Mine do the same. It's a reflex. There's no way to fight it.
Friends.
We're going to be friends.
I'm there. I can be friends with the guy who broke my heart when he was supposed to paste it back together.
I'm not about to admit I can't handle it.
He takes a step towards me. His eyes go to something else.
Is that Tom Steele?
It is.
Tom saunters into the room like he owns the place. And, really, he does. Tom is the Sinful Serenade drummer and he's the most famous guy any of us know. But he doesn't need fame to own every room he steps into. He oozes playful charisma.
It's the same charisma that drew me to Ethan, though Ethan is more obvious about wearing his heart on his sleeve. Or he was. Or I was particularly good at seeing that side of him.
Fuck, this is confusing. But Tom was my friend or close to it, and I am happy to see him.
"Okay, I'm here. You can start having fun now." Tom slides off his sunglasses and flashes his million-dollar smile. He nods to Ethan and spins on his heels—he's wearing fuchsia Converse—to face us. "Hey, Pipes. You miss me?"
"It's been three days since I last saw you," she says.
"Bet it's been miserable," he says.
She laughs. "Always miserable without you, Tom." She goes to hug him hello.
Ethan was in one of Tom's bands when the two of them (plus Tom's bassist brother Pete) were in high school. The band broke up the way most high school bands do, but Tom has always stayed in touch. He was already famous when Ethan and I started dating, but he still made a point of coming to Dangerous Noise shows and visiting the Strong family every time he was in Orange County.
His eyes go wide as he takes me in. "Fuck, Violet Valentine. Is that really you or is Ethan into some fucked up I need a woman who looks like my ex shit?"
"It's me," I say.
Tom's eyes widen as he looks back to Ethan. "How the fuck did he get you here?"
"Mal offered me a gig," I say.
Tom nods. He gives me a once-over. "You two fucking again or what?" His voice is matter of fact. To Tom, this is a normal question.
Piper laughs.
Ethan shrugs as if he has absolutely no opinion on whether or not our bodies are joining.
His voice tells a different story.
"No, we're not," Ethan mutters through clenched teeth.
"I'd be upset about that too if I were you." Tom motions to me. "Get your cute ass over here and hug me hello."
He raises a brow—trust me.
Is he really trying to make Ethan jealous?
I look at Ethan for a split second. He's smiling through clenched teeth.
He is jealous.