“He what?” Slade joined the circle, and even Killian walked over to see what was going on.
“Calm your tits. It’s not like I sought him out,” Viper said.
“What did he want?” Slade asked.
“To apologize.”
“Seriously? Out of everyone, he chose you to apologize to?” Jagger shook his head.
“I’m sure he’ll corner your ass later, don’t worry.”
“And you bought that shit?” Slade frowned, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked wild tonight, his mohawk painted in various shades of blue and purple. It always struck me how he looked like the intimidating guy in the group when he was really the most sensitive. Not that he’d ever admit it, and he’d probably try to punch me if I said it.
Viper held up his hands. “Look, I’m not gonna be best fuckin’ friends with the guy again. He did what he felt like he had to do, and so did we. I think we got the better end of the deal.”
“He seemed like he was in a much better place when I saw him in Savannah,” Killian added. “There’s no reason to hate on him anymore, not when we’re doin’ so well. Now, if we were still in a shithole of a mess, yeah, I’d wish a plague on his fuckin’ house.”
Levi came to an abrupt stop beside me, his wide eyes shifting to Killian. “I’ll come back,” he said, hightailing it away.
Killian watched him go for a long moment and then focused back on us. “Besides, we’re all here, all nominated for awards. This is how it’s supposed to be.”
Slade scowled. “So we’re supposed to thank him for leaving, is that it?”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” Killian said. “I just don’t think there needs to be any more of this animosity shit. He left, he moved on, we moved on—let’s just agree to be civil.”
“Yep, that pretty much sums up our convo,” Viper said. “Although I still wouldn’t mind watching Slade throw a punch his way.”
“Viper…” Killian started, but when Levi walked up again, he clamped his mouth shut.
“I hate to break this up, but the show’s about to start,” Levi said. “You guys need to get to your seats.”
As we headed into the theater, Jagger said, “By the way, did you say he has a boyfriend now?”
Our seats were in the second row on the left, and when I looked around, I noticed they’d seated Trent in the same row on the opposite side of the room. Probably smart, considering the mixed emotions running through the group right now.
I sat beside Killian, and when Viper took the seat on the other side of me, Levi practically threw his hands up in the air, but no amount of reasoning made Viper budge from his seat.
Levi looked at me with pleading eyes. “Please make him behave tonight. He listens to you.”
“If by behave, you mean no oral sex during the show, I’ll do my best, but no promises,” Viper said, loud enough that there were snickers from the people in surrounding rows.
Jesus, his mouth, I thought, and where a fierce blush would’ve usually hit my cheeks at a public comment like that, I was so accustomed to the crazy shit that came from Viper’s lips that all I did now was laugh…and maybe only blush a little.
“We’ll behave,” I said for Levi’s benefit, and when Viper let out a dissatisfied groan beside me, I squeezed his leg.
“So?” Killian said. “What do you think? Smaller than you thought it’d be, right?”
“It does look bigger on TV,” I said, taking in the platinum sculptures of the Music World Award statue that stood at attention on either side of the stage. The back wall was covered in screens that, for the moment, had the awards show logo on it. Around us, the seats were filling quickly, and it was hard to keep my mouth from falling open at all the entertainers I recognized. It wasn’t just musicians, either, but actors and celebrities famous for being celebrities.
“Holy shit, that’s Jennifer Aniston.” I was full-on gawking now, as the actress in a strapless silver metallic dress walked down the aisle, and as she passed our row, she smiled at me and waved. I blinked, watching as she took her seat in the front row. “Oh my God. Please tell me someone just saw that and I didn’t imagine it.”
Viper leaned over, brushing his finger just under my mouth. “Is that drool, Angel? You got a thing for Jennifer Aniston?”
“What? No,” I said, shifting in my seat, and when a teasing smile curved Viper’s lips, I rolled my eyes. “I just never thought I’d actually see her in person. This is all so fucking surreal.”
“Then you might not wanna look over there,” Viper said, nodding toward two guys in deep conversation with each other on the other side of the room. When I realized who I was staring at, my jaw hit the floor.