Kaden showing a sense of humor was unexpected, as well as making him more human. On tour, he had been businesslike and professional. Most of the parties that the other members had attended, as far as she knew, he hadn’t gone.
The music and songs he wrote drove his fans to keep attending his concerts and buying his albums. Each year, his success had built until he could pick and choose the venue and the opening act he wanted.
Ginny didn’t envy his success, nor did she want the same for herself. What she wanted was what he was offering—his knowledge and ability to turn the words she wrote into lyrics. He would make her a better songwriter.
Songwriters stayed out of the spotlight. They hid behind their songs and lyrics while artists used the opportunity to fulfill their need to be in the limelight. Would she prefer to sing her own songs? Yes, but she would always be fearful of Allerton finding her. Writing songs allowed the only outlet she gave to herself from her past life, and she didn’t deserve that much. How long was she going to continue punishing herself?
Opening her purse, she put the napkin inside.
“Does that mean I can have my hair back?”
“No.” Ginny snapped her purse closed before turning to Penni. “Where did Lily go?”
“She went with Shade and Greer to Greer’s hotel room. When he’s settled, they’re going to meet us at the restaurant. If everyone’s ready, we can go now.” Penni held up the pager with a blinking light to show their table was available.
Penni reached for her purse that she had laying on the table when Kaden motioned their waitress for their tab.
“I got it.” Opening her purse once again, she took out a credit card and gave it to the waitress. “Put the entire table’s tab on my card.”
“I’ll take care of Jackal, Lily, and Shade’s,” Penni protested.
“No, I insist.” Ginny smilingly waved the waitress away with the card.
Penni lowered her voice so the Crosses wouldn’t overhear. “Are you sure? The bill is going to be huge. Greer ordered everything on the menu before he left, and Moon has been trying to beat him.”
“It’s only money. You can’t take it with you,” Ginny repeated the old adage, taking the bill and the credit card. Holding the card firmly in one hand, she placed the bill and ink pen on the table in front of Penni.
Penni’s eyes narrowed at the name printed at the receipt. “That’s my card!”
“Yes, it is. Go ahead and sign. We don’t want to lose our table, do we? And make sure you give her a generous tip. Greer ran the poor woman back and forth at least a dozen times.”
Penni filled in the receipt, giving the waitress a decent tip before signing her name. Giving the original one back to the waitress, she kept the copy. “Can I have my card back?”
“No, you’re buying dinner.” The card went back in Ginny’s purse. “If the food is as good as you always say it is, then you can have your hair back.”
Penni reached out, catching Greer’s sister’s, Rachel’s arm as she and her husband went past their chairs. “Rachel, have you ever heard of a superstition that it takes three hairs?”
Paling, Rachel gave her a wary glance. “Are you trying to jinx me?” Moving her hand away from Penni’s, she took Cash’s arm, rushing away and giving Penni a glance like she was afraid that Penni would do something behind her back.
“I’ll pay for dinner.”
Ginny gave her the first smile that evening since she had realized what Penni had done. “Don’t be too upset. At least Greer won’t be there.”
* * *
Rachel and Ginny were trying to hide their laughter from Penni, who made sure she was sitting at the farthest chair from hers.
Rachel used a corner of her napkin to wipe her tears away. “I can’t believe you actually pulled her hair.”
“I was slightly irritated with her,” Ginny confessed.
“Remind me never to get you angry at me,” Rachel said as Shade and Lily took the empty seats next to her.
Once they ordered, Ginny asked how Greer was doing.
“Greer’s fine. Rachel, search the website for what’s on the menu. He’s going to text you what he picks. He wants you to take it to him when you’re finished eating.”
Ginny saw the same expression on Shade’s face that had been on Penni’s.
“Make sure you give me the bill. Penni’s paying. She wants to make sure everyone has a good time.”
Shade’s lips twitched. “She does, or you do?”
“To tell the truth,” she whispered conspiratorially, “it’s payback for getting me on that stage.”
“You know, I’m good with that. I’ll make sure to order the most expensive thing on the menu.”
“Try the shrimp cocktail. It’s fantastic.”
The conversation around the table turned toward Treepoint as their food arrived. No one discussed what had happened at the bar with Greer and Cole. Ginny thought more had gone on than praying, but she didn’t want to pry, having her own share of secrets without sticking her nose into other people’s business. She just hoped that what had really taken place tonight had worked and that Greer hadn’t hurt himself.