think Mom was upset, but she didn’t tell him that. And Michael’s always been private.”
Grace swallowed, because she knew that. And she was the one he was keeping secrets about now.
“Anyway, they were over before they began. Apparently the divorce took longer than the time they lived together.” Sabrina shrugged just as Marley hit the drums a few times. It made Grace jump.
She opened her mouth to ask a dozen more questions, but Cassie was already leaning into the microphone fixed to her keyboard.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we’re Alternate Reality, and we’d like to play you a few songs.” Her talking voice was soft and husky, exactly the way she sang.
Grace lifted her soda to her lips and decided to throw herself into the music.
* * *
“I think we’re there,” Michael said, looking at Richard. They were a similar age, though Richard looked older with his bow tie and striped shirt. Ageless, maybe.
“Yes, I think we are.” Richard nodded. They’d spent three days going through everything. Getting assessments. Talking to their clients to make sure they’d be staying with the company despite Michael leaving.
He’d assured them they’d get the same attention they always did. Richard was a good agent, and without Michael, he’d be running the business with less individual client time. But their staff would remain the same, and Michael had already talked to each one of them to make sure they knew their jobs were safe.
Now all that remained was for them to sign contracts and make the announcement. That couldn’t be done in the next two days, but they’d already agreed that Michael would hand everything over from the other side of the Atlantic. On Monday, they’d let the staff know they’d be reporting to Richard, and then he’d go home.
“You got plans for tomorrow?” Richard asked him.
“Just cleaning out the apartment.” He’d arranged for movers to come in. Anything he wanted in the US would be shipped and arrive in a couple of months once it had gone through customs. Everything else would be donated or thrown away.
It was as though his life in London was disappearing.
