Sweet Memory (The Painted Daisies Book 1) by LJ Evans

Author:LJ Evans [Evans, LJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: That's What She Said Publishing
Published: 2023-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Paisley’s chest was a mix of joy and sorrow as she walked into Mickey’s later that night. Landry would have been a buzz of energy celebrating another album in the bag. For Paisley, it was terrifying to think there might not be a fourth one. She couldn’t imagine not making music, but she also wouldn’t want to join another band. It was the Daisies or nothing. If they went their separate ways after this, it would mean Paisley had failed Landry again. That she hadn’t been able to hold them together. That she wasn’t the leader her sister had imagined.

She pushed aside her darker thoughts because she truly wanted to revel in the success tonight. She needed this not only for her friends and herself but so that, somewhere out there, a man would take a picture and send her a note saying she didn’t deserve to be happy.

As if sensing the opportunity for danger that lingered in the dim bar, Zane objected as soon as they walked in. “I’m not sure this is a good idea. It’s shadowy and dark. It’ll be crowded. There are too many things that can go wrong.”

His jaw clenched as his gaze took in the distressed-wood siding that matched the floors and the scuffed burgundy leather booths before returning to her.

She was in a white halter dress with bright-red daisies on it, as if the original incantation of their band’s logo had found her again. It was a dress the old Paisley would never have worn, but she’d been drawn to it in the store anyway. It was tight from top to bottom, landing well above her knee. She’d partnered it with a pair of red stilettos she’d pilfered from Landry’s closet, like so many of the clothes she wore these days. She was lucky that, for a tall woman, her sister’s feet had been small.

Zane didn’t seem to approve of her outfit any more than he did the bar.

“The band and I need this, Zane,” she said. “A small celebration after the hell we’ve been through. But I know parties bring back bad memories for you.” His sixteen-year-old sister had lost her life at a party when she’d snuck out of the house one night and a bitter, uninvited teenager had shown up, taking out a dozen kids with a gun. Zane had only been fourteen at the time. “Don’t feel like you have to stay tonight. There’ll be plenty of security here.”

“I’m not leaving you,” he grunted.

He rarely left her, only disappearing on Sundays for church and then coming right back. In California, she’d been grateful for his constant attention. But here, with him out there and her trying to lure him in, it was better if Zane left.

“Then, wait outside. At least it won’t weigh on you this way.”

She walked away, dismissing him like she never had before and feeling guilty about it immediately. But she had to be free of him for a few hours. Even better if she could find someone to dance with.

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