Page 36 of Dirty Mind
“Don’t worry about us, kid. We’ve had plenty of time to… connect.”
“Yeah, okay. I don’t need a blow-by-blow though, if that’s where you’re going with this.” There was a pause while we both processed what I said, then burst out laughing. “Poor choice of words.”
“Not really,” Cece said, still sounding amused.
“Gross! I don’t wanna hear about your sexcapades.”
“Okay, then tell me about yours.”
Shit. I shouldn’t have been so quick to call. “What are you talking about?”
“I know, sis.”
“You know… what?” I was just buying time now, trying to figure out how much she knew and who I was going to have to kill for letting her in on my little secret.
“About you and Dade. Sounds like you had almost as much fun on our wedding night as we did.”
Maybe more. “Who told you about that?”
“Dade was talking to Knox this morning.” Before I could go off, she said, “Don’t be pissed at him. Knox kind of pressed him about it and Dade’s a shitty liar.”
Good to know. But that still didn’t give him the right to talk to my brother-in-law about us before asking me if I was okay with it. “Let’s just keep it between us, okay? Dade and I aren’t a thing, and after that kiss, people kinda think we are.”
“But you’re working for him now, right?”
Not a damn thing wrong with the grapevine in our family. “Yeah, but it’s just a trial run. We’ll see how it goes.”
“How is it?” Cece asked. “Working for your crush? Sleeping with him?”
I was still trying to process it. Sometimes it didn’t seem real. Me and Dade Jarvis. How the hell had that happened? “It’s weird, if you wanna know the truth. But it’s getting easier. Sometimes I can forget who he is and just treat him like a normal guy.”
“Yeah, right. Anormalhot, rich, guy who’s made the lists of country music’s sexiestandrichest men. Oh and let’s not forget the awards. Hall of Fame. Grand Ol—”
“Stop!” I didn’t need to be reminded of Dade’s accomplishments to know that we were worlds apart. When I dwelled on them too long, I could almost understand why Dade’s exes were plagued with jealousy and insecurity. “It’s not like Knox isn’t in the same league as Dade. How can you not feel… intimidated, being with him?”
“It’s different with us,” Cece said. “I knew him when he was just starting out and I was along for his ride.”
“I guess.” Meeting Dade when he was already on top of the world made me wonder how our lives could ever mesh. “But enough about me. You’re the one on your honeymoon. How’s Maui? Incredible, I bet.”
“A-mazing. I’ll send you some pics later.” Cece giggled and made a kissing sound before she said, “Hey, I saw your post about performing at Jimmy’s tonight. That’s cool! How’d that happen?”
“A friend needed me to sit in with his band when their singer had to bail. It should be fun.” Though the butterflies were still darting around in my stomach.
“You’re gonna be awesome, hon. Wish I could be there to see it.”
“I do too.” I missed my sister and loved that we were going to be living in the same city again. That hadn’t happened in almost twelve years, since before she left for Nashville. “Well, I better let you go. Give Knox a hug for me and send lots of pics, okay?”
“You know I will.” She paused. “And tell Dade he better treat you right or he’ll be answering to me when I get back.”
“I told you there’s nothing between us.”
“I heard what you said, and I don’t believe you. Oh, and before I forget…” She lowered her voice. “I’m having a surprise party for Knox’s birthday the Saturday after we get back. I have the best gift lined up for him and I want all of our friends and family to be there when I give it to him, so make sure you’re available, okay? Dade too.”
“Sure, I’ll let him know.” Not that I expected us to be there together. We had to keep our distance publicly or risk another amateur photographer with a stupid hashtag making our worlds blow up again.
“Ok, love you, Charli. Be good.”
“You too.”
