Wicked Games (Denver Rebels) (17 page)

“When did you get home?” Nadia asked her.

“Last night after nine.”

“I was just about to eat. Have you had breakfast?”

“Yeah.” Scarlett grinned wryly. “My parents woke me up at the ass crack of dawn to take me out to eat.”

“The nerve.” Nadia grinned. “You know they’ve missed you like crazy. So have your brothers.”

“I know, girl. I missed them too.” Scarlett winked. “But don’t tell ’em I said so.”

Nadia laughed and hugged her around the waist.

She and Scarlett had always been more like sisters than cousins. Their fathers were twins, so the two girls had grown up together. They’d attended the same schools, joined the same clubs, and were inseparable during family vacations and reunions. At sleepovers, they’d stayed up late swapping secrets, playing dress up and dancing to their favorite songs. As members of a pretend girl band, they would sing into hairbrushes and make their own music videos with Nelson acting as director. Even back then, Scarlett had been the better singer and performer.

When she was nine, she’d come across a drum set while attending a friend’s birthday party. The set belonged to the host’s older brother, who played in a rock band. He’d graciously allowed Scarlett to tinker around with his drums, showing her how to hold the sticks and where to strike them to produce cool beats. She was hooked. When her music teacher at school introduced her to the work of Sheila E., Scarlett was so awed and inspired by the electrifying female drummer that she’d begged her parents for drum lessons.

It was money well spent. Scarlett proved to have a natural talent and went on to play the drums in her middle and high school bands, eventually receiving a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. That was where she met the four guys who would later help her form Off The Grid.

For the past three months, the band had been in Europe performing in concerts and festivals to promote their second album, which had been climbing up the indie charts.

“I want to hear all about the tour.” Nadia grabbed Scarlett’s hand and ushered her over to the sofa, plopping down next to her while Jess sat on the loveseat.

“So how was it?” Nadia asked excitedly.

“It was awesome. Exhilarating. Exhausting.” Scarlett grinned, her eyes sparkling. “We had a big crowd at every performance, so that was pretty amazing. Even though it was our second tour, it still felt surreal to look out into the audience and see people singing the words to our songs and screaming our names. There’s nothing like it.”

“Sounds exciting,” Jess said with a touch of envy.

“It was,” Scarlett confirmed, propping her feet up on the coffee table. “Being onstage is the biggest fucking adrenaline rush. But the rest of it isn’t as glamorous as you might think. Staying in cheap hotels, eating bad food and dealing with jet lag can take a serious toll. And since we’re not signed with a major record label, worrying about money can be hella stressful.”

“Wow,” Jess commiserated. “I didn’t even think about all that.”

Scarlett shrugged. “Most people don’t.”

“So other than performing for screaming fans,” Nadia asked, “what’s the best part of going on tour?”

Scarlett smiled. “Being with the guys.”

“Aww. What’s the worst part?”

Scarlett wrinkled her nose. “Being with the guys.”

They all laughed.

“Your bandmates are fine as hell,” Jess declared. “How could you ever get tired of being around them?”

“You’d be surprised,” Scarlett said with a wry smile. “I love the fellas. They’re family, and I’d do anything for them and vice versa. But after traveling together for months, we get on each other’s nerves and need a damn break.”

Nadia grinned. “Totally understandable. That’s how Nelson and I get sometimes.”

Scarlett chuckled, glancing around. “Where
is
Nelson?”

“Taking a shower. He’s hanging out with Bianca today.”

Scarlett grinned. “Of course. What else?”

“Right?” Jess laughed.

Nadia smiled. “How was Sweden?” she asked, thinking of Viggo.

“Oh, I
loved
Sweden. The beautiful scenery, the food, the culture, the music scene.” Scarlett sighed, placing her hand over her heart. “Stockholm was my favorite stop on the tour. I can’t wait to go back next year.”

“When do you guys hit the road again?” Nadia asked.

