Risky Rockstar: A Hero Club Novel, стр. 29

“Do you mind if I take this?” I reach for my phone.

“Not at all. I should check on the boys.”

I stand and move to the bookcase, straightening the already straight owl bookend. “Hey, Sam.”

“I guess the plan backfired,” she says by way of greeting, and I hear the sound of a lighter flick to life and Sam inhaling smoke into her lungs.

I’m silent as guilt gnaws at me. This arrangement Kevin and I have was supposed to protect Claire, not throw her directly into the lion’s den. “I know, I feel awful about it.”

Sam takes another drag and puffs out a breath. “I figured you would. That’s why I called. I think you should go with Kevin to the Oscars.”

Trust Sam to get straight to the point. “I can’t do that. I have plans with Amy—she’s flying out to LA with me tomorrow to spend time with her friend who moved out there last year. We plan on going to a whodunit dinner. Besides, Kevin will never agree. The whole point of this is so he can have Claire with him at the Oscars.”

“Your niece will understand if she knows you’re going with Kevin Peyton. And if he wants to take the heat off…Claire, is it?” She doesn’t wait for me to confirm she’s correct. “You two need to amp things up. You’ll have to show them that you mean business with this relationship and they are all wrong about Claire. That she is ‘just a friend.’” I can almost see the air quotes and feel the need to defend Kevin, even if I know there’s more to the situation than he wants to admit to himself.

“They are just friends.” I don’t add the benefits part because that is just my own suspicion.

“Those two are as much ‘just friends’ as you and Kevin are lovers, but I haven’t got all day to debate it with you. Fine, if the Oscars are out, you’re going to have to make sure you really bring the steam during your performance. What I saw during rehearsal the day before yesterday was you two clowning around.” Sam is as blunt as ever, one of the things I both love and dislike about her.

“I know how to perform, Sam. I do it all the time with my dancers. It doesn’t mean if there’s no chemistry offstage, there won’t be onstage.”

Sam takes another drag, and it sounds like she’s crushing her cigarette out. “I hope so. People really need to see the fire from you and Kevin so the heat with Claire dies down.”

“I know. We’ll bring it. Don’t worry.”

We spend a few minutes going over some last-minute details for the VIPs, and by the time we’re done, I’m ready to go back to bed. I love Sam, but she’s a bulldozer at times. I hang up and turn to Bridget, who’s still texting Simon. “I’m sorry about that. It took a little longer than anticipated.”

She waves me off. “Was that Sam about your concert with Kevin?”

I plop down on the couch. “Yes, there was an incident at the airport with Claire yesterday. People assume Kevin is stepping out on me with Claire, and they aren’t being kind. Sam is trying to convince me to go to the Oscars with Kevin and when that failed, lectured me that I’m not being steamy enough with him. Apparently, we weren’t on enough for her at rehearsal. It’s really hard for Kevin up there, doing all those things with me. I think he’s in love with Claire but won’t admit it to me. Maybe he’s not ready to admit it to himself yet.” I take a sip of my grapefruit juice. “So, I’ve been making it fun—you know, so he knows it’s okay. But I still think he feels guilty for touching me, even though they aren’t together in the official sense.”

“Oh wow, this sounds messy. Is Claire in love with him?”

I shake my head. “Kevin is adamant she doesn’t see him that way. They are just really close friends who I’ve gathered throw in a few benefits from time to time. He’s very private.”

Bridget gathers the plates and stacks them on top of each other. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but what if Claire is in love with him and she gets hurt in all this?”

“Kevin told Claire about our arrangement, and she was fine with it. I don’t think he’d do anything to hurt her. He loves her too much.”

Bridget smiles. “I hope he’s right. Now what do you say I take you out for ice cream to make up for stealing your cookie, or are you too full?”

I’m relieved we’ve dropped yet another uncomfortable subject but make a mental note to talk to Kevin about this one last time before the show. I couldn’t bear it if what Kevin and I planned for the show would cause Claire any pain. Regardless of how choreographed it is. “I say make it two scoops and you’ve got yourself a deal.”