I sigh heavily. “I wasn’t watching, and I didn’t rush.”
Maybe a little.
“I went to pick it up because it was already full.”
“Uh, huh,” she says, smirking. “Who is he?”
Shaking my head, I sigh. “Some guy who wanted to play Thursday. That’s literally all I know.”
“Some guy who made you forget to breathe for thirty seconds when he walked up to sign in.”
Fuck. She noticed that too.
“Maybe he just looked like someone who gets it,” I say finally.
“Gets what?”
“That music isn’t entertainment. That it’s . . .” I trail off because I sound like an idiot.
“That it’s what?”
“Nothing. Forget it.”
Jovie studies me like I’m a puzzle she’s trying to solve. “When’s the last time you looked at a man like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you wanted to know what he was thinking.”
My phone buzzes against my hip before I can answer. Lily’s name fills the screen.
“Hey, baby girl.”
“Mama, I can’t sleep.” Her voice sounds small and tired. “My brain keeps making up scary stories about tomorrow.”
I settle onto one of the stools. “What kind of stories?”
“Like what if I mess up my song? What if everyone laughs? What if Mrs. O changes her mind and doesn’t let me perform?”
“Whoa. Remember what we do when your brain gets loud?”
“Take three deep breaths and find something that’s definitely true.”
“Exactly. So what’s definitely true right now?”
Lily pauses. Bedding rustles. “You love me no matter what happens tomorrow.”
“That’s definitely true. What else?”
“Mrs. O picked my song because she likes it, not because she wants me to fail in front of everyone.”
“Also true. One more.”
“Winny smells like the lavender spray, which means I’m safe in my room with my things.”
The knot in my chest loosens. “You’re getting good at this.”
“Will you sing the sleepy song?”