“Not until February. In the meantime, I plan to relax, catch up on sleep and just enjoy my downtime.”

At that moment Nelson emerged from the back. “I
thought
I heard your voice out here.”

Scarlett’s face lit up in a wide grin. “Nelson!”

Beaming, he crossed the room in two strides, lifted her in a big bear hug and swung her around. “’Bout damn time you brought your ass home.”

Scarlett laughed, hugging him back before he set her down and grinned at her.

“You’re back early.”

“Nah.” Her eyes twinkled. “I told you guys I was coming home later so I could surprise you. Damn, son,” she exclaimed, squeezing Nelson’s biceps through his shirt. “Someone’s been hitting the gym hard.”

Nelson grinned. “You noticed that too, huh? Jess was just saying the same thing.” Showing off, he puffed out his chest and struck a pose, flexing his biceps like a bodybuilder.

As Scarlett and Jess pretended to swoon and fan themselves, Nadia rolled her eyes. “Please stop gassing the boy’s head up. I’m the one who’s gonna have to live with him and his massive ass ego.”

Everyone laughed.

Nelson tweaked Scarlett’s nose. “I’m having some friends over tonight to watch the hockey game. You’re coming, right?”

“Of course. Wouldn’t miss it.” Scarlett, unlike Nadia, had always shared Nelson’s love for hockey. She knew players’ stats, watched the games and could talk shop with the best of them. “I hear our Rebels are off to a great start this season.”

“Yup,” Nelson confirmed. “Everyone’s healthy, and they won the first game pretty decisively.”

“Awesome.” Scarlett’s face broke into a sudden grin. “Hey, Dad says Reid Holden broke his silence to talk to you. How the hell did you pull that off?”

“Ask Nadia,” Nelson said with a sly grin. “She might know something about it.”

“Nadia?” Scarlett repeated, her brows furrowed in confusion. “She doesn’t even like hockey.”

Nelson’s grin widened. “She does now.”

“Really?” Scarlett turned to stare at Nadia. “What have I missed?”

Nadia’s face heated under her cousin’s scrutiny. “Jess and I are going shopping this afternoon,” she blurted, dodging the question. “Why don’t you come with us?”

“Yeah,” Jess piped up. “Come with us. The more, the merrier.”

Scarlett looked from Jess to Nadia and then shrugged. “Sure, why not? I don’t have any other plans.”

“Great,” Nadia enthused, grateful that Scarlett would help her serve as a buffer between Jess and Caitlyn. “I’m gonna take a shower and get dressed.”

As she turned and started from the room, Scarlett called after her, “Are you gonna tell me why you suddenly love hockey?”

Nelson and Jess laughed like co-conspirators. “
We’ll
fill you in.”

On the way
to the mall, Scarlett alternately teased and interrogated Nadia about her relationship with Reid. She couldn’t believe one of her family members was dating an NHL superstar. As a hockey fan, she was super excited and looked forward to meeting Reid. As a concerned cousin who knew all about Nadia’s track record with jocks, she had her reservations. But as long as Reid made Nadia happy and treated her well, Scarlett was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

They arrived at the upscale mall and parked outside Macy’s, then got out of the car and sat on the bench near the entrance to enjoy the warm weather while they waited for Caitlyn.

Nearly twenty minutes later, she drove up in her rental Ferrari and found a spot right in the front. She stepped out of the low-slung car like a supermodel, sliding one long leg out and then the other. She had on designer shades, and a light breeze blew her long dark hair away from her face. She was fashionably dressed in a sleek white pantsuit that accentuated her tall, svelte figure. Paired with multicolored Christian Louboutin snakeskin pumps, the pantsuit looked like it had come straight from a Paris couturier. The entire outfit had probably cost more than Nadia earned in a year.

Caitlyn removed her sunglasses and tossed her hair over her shoulder. As she strutted toward them, Nadia could almost hear the Pussycat Dolls cooing,
“Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?”

