Grip Trilogy Box Set

“I talked to Danny today.” Approval lights Rhyson’s eyes when they rest on his sister. “He says you laid down the law and got things straightened out for their show when no one else could. He couldn’t stop singing praises of your bad assery.”

“It was nothing. I’ll probably join them on the road for at least one stop. Maybe after Grip drops.” Bristol leans against my dressing room mirror to face us. “Kai, if you weren’t so preggers, we’d get to hear you tonight.”

“Small mercies.” Kai rubs her belly and allows herself a wry smile. “Or not so small. I’m sorry I can’t perform our song, Grip.”

My first single from the album was a collaboration with Kai. We got the video in the can, but she ended up pregnant and having some complications that kept her from performing live. The song still stayed at number one for weeks.

“Don’t think twice about that.” I grab her hand. “You just keep growing my niece in there.”

“If she gets any bigger,” Kai says, toggling a smile between Rhyson and me. “I’ll pop.”

“Soon,” Rhyson says with a tender smile.

“Well, I love the single with Qwest.” Kai

’s shoulders start moving to the song she must hear in her head. Not only is she a great singer but also an incredible dancer. One of Prodigy’s most versatile artists, she’ll start working on her debut solo album soon after the baby arrives.

“My favorite line of ‘Queen’,” Kai continues. “Is the no one sees your crystal crown lyric.”

“Neruda,” Bristol and I say in unison.

Surprise locks my eyes with hers when she makes the connection between my current single and Neruda’s poem “The Queen.” Maybe the book I gave her meant something to her after all. Or am I doing what Rhyson said I do? Wasting my time and reading too much into things that don’t mean anything?

“The poet?” Surprise blooms on Kai’s pretty face, her tilted eyes sliding between the two of us. “You’re a fan, Grip?”

“Huge fan.” My eyes haven’t left Bristol’s face since she mentioned Neruda, my favorite poet. “I didn’t realize you were, Bristol.”

“Lucky guess.” She shrugs and straightens from the dressing room table.

“You’re still coming tomorrow, right, Bristol?” Kai tucks into the crook of Rhyson’s arm.

“Tomorrow?” Bristol frowns and screws up her face. “I should know this, right?”

“Lunch at our house. The whole Prodigy team is coming over.” Kai laughs and rubs her baby bump. “You have just a few things going on, so I’ll give you a pass on forgetting.”

“Oh, yeah. I’ll be there. One o’clock?” Bristol asks.

“Right,” Rhyson says. “You want your favorite? Empanadas?”

Bristol and I exchange a quick look. There’s no way she isn’t recalling last night on the roof. I hope she still feels my hands all over her because I still taste her. I’d back her into a corner and taste her again right now if it wouldn’t horrify Rhyson. He swears up and down that Bristol would destroy me if we ever get together. He doesn’t realize that’s a risk I’d take every day and twice on Sunday. I’m not sure he really believes I’m serious about Bristol. Hell, Bristol may not think I’m serious. Kai would probably start cheering. She’s pulling for us if no one else is.

“Whatever’s easiest,” Bristol says. “Grip, you’re on soon.”

She walks to the door, class and grace and elegance twined into one girl I can never get out of my mind. “I’m going to check a few last things.”

At the door, she practically bumps into someone.

“Excuse me,” Bristol says. “Oh, Qwest, hi. How are you?”

Qwest steps fully into the room, the energy that explodes when she performs on stage, latent and waiting for her to pop the top.

“I’m good.” Qwest gives Bristol’s toned body a head-to-toe inspection. “Damn, you look good, girl. You got a man I haven’t heard about?”

Bristol’s husky laugh drifts back into the room and caresses my ears.

“You never know,” she says, injecting some mystery into her voice.

Tension grips my neck and shoulders. Even though I know she isn’t dating anyone, our exchange last night about fucking other people has been haunting me ever since. I try not to think of her with other guys. Hell, I sleep with other girls, but if she even hinted we had a chance, that would be over before she could even ask. She knows that, right?