Trihn took a deep breath. Of course she had been worried. “Well, I was. Kind of. I mean, you normally call right when you get out of production.”
“Damon, come on!” Trihn heard someone yell in the phone. “I want you to meet someone.”
“Chloe, just give me a minute,” Damon said. The phone was muffled, like he’d put his hand over it, as he talked to Chloe. “Sorry about that. Chloe has been introducing me to a lot of people. She’s been really supportive.”
I bet she has.
Trihn tried to clear the ugly thoughts from her head. Chloe had been nothing but awesome for Damon. And she had been incredibly nice to Trihn. She had spoken to Chloe a couple of times since Damon had been gone. Their relationship seemed entirely professional, and there was no reason to think it was otherwise. That wasn’t the kind of person either of them were.
“That’s good, Damon. I just didn’t think that you’d be out so late when you’re coming back on an early flight tomorrow.”
“About that,” he said so quietly that she barely heard him.
Her stomach sank.
“Chloe set up a few interviews and meetings with people around the city for the upcoming album release. She thought that it’d be good for me to be there to meet people in the business. It’s such a good opportunity that I don’t think I can turn it down.”
“Wow. You’re promoting the album already?”
“Yeah. It’ll come out at the beginning of the summer. Preorders are up everywhere, and the full track listing will go up once they release the title track.”
“That’s fast-moving,” she said. She took a deep breath. “How long are you going to be gone?”
“I think just a day or two. I had to sign a lot of paperwork to record this song, and I need to get my own talent agent and manager while I’m out here. Don’t want to get screwed over or anything.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Hey, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t have to. I’m still missing you like crazy. Can’t wait to get back to you.”
“I know. I can’t wait either.”
“Damon!” Chloe called again.
He sighed heavily. “Hey, I’ve got to go, but I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“All right. I’ll talk to you then. I miss you.”
“Bye, Trihn.”
The line died in her hand, and she stared at her phone.
This was a good thing for Damon. This was what he had been working toward. He needed to be there for his career. But it didn’t stop the first edge of panic from taking over her body.
She repeated to herself all the things Damon had said to her before he left. They were all that mattered. He cared for her. They could make it. They were a team. It pushed the panic back a little, but knowing she had been sitting around all night waiting just irritated her.
All night, she had been freaking out about him instead of just trusting him and having fun with her friends. That was what she should have been doing—not sitting around her apartment, all alone, and getting worked up.
Trihn changed into one of her signature outfits—black leather miniskirt and black rhinestone bra top with her leather jacket and knee-high leather boots. She blew out her dark hair until it was stick straight and then added dark makeup with cherry-red lips.
She called a cab, and ten minutes later, she was breezing through Posse’s crowded entranceway with nothing more than a flutter of her fingers to the bouncer as she bypassed the fifty people waiting in line. The nightclub was jam-packed. It was usually busy, but since Chloe’s appearance, Posse had been unstoppable with lines out the door, a full dance floor, and flowing drinks. Even the VIP section was crowded.
Luckily, Trihn knew everyone who worked there. She found Maya under a mountain of drink orders.
“Trihni!” Maya cried when she saw her. “You don’t happen to want to pour drinks tonight? I’m swamped.”
“I’d be useless. You should ask E.”
“If I wanted margaritas, I would.” Maya passed over a round of shots, two beers, and a few mixed drinks to the people in front of the bar. They were quickly replaced by another group desperate for drinks. Maya handed Trihn a drink. “Gin and tonic, right?”
“Thanks. I’ll take a Peppermint Posse martini, too, when you get a chance.”
Maya stopped what she was doing and looked at Trihn. “You want to get fucked up tonight?”
Trihn shrugged. “Basically.”
Maya shook her head but started making her the drink. She handed the potent mix over to Trihn. “I don’t even want to know what lover boy did, do I?”
“I’ll give you one guess.”
“Chloe Avana?” Maya asked.
“Bingo.” Trihn downed the gin and tonic and handed the glass back to Maya.
“You made it!” Stacia cried, barreling into her from the dance floor.
Bryna was hot on her heels with Eric and Marshall following close behind. “A Peppermint Posse martini?” she asked. “I didn’t know we were getting belligerent tonight. Make that two, Maya.”
“Oh! Three!” Stacia said.
Maya shook her head but started working on the drinks.
“What happened?” Bryna asked intuitively.
“Nothing. Damon is staying in LA for a few more days to help Chloe with promotion and to get an agent and manager.”