Mia twists her hands together atop the table. Like she needs to do something with them. Her heel thuds softly against the rung of the stool, her eyes staring at the walls until she’s a million miles away.
“Star,” she murmurs. “Such a loaded word.”
I can’t help but sneak a second glance at her. Still nervous, movements fast and stilted as a hummingbird, but her face is more relaxed, more authentic, the performer momentarily gone.
“Honey?” I ask, lifting the amber jar.
She startles, mossy eyes darting to my face. “That another nickname?”
Then, her eyes drop to the sweetener. She giggles. “A little.”
I push the mugs across the counter, taking the stool across from her. Body rigid, eyes in constant line of sight of the door and windows just in case.
“Thought for sure you were a party girl.” It slips out.
“Me, a party girl?” She giggles as if I’ve said something funny.
I nod slowly, waiting for her to speak. Silence never fails to coax something out of her.
“Oh, you mean because of the celebrity status?” She shakes her head. “Edwin would never let me do any of that.” She surveys the room, shoulders drooping. “Any of this, either.”
I want to ask her more, to find out what’s going on with those vultures. The way they circled her, the way they stared. Like she’s their meal ticket or something. But it’s not my place. Instead, I stare ahead, hands wrapped around the warm ceramic mug.
“Josie was adorbs. Did you see how excited she got?” Mia says into her mug, blowing on the steaming liquid.
I let the silence do the talking.
“She knew all my songs by heart. And the dances. It was really, really cute.”
“Cute? Not sure Grayson thought so.”
She straightens, side-eyeing me. “So, I’m not the only one who got that impression?”
I nod.
“He’s right, you know.” Her voice trails off.
“Right?”
“About keeping Josie away from that life, that world. She should have better role models than me.”
“Maybe.” I know how she feels. Too many boys look up to bull riders, too.
“Fame … isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.”
“You can say that again.”
Her forehead knits, curiosity flashing.
I’ve said enough already. Maybe too much. “Tea okay?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Crickets and katydids hum outside. A lone owl hoots, eerie and hollow.
Mia’s face cracks into a grin. “Oh, did you hear that? I love owls.”
Something tightens low in my chest.
