Page 33

“Queso dip tonight, Miss Elena?”

“Yes, please,” she blushed as she looked over at Skylar. “I come here a lot.”

“Once a week at least,” the host laughed. “What may I get you to drink?”

“I’ll have a water and a margarita, please.”

“Of course. Coming right up.”

As the host headed back into the restaurant, Skylar looked out over the Pacific Ocean. She still preferred the Atlantic, but she had to get the Left Coast ocean some credit. It was serene and beautiful. Granted, it was not nearly as beautiful as the woman sitting in the seat beside her.

Elena was pursuing the menu as she mindlessly twirled a strand of hair around her finger. She had very little makeup on, but her olive skin still looked radiant. Skylar couldn’t help but remember the times when they were together when they would hold hands under tables to keep anyone from seeing them. A part of her wanted to reach out and hold Elena’s hand once more, but she had to be smarter about her feelings.

Skylar wasn’t one to date around. She’d not been in any significant relationship since Elena. But she knew herself well enough to know that she had to keep her feelings in check. Elena had made it clear that she wasn’t going to come out of the closet, and there was no way Skylar was going to go back in for her. If Elena wanted to be with her, she’d have to be open about that. It wasn’t Skylar’s place to make that call.

Even if that meant she’d have to bury her feelings for Elena for the foreseeable future.

After the host returned with their drinks, he took their order before leaving them alone again. Elena leaned back in her chair as she sipped on her drink. Sipping her margarita with a straw, Skylar leaned onto the table slightly and smiled at Elena.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Skylar giggled. “You just looked like some regal 1950s movie star casually sipping your drink by the ocean.”

“Well, thank you, darling.” Elena flipped her hair over her shoulder as she laughed. “I’m really glad we got out of the house tonight. I feel we’re going to be sick of it by the time we get to stage rehearsals.”

“What made you decide to put a studio into your house in the first place?”

“You know me. I have no work/life balance.”

“Ahh, I see some things never change.”

“Nope,” Elena shrugged. “I liked having the space at my house because it meant I didn’t have to drive into LA if I had a new song idea or I needed to practice with Andy and Gordon. It just made sense at the time.”

“I get that. I practice at my house or the shop. So I guess I don’t have a healthy work/life balance either.”

“Maybe we should work on that.”

“Right after that whole five-feet rule.” Skylar winked, letting Elena know she was kidding.

“Damn rules.”

Their food arrived quickly, and their conversations shifted to the tour. Skylar had to admit that the closer it got, the more excited she got about it. Singing with Elena and the band again had been exhilarating. She couldn’t wait to do it for a few months in front of, hopefully, sold-out venues.

“I’m so nervously excited about the tickets going on sale tomorrow.” Skylar pushed her empty plate away. “Harlow thinks they’ll all sell out.”

“Johnny does too. And so do I.”

“I’ve been too scared to think about that.”

Elena cocked her head at her. “Why’s that?”

“You know me, Ellie. I worry about everything.”

“Well, hopefully, this tour will change that.”

Skylar was about to say she hoped so when someone caught her eye walking toward them.

Well, not just someone.