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Miri laughed. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean we can go crazy.”
Frankie transferred her gaze to me. “I’m sorry, Reece. Can you do without me?”
“I’m sure I’ll manage.”
Miri flashed me a look. “You’re coming to Gabe’s birthday party, aren’t you? Mum’s still up for it. She wants to pop in for a bit and see how she feels.”
I tried to keep the grimace from my face. Gabe’s parties were full of celebrities and loud, pretentious people. Parties were overwhelming at the best of times, but Gabe’s were another level.
“I think it’s too much for Mum,” I said.
Miri’s face dropped. “She wants to. She’s been doing so well. Come on. Please. It’s important to Gabe. I can’t do it for long either. I need to be in bed by 8 p.m. these days.”
So much for using Mum as an excuse. I’d thought that would be watertight. It wasn’t fair to stop Mum from going if she wanted to. It meant a lot to Miri too. It wouldn’t hurt to pop in. Usually I went to hide in the library, anyway. That was the one perk of Gabe’s mansion. He had a library with a sliding ladder like you’d see in a movie.
I pasted a smile onto my face. “Fine. If Mum’s well enough, then I will. But only an hour.”
And don’t expect me to leave the library.
Chapter 6
Skylar
I yanked the hem of my tight plum-hued dress and frowned at my reflection in the clear microwave door. Sophie, one of my teammates, passed me an orange juice. She wrapped her arms around the thick neck of her football player boyfriend, Aiden. Aiden smiled and kissed the top of her head. God. Just my luck to get stuck with the most loved-up couple at a party. We weren’t supposed to drink to excess in the season, but we didn’t have training in the morning. I needed to find someone equally as miserable to drown my sorrows with. These two lovesick puppies weren’t going to cut it.
Miri waddled into the kitchen and threw an arm around my shoulder.
“Hey, is this too low-cut?” I tried to tug my dress up over my boobs, but the sweeping neckline wouldn’t budge. “Sean always said this color doesn’t look good on me.”
Miri flashed an incredulous grin. “Are you kidding me? You look amazing. Every color looks good on you. Where is Sean?”
I waved a dismissive hand. “I’m sure he’ll be along later.”
But hopefully not.
“Come on. Let’s find the birthday boy.” Miri linked her arm through mine and pulled me toward the door. “We need to set up the karaoke.”
A barrage of music and laughter hit us as Miri led me into the revelry in Gabe’s mansion. People crammed every inch of the ginormous sitting room.
Miri smiled when her gaze landed on Gabe. “Ah, there he is.”
She waddled off, leaving me standing alone. I scanned the room, looking for someone to talk to. A grim knot tightened in my chest. I drifted back to the kitchen and downed another tequila, the alcohol hot on my tongue as I chased it with salt and bitter lime. Where was Sean? Would he come here? He’d said it was over with his other woman.
A better woman.
One that can give him what he needs.
Not good enough.
The booze made my stomach roll, but at least it would take the edge off this horrible, numb, scratchy disquiet I’d had since I found those messages on Sean’s phone.
“Skylar Marshall? I was hoping I’d get chance to speak to you.”
The unfamiliar American accent stopped me in my tracks. I turned to see a tall dark-haired man in a smart suit. He flashed a smile. His teeth, even and white, contrasted pleasantly with his olive skin.
He presented his palm. “Evan Lewis. Chairman of the LA Halos.”
The LA Halos? What on earth was he doing here? That was one of the best women’s football teams in the US. I’d thought he looked familiar.