Watching Caitlyn approach, Jess rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t get stuck in her head.

The animosity between the two cousins was unusual, given that Caitlyn was over twenty years older than Jess. Not that she looked it. She’d had some work done, so her fair skin was smooth and tight, with barely a trace of crow’s feet or smile lines. Her makeup was flawless, her nails were perfectly manicured and her hair glistened with blond highlights.

“Hello, girls.” She went around the circle, greeting Nadia and Scarlett with air kisses. When she came to Jess, her lip curled and her nostrils flared as if she’d caught a whiff of something gross.

Jess didn’t look any happier to see her.

“Caitlyn,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Jessilyn.” Caitlyn gave her cousin a deliberate once-over, her critical eye searching for flaws. “You’re looking…well.”

“Thanks.” Jess didn’t bother to return the tepid compliment. “We were beginning to wonder if you’d decided to blow us off.”

Caitlyn looked quaintly amused. “If that was your subtle way of scolding me for being late, it couldn’t be helped. I’ve been on the phone with clients all morning. As you may recall, I run my own law practice. It’s not my fault I’m always in demand.”

Jess rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

Caitlyn ignored her, tucking her sunglasses into her Hermès Birkin bag. When she noticed Nadia’s Chanel purse, her hazel eyes narrowed.

“Nice bag,” she remarked. “I didn’t realize the college paid secretaries so well.”

Already with the putdowns? Seriously?

“Not that there’s anything wrong with being a secretary,” Nadia said calmly, “but I’m actually a recruiter.”

“Oh?” Caitlyn blinked, then waved a dismissive hand. “I must have gotten your job confused with Jessilyn’s.”

“Then you’re still confused,” Jess said coolly, “because I’m an admissions counselor.”

“Really?” Caitlyn smirked. “Maybe you should consider becoming a recruiter so you can afford Chanel purses like your bestie.”

Jess bristled with anger. “My salary is just fine. And for your information, Nadia didn’t—”

“Let’s go shopping, shall we?” Smiling brightly, Nadia linked arms with Jess and Scarlett and steered them toward the entrance to Macy’s.

Over the next hour they browsed through the new fall arrivals, pulling pretty clothes off the racks before putting them back. Only Nadia and Jess were there to spend money. Scarlett was just along for the ride, while Caitlyn seemed more interested in talking on her phone than shopping. She took several calls—some professional, others personal.

They could always tell when she was speaking to a man because her voice took on a sugary quality and she tossed her hair coquettishly as her laughter rang out across the store. She turned men’s heads, and more than a few appeared ready to approach her before she shot them down with a single look.

When she wasn’t on the phone, she followed the girls around offering her unsolicited opinion on what did or didn’t look good on Nadia. As the most expensively attired member of their group, she behaved as if her fashion expertise should be taken as gospel. 

“You’re probably too dark to pull off that color. I mean, you’re obviously nowhere near as dark as Lupita Nyong’o, but you still need to be mindful of choosing the most flattering colors for your complexion.”

“I don’t think you have the right body type for that dress.”

“Look at the cut of that neckline. It does absolutely nothing for your small boobs.”

“That romper makes your legs look too short. Besides, rompers are
so
last season.”

“You have too much junk in your trunk to wear that. With your ghetto booty, you’d look like a stripper.”

Her running commentary had Jess muttering and cursing under her breath while Scarlett glared and sucked her teeth. Nadia could only pray for the strength to get through the outing without going upside Caitlyn’s head.

“I used to love shopping here when I was a teenager. But that was before I went away to college on the East Coast.” Caitlyn glanced around the store with haughty disdain. “The Macy’s in New York totally puts this one to shame. Hell, every shopping mall in Atlanta makes this place look like—”

“Oh my God,” Jess finally burst out in exasperation. “Why do you have to be such a raging bitch?”

Caitlyn looked affronted. “Excuse you?”

“Excuse
you!
What the fuck is your problem?”