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“You’re right, dumb question. I’ll have my guy pull some stuff and you can decide that morning. Also, you can stay with me if you want.”
“I’ll stay in a hotel,” I counter. “But I appreciate you handling my wardrobe.”
She sighs. It drives her crazy that I won’t stay in her sprawling mansion when I’m out in Los Angeles. Even though the media knows we’re just friends, I’m not willing to push it. I have no interest in being linked romantically.
“What about Saturday?”
“Saturday?” The Grammys are on a Sunday. And not for a few weeks.
“My concert is this weekend and it’s four blocks from your apartment. You have to come,” she reminds me.
I frown. Somehow, I managed to forget she has a tour stop in DC this weekend. I haven’t seen her play in a while, but going to her show is the opposite of laying low. I can’t say no outright because I don’t want to hurt her feelings. Plus, I sort of want to go. I enjoy seeing her live. She radiates so much energy and joy that it engulfs the crowd.
I dart another glance at Ellie. “I’ll let you know.”
“You’re coming,” Amber declares. “Celeste says you’ve been hiding in your apartment. It’ll be good for you to get out and be around people.”
“I’m a grown man. I don’t need you or my sister managing my life.”
“She told me about?—”
Under no circumstances do I want to know what Celeste told her, so I interrupt, “I’ll let you know about Saturday. We can meet up after the show either way.”
“I’ll have Brian send you tickets and backstage passes. You coming alone? Or do you want to bring some friends?”
“I’ll let you know,” I repeat, but we both know I’m going to go. She’ll badger me endlessly if I don’t.
When I finally disconnect, Ellie shifts her attention away from the grey afternoon. Obviously she overheard my side of the conversation, but I can’t tell if she could hear Amber, too. A thought pops into my head and immediately spills out of my mouth. “Do you want to go with me to Amber’s concert on Saturday night?”
“What? Where? Here?”
Her expression is something else. Awe mixed with delight.
“Yes. You don’t have her concert schedule memorized?” I tease, feeling happier than I’ve felt in days.
She rolls her eyes. “Just because I like her music doesn’t mean I stalk her.” She bounces in her chair. “I’ve never seen Amber in concert. Her tickets are impossible to get.”
I puff up. “Not for me. Do you want to go?” I ask again.
“You’re serious?” She leans forward.
“Amber wants me to go and I’m sure she’ll give me a ticket for you, too.” If Ellie goes, it’ll be easier for me to blend in. And it’ll make it impossible for me to bail at the last minute.
“You’re asking me to go with you to see Amber Hope live?”
“You don’t have to.”
“Are you kidding me?” She leaps off the couch. Her hair flies in every direction as she bounces around the room. “Yes.” And then louder, “Yes, I want to go!”
Her excitement is catching, and I have the urge to bounce around the room with her. Before I can embarrass myself, she plops down next to me.
“I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Don’t thank me.” I don’t want her appreciation. I want to make her happy.
She leans forward and brushes her lips against my cheek. My breath catches and the smell of cinnamon assaults me. She smells a bit like apple pie, which should not give me the urge to bury my head in the crook of her neck.
“Oh gosh. That was weird.” She touches her mouth. “I don’t know why I did that.” She shakes her head a couple of times and bounds back to her feet. “Can we pretend I did not awkwardly kiss your cheek like you were…”
