Chapter 15

FIFTEEN

AMBER

T he second show is as successful as the first, and now that it's Sunday, I should be relaxing. My schedule for the day is completely empty.

Except for Teddy's impending visit.

I blow out a breath and skim my fingers over the endless racks of dresses that fill an entire wall of my closet. They're gorgeous. And revealing. And absolutely wrong for a day at home. I sigh and turn a circle in the middle of the ruthlessly organized space. It's packed full of clothing. I have something for almost every occasion. Award show. Concert. Charity softball game. Brunch with music execs. Yoga class.

Is having unlimited options helping me decide what to wear? Nope.

What does one wear when they are intending to socialize with their old boyfriend and their fake boyfriend at the same time?

Maddy makes a sound between a squeal and a giggle from where she's sitting on the floor at my feet, and if I didn't know better, I'd think she was laughing at me. I plop down next to her, and ask, "What do you think I should wear?" Because obviously asking a baby for fashion advice isn't a desperate move.

She gurgles and waves at me.

That's her newest skill—waving. She picked it up sometime during the last week and she's been waving at everyone and everything since she got up this morning. It's beyond cute. I wave back, and the smile she gives me nearly cracks her face.

"I'm overthinking this, aren't I?" I ask.

She keeps waving and I can't help laughing.

"Jeans." I surge to my feet. "Jeans are casual, and they make my butt look fabulous." I wince because not only does Maddy not understand what I'm saying, she isn't ever going to want to discuss how my ass looks in pants.

Deciding to wear jeans is only the first hurdle.

I have about fifteen different shades of denim. Not to mention all the colored varieties. After way too long, I settle on a vintage wash with a tear in one knee.

I search for a casual top, flipping through hanger after hanger. I try and then discard twenty—okay maybe more like thirty—shirts, but I can't seem to decide. I groan and fling myself on the carpet next to Maddy. She waves at me again and then dives forward, landing on my abs. I shift her so that I can sit up and then I plop her down in my lap.

She rubs the lace of my bra, clearly appreciating the texture. At least my underthings aren't hideous. And my body is sexy as hell. Wearing jeans with just a bra is totally something I could pull off…but that would definitely be awkward.

I wish I could turn off my brain and just pick a damn shirt. Somewhat defeated, I stretch toward the shelf where I left my phone, snatch it up, and text Mina for help.

Less than a minute later, she storms into my closet.

"You made my day. My month. My year," she shouts as she drops to her knees next to me. "You've never asked for my opinion before."

I roll my eyes. "You give me your opinion on everything ."

"Of course I do. But my opinion is usually unsolicited. And sometimes unappreciated."

"Untrue. I appreciate everything about you."

"Yeah right." She giggles and swivels her head so she can scan the closet. "I thought your schedule was open today."

"It is."

"Then what are we picking this ensemble for?"

"Teddy's coming over. And Nolan."

She whips her head back toward me. "Explain."

I give her a highly abridged version of the fake boyfriend scheme—leaving out the kiss entirely. She points at me. "I knew something was up with Nolan. He told me he was fine, but—" She shakes her head.

"Things were a bit awkward on Wednesday night when Teddy was here"—understatement—"but we've uh…worked it out. Today is going to be much smoother."

Her eyebrow shoots up. "You worked it out? Then why you can't decide what to wear?"

I groan. "I hope we worked it out. That doesn't mean I'm not nervous. I'm not an actor. And neither is Nolan."

"I never thought I'd see the day." She claps with delight. "Fuck. This is awesome."

"Mina." I cover Maddy's ears. "Language."

"Ack, sorry. It's a little while before she learns to talk, right?"

"Not as long as you might think."

"And we want her first word to be something innocuous like Mommy?"

"It doesn't have to be Mommy, but I'd rather it not be offensive."

"That's fair." She purses her lips and runs her fingers through Maddy's curls. "Sorry, baby girl."

"It's fine," I reply.

Mina closes her eyes and reaches her hands to the sky. She makes a humming noise that I assume is meant to show that she's thinking. Suddenly, her eyes fly open again. She taps her lip with her finger, and then she rises and flings her arms dramatically wide. "I have it. I know what you should wear."

I lean forward, more than a little eager for her wisdom after that spectacle.

"This," she says tugging on the hem of a sleeveless top that is electric blue and tight. "Or this." She touches the sleeve of a plain white cropped shirt I've never worn. "Or this." She moves to a hot pink top that has a wide neck and is loose.

They're all completely different. "I'm not sure where you're going with this."

"I didn't know you when you first met Teddy, but I witnessed the end."

"Okay." She was hired a week before our joint tour started. "And?" I really thought she'd be more helpful. I rise to my feet with Maddy still in my arms.

"You were always in pop star mode when you were dating Teddy. Once Maddy was born, you went full casual with yoga pants and no makeup anytime he came around." She taps her chin. "But now you're dilly dallying like you don't know what image you want to project. It's curious, don't you think?"

"Mina. I don't understand what you're trying to tell me." I just wanted her to pick a damn shirt.

"Yes, you do." She reaches out and bops me on the nose. "You want Teddy to stop wanting you, and you want Nolan to start wanting you. That's a lot to expect from a shirt."

I sputter, "That's your advice? How is that helpful?" No wonder I don't usually ask for her opinion. She's much better at giving advice when it's unsolicited.

She shrugs. "I notice you didn't dispute my conclusion."

"I…Nolan is doing me a favor."

"In all the years I've known you, do you know how many times I've seen you indecisive about your clothes?" She doesn't wait for my response. " Zero. And during that same time, do you know how many times you've refused to feign an interest in a man?" Once again, she doesn't wait. " Dozens ."

I blink steadily but try not to react otherwise.

"Are you trying to deter Teddy? Or are you interested in Nolan?"

"Uhhh." It should be an easy answer, but even though I've firmly placed Nolan in the friend zone, Mina has made her point. My behavior is uncharacteristic and suggests that I'm not nearly as in control of the situation as I'd like to be.

Big surprise.

She presses her lips together and nods. "That's what I thought. Wear the white shirt. It's casual enough, but it also makes your abs look divine."

"You're the most confusing assistant in the entire world."

She gives me a look. "You're welcome. Now let me take Maddy into the bedroom for a few minutes while you stop overthinking and get fu…dressed."