I was talented in another way, if you know what I mean. We all use the talents we have to get where we want to go.” “But why all of them?” “Because I love all of them and they love me. I know it would be really disgusting to tell you I’m like their little sister because I fuck all of them but that’s how much we all love each other.” I really want to ask her about Nic but I’m really not sure why. It’s not like I’m actually considering having sex with him? Am I? “Do you still sleep with all of them?” “You’re allowed to say fuck you know. Your mouth isn’t going to spontaneously combust the minute the word escapes your lips.” I try to say the word but it just won’t come out of my mouth. My lips are just moving without any sound like a badly dubbed foreign film. “You want to know if I’m fucking Nic?” I nod. She shakes her head. “Not in a while.” Of course I wonder how long a while is. A while to me is the two months I’ve gone without sex since Jackson left for Harvard. For Raven a while could be days or even hours for all I know. “I’m not sure why I’m telling you this. I don’t do friendships and e specially not with girls. I’m close to the guys because they’re like my family. They’re actually the closest thing to a family I’ve ever had in my life. When I’m not sleeping with one of the guys, I screen the girls they hook up with. Not just anyone gets inside a hotel room with them. I keep track of everyone they’re with. If I don’t like someone, if I smell trouble, I tell the girl to take a hike. And the guys listen to me. They trust me. Like your friend who hooked up with Leo. Brooke. She’s pretty cool. I could tell Leo was into her right away. And I could tell she’s a classy college girl. She’s not some skanky little whore.” I’m sure to Raven there’s a compliment in there somewhere but I think we’re on completely different planets when it comes to how we think about sex and relationships. “I’m sure Brooke would appreciate that.” “Nic is the smartest guy I’ve ever met in my life. If he didn’t have such a fucked up family life, he probably would have gone to college. Maybe even some place like Harvard. But then he probably wouldn’t have started Always Rayne and he wouldn’t be Nic Rayne the superstar.” “He hasn’t told me anything about his family or what his life was like growing up. He kind of avoids the subject.” At least now I know why. “He’s never had anyone he could really trust, except for Xander, Leo and me. But I know he wants someone special. He’s almost thirty. I know he wants a family. A real family. His own family. Something that he’s never really had. The problem is that he’s never found anyone who didn’t bore the shit out of him.” I furrow my brow. I’m not sure where this conversation is headed but it’s kind of making me nervous. “Until now.” She stares at me like I’m supposed to understand what she’s talking about. She laughs. “You don’t really think you’re here to write a story about the band?” That’s exactly what I think. But if I’m not here to write about the band what exactly am I doing here? “ Nic Rayne can have any woman he wants. Literally. Actress. Model. Professional athlete. Anyone. And he’s tried. Believe me. But he hasn’t found anyone who is able to keep up with him. He hasn’t found anyone who stimulates him where he needs it the most.” She points to her temple. “Up here.” “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen it,” she continues. “The same scenario thousands of times. A beautiful girl who Nic finds attractive. Girls rarely have any trouble stimulating his little head. And I can see it in his face. A glimmer of hope. Like maybe this will be the one. That maybe this girl will be different. And he’ll toss a few balls to her. Maybe ask her if she’s read the latest Pulitzer winner. And one of two things always happens.