felt like a dick that she actually had to say that to me.
Had I really been that busy and unavailable to her lately?
Yes. Yes, I had. Since I’d started working for Cary, I’d been sucked right into his world. I’d barely left his property. And I’d definitely skipped out an a couple of ladies’ nights.
Walking in here tonight, being surrounded by noise and people, it felt like a big change from being alone with Cary all the time in his house. It felt good to be out with my best friend. But it also felt strange to not be with him.
I wondered if he’d ever walk into a place like this.
The meeting at Brick House Records had given me hope, but that was only one outing. And other than the few times I’d managed to drag him out for our night jogs, he hadn’t left the property again.
“So, catch me up on the latest,” I said. “What’s going on in your world?”
“Mmm, not much,” she said. “Work is good. The usual. But who cares about that. The big news is I’m making Summer a custom necklace to wear at her wedding.”
“What! That’s incredible. Seriously, when are you gonna quit the day job and just be a jewelry designer already? That’s where your heart is.”
Danica shrugged, sipping her hard cider. “I dunno. If I could make enough money just doing the custom work, one piece at a time, for buyers with bank… I’d consider it. I’m never gonna run some fucking sweatshop. I don’t want to mass produce.”
“I know. But you get someone like Summer wearing a few of your custom pieces, maybe Elle sees it, and some more of her famous friends, and boom. This time next year, maybe that’s exactly where you are. Making custom jewelry for the stars.”
“Huh,” she said, like she hadn’t even thought of it that way. My best friend was an amazing, creative artist. She had great taste. Obviously; just look at who she’d chosen for her best friend. Ha.
But she just didn’t have that business-minded gene that told her how to leverage it into an income.
“That would be fun,” she admitted. “Like, especially making custom jewelry for rock stars. For video shoots and events and stuff…”
“Well, isn’t it handy that you happen to know some.”
“Wow,” she said, clearly thinking it over. “I think you’re blowing my mind a little.”
“How did you not think of this already?”
“I think Dani mentioned it, actually. But I usually just ignore her when she speaks.”
I snorted. “Yeah, and I’d usually say that’s the right thing to do.” Seriously, taking advice from her twin sister—the evil twin—was rarely a good idea. “But in this case, I’m not surprised Daniella sniffed out the opportunity before you did. You should think about it.”
“I will.”
“And how’s Ash?” I asked her, though I already knew the answer. “How’s married life?”
“Dreamy,” she said, literally getting a dreamy look in her blue eyes. She had nowhere near enough alcohol in her system yet to blame that look on the booze, though.
“Are you aware you look drunk whenever you talk about him?”
“I’m in love.” She shrugged. “It’s addicting.”
“I know.”
How many times had I been drunk on love? A few.
None of them were really worth the heartbreak hangover afterwards, though.
But I’d never been married before. Or as in love with a man as she was.
“He’s been working a lot, obviously,” she said. “But Ash is always pretty respectful about it. The band is keeping to the Monday to Friday only thing, so they all get to have a life and keep their sanity, in theory. I mean, everyone’s in a serious relationship, other than Matt. They work late some nights, but Ash always makes sure to come home to me at a reasonable hour. Ish.”
“What’s he doing tonight?”
“Same as us. Drinking with the boys.” She hesitated, then asked, “How about Cary? What does he do when you go out with the girls?”
“Work, probably. He works every day of the week, and late pretty much every night.”
She considered that. And I could see she had a ton of questions, but she was holding back because she was polite like that. “Do you think he’s a workaholic? Or just super driven?”
“I don’t know.”
“I guess a workaholic would be someone who gives up everything else in his life for work?” she posited gently.
“Maybe. But it’s hard to say, when he gives up everything in his life anyway. I’m not sure he does that for work, or simply because he doesn’t want