Page 56 of Thorns of Love

Isla’s phone pinged again and I found myself irritated even more. She and her friends were like a group chatting 24-7. Who even wanted to type that much?

“If y’all talk so much, why don’t you just move in together?” I grumbled, slightly bitter.

Isla gave me a sympathetic glance. She tried to break into Illias’ safe for me. Unsuccessfully. She wasn’t exactly theBandEtype of girl. I still liked her.

“We shared dorms,” she explained. “We probably talk on the phone too much.”

I rolled my eyes. “Ignore me. I’m just cranky and miss my family.”

She looked at me with understanding.

“You could call them from my phone,” she suggested for the hundredth time this week.

I shook my head. I wouldn’t want my brothers tracing the phone and accidentally exposing Isla. “I don’t know their number by heart,” I muttered my excuse. It was a lie. I knew every fucking phone number my brothers ever had.

Her phone pinged again and she glanced at it. “Oh my gosh!”

Her exclamation piqued my curiosity. “What?”

“Remember the fashion show I told you about.” I nodded my head. She raved about her friend’s designs so much that I blindly ordered two dozen outfits by her. Isla swore her friend was amazing and her fashion would surpass Chanel one day. It was a steep comment, but I couldn’t help but be influenced by Isla’s enthusiasm. No matter how subjective it was. “Reina got the video. Now I can show you her designs and you can see you got a good product for your money.”

I chuckled. My sister-in-law’s enthusiasm was worth what I’d paid sight unseen already.

“Okay, show me,” I said, smiling. She scooted closer and put her phone screen between us. Our heads bent, she pressed play and the show started. It took the first model to strut half way down the runway and I knew Isla wasn’t lying. Her friend’s designs would be all the rage.

“Tell her I want to invest in her company,” I told her.

Isla’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

I nodded, my eyes on her screen. “Absolutely. These are stunning.”

The grin on Isla’s face was priceless. “Oh my gosh, just wait until I tell her. She’s going to die!”

“Don’t let her die,” I teased. “I want to make my money back first.”

The two of us giggled. Isla’s face beamed, her green eyes turned even lighter. Her eyes reflected her moods. We returned our attention to the video, then watched the rest of the fashion runway. Her friend even had designer clothes for children.

“So you were part of the band?” I asked curiously.

She shook her head. “No, we all went to the same school and had some connection to music.” I studied them on the screen. They were good at it. Isla with the violin had the hair on my arms standing up. Seeing her play it, her eyes half closed. Like she forgot about everyone and everything in the room and the violin was her lover.

“This is Athena.” Isla pointed to the girl sitting on the screen. “Her mother is a famous opera singer. She insists on her becoming a singer too, but she’s not too keen on it. She prefers to write. This is Raven. She plays guitar but one day she’ll be a famous painter.”

I smiled. “Make sure I get one of her paintings before they blow up too.” Another excited squeal. “You’re like my dealer or something,” I mused.

She chuckled. “I’ll ask her to send me pictures of her paintings and you can have your pick.”

I tapped my chin pensively. “Maybe we can help her get some exposure. New Orleans has these wonderful venues where paintings are sold. I know a few people and we can see if they’ll host her work there.”

Isla’s eyes lit up like emeralds. “That would be so grand. Oh my gosh, you’re gonna hook us up, aren’t you?”

“Okay, you’re making me sound like a pimp.”

“A pimp needs a phone,” she noted. “We’re gonna have to do something about that.” Then a mischievous smile curved her lips. “Phoenix and Reina might be able to help. They’re the criminal minds in our group.”

I shook my head. “Well then, I’m glad we’re friends and you’re hooking me up with your criminal gang.” The two of us giggled. “Okay, back to this fabulous fashion show that you’ll invite me to next time. Who hosted it?”

She returned her attention to the screen.