It took sixteen years for someone to tell me I’d have a brightfuture.
It wasn’t my dad. It wasn’t someproducer.
It wasAnnie.
I open my mouth to respond, but Jax beats me to it. “It’s not enough. If there’s a moment’s hesitation, an ounce of reservation, it’s notenough.
“What were you thinking would happen when you started your career? When she left forschool?”
Those words break me. I’ve always had a plan, always been two steps ahead or killed myself trying tobe.
“I don’t want to hurt her.” My words echo in thebus.
“You can hurt her a little now or morelater.”
I think of her face after prom. I imagine it amplified tenfold, ahundredfold.
“She’s stronger than you think,” he goes on. “But when it comes to you, she’sweak.”
I want to grab the photos off the wall and hurl them across the bus. I wish I could dismiss his words, but I can’t. I see the truth of them every time she looks atme.
I’m older. I should know better. I owe herbetter.
If Jax was forcing me to leave, I’d tell him to go to hell, but he’sasking.
Jax Jamieson, the biggest musician in a generation, the man who acted like a father to me when he had no fucking reason to, isasking.
I rock back on my heels. “If I leave, she’ll think she doesn’t matter to me. That I lied toher.”
He crosses to me and lifts a fist. I don’t flinch. I’ll take whatever punishment he wants to dole out. I deserve it andmore.
Instead, he grabs my shoulder in his stronggrip.
Jax’s expression is clouded with the same pain ravaging my body, my soul. “Our hearts make liars of us all. I lied to her for years, and I love her more than you evercould.”
20
“You ready to sing yourface off, Miss Ariel?” Pen asks when I slide into her car with my bags for openingnight.
“So ready.” I bounce excitedly in myseat.
“When’s Tylercoming?”
“I’m not sure. I texted him but haven’t heard backyet.”
I didn’t notice Tyler at school today, but I didn’t have time to look for him. I was exempted from classes for final preparations for openingnight.
“But I got all these candles and snuck them down to the gazebo fortonight.”
She squeals, and my stomachflips.
Between the musical and what happens after, this is going to be the best fucking night of mylife.
We get to school, and I hug my friend before taking off to do my hair and makeupbackstage.
After, I warm up with the rest of the cast, doing vocal exercises and some physicalstretches.
I try to peek at the audience but can’t get a good look. On impulse, I hit Tyler’s number. It goes tovoicemail.