One Night with Sole Regret 06 Tell Me by Olivia Cunning

downcast, Nikki took a delicate bite of her veggie sub and shrugged. “You win some, you lose some,” she said after a long tense moment.
    Okay, who had stolen her best friend and replaced her with this docile facsimile?
    “I can still hang out backstage with Melanie while you’re onstage, right?” she asked, her blue eyes large and beguiling as she gazed at Gabe.
    Oh, there she is. Holding her cards close to her chest.
    “I guess so,” Gabe said while Melanie tried not to cringe. It wasn’t that she didn’t want Nikki to be with her while she felt all awkward and alone watching the show from the wings, but she knew how this woman operated. She’d use every card in her hand to get what she wanted and she wanted Shade, whether Shade wanted her or not. Melanie would just have to keep Nikki away from the man if she could. It would be easy enough to keep them separate when Shade was onstage, but what about before the concert? And after?
    “So what are we doing after the show?” Melanie asked as nonchalantly as possible. Gabe had already told her, but she wanted Nikki to hear.
    “We’re heading directly to an airstrip and taking a private plane back to Austin. We won’t make it back to my place until really late.” He stroked Melanie’s back soothingly. “You can nap on the plane if you get tired. I won’t be offended. In fact, I’ll likely join you.”
    She took a sip of her drink, trying to form the most tactful version of her next question. “And Nikki…” was the best she came up with.
    “Oh,” he said, glancing at Nikki’s hopeful face. “Well, uh…”
    Yeah, awkward. Melanie was sorry she had to put him on the spot like this, but Nikki would figure out a way to weasel herself into all of Melanie ’s plans if she didn’t have Gabe’s backing. It wasn’t because Melanie was spineless. Nikki was just that skilled at getting what she wanted.
    “There’s only room o n the plane for five passengers,” Gabe said.
    “So Melanie can’t fit on there with the band either,” Nikki said.
    “Well, Adam and Kellen aren’t going back this trip.”
    Melanie ’s math brain cringed. It took Nikki a few seconds longer to do her adding and subtracting. “That leaves a spot for me.”
    “Sorry, but no. Lindsey’s flying back with Owen,” he said.
    “Who’s Lindsey?” Melanie asked. “His girlfriend?”
    Gabe visibly paled. “Uh, fuck, I hope not.”
    “Who is she then?” Melanie pressed, wondering why Gabe seemed so flustered.
    “Just some chick he’s taking home with him.”
    “So, then, what am I supposed to do?” Nikki asked, that little lost puppy look on her face. Perhaps Melanie should encourage her to go into acting. Lord.
    “You can spend the weekend in New Orleans,” Gabe suggested. “I have a room at the hotel I won’t be using until Sunday night. You’re welcome to use it for free until Mel and I return.”
    Nikki ducked her head and stared at the sandwich in her lap.
    “That sounds like fun,” Melanie said brightly, hoping Nikki didn’t mope for the rest of the night and wishing more than ever that she ’d shoved Nikki out onto the tarmac back in Wichita. It would have saved them both some grief.
    By the time they got to the venue, Nikki seemed to be okay with their plan to dump her in New Orleans for the weekend. By focusing on the positive (lush, free hotel room in the heart of New Orleans), Gabe was almost as skilled at manipulating Nikki ’s mood as Nikki was at bending men to her will. Melanie had to admit that she was both impressed and grateful that Gabe had handled Nikki so well.
    Melanie did a lot of gawking when they got out of the limo. There were so many people lined up outside the arena’s doors that the lines stretched out into the parking lots. There was a loud cheer as Gabe stepped from the vehicle. She guessed his mohawk made him instantly recognizable, even at a distance. He offered the folks waiting in line a friendly wave and instructed the driver to