“Thanks, Whisper,” Matt says.
“Oh… anything for you, sexy boys, you like family now. We like brothers. I your third twin, yes? Hahaha. You pay cash now? Usual price… five ninety-nine ninety-five.”
I chuckle through a snort, realizing he has raised the price significantly, and Matt just nods, pulling out his wallet and sorting through a wad of cash.
“Okay, I’m hitting the showers. You gonna be okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good. I’m glad you’re home tonight.”
“Any time you need me, I’m here. I’m always here for you, just like you’ve always been there for me.”
“I know, now go shower. I’m fine.”
Slapping his shoulder, I nod to Whisper. “Good to see you.”
He brings his hands up in a prayer pose and bows to me. “Namaste, sexy boy.”
I head for the stairs, the ficus customarily slapping me in the face as I walk up the wooden stairs toward my ensuite. I feel somewhat lighter, but I am still thinking of Ria and how I should be inside her right now.
Instead, she’s with her parents, and I’m here, aligning my dairy-free chakra.
Fuck my life.
***
My eyes flutter open as I stretch and yawn, taking in the coolness of the morning air. I’m jolted back to reality that I’m home and not on the tour bus. I smirk slightly as my muscles smile with me at the comfort of my soft mattress and not the hard bus bed, but I hate that Ria isn’t next to me. Then it dawns on me. I’m going to be heading into filming today, totally blind,again. I was goingto run over the script with Ria last night, but her parents put the brakes on.
Sighing, I roll over and grab my cell from the bedside table.
I miss her and want to text her.
Or at least try to.
Me:I cant wate to see you.
I hit send, pretty sure I’ve spelled some things wrong, and my grammar’s a mess, but I’m trying and still learning, so I’m sure she’ll forgive me.
My cell beeps, letting me know there’s a message, and I look at the screen, seeing it’s a reply from Ria.
Ria:I can’t wait to see you too.
She replies, and now I can see my errors, so I make a mental note and file it away for later.
After a quick shower and some breakfast, Matt and I make our way to the studio. We’re running a little late as Matt needed a caffeine hit, so we had to stop at Starbucks, where he proceeded to chat up the clerk for fifteen minutes. But as we walk in, the halls buzz with energy, and everyone seems excited.
Matt takes his coffee and heads off to the viewing area as I go in search of Ria’s dressing room. As I walk toward her room, a medic is walking out. Furrowing my brows, I walk quicker and step in, seeing her pacing back and forth.
“Hey, I just saw a medic leaving. You okay?”
She sniffs like she’s on the verge of tears and smiles too broadly in compensation as she nods. She looks pale. “I’m good. Too much stress, as usual. Felt a little fainty, so Tillie sent a medic in. You know how protective she can be.”
I raise my eyebrow and exhale. “How’d it go with your parents last night?”
She groans while rolling her eyes and flops onto a chair. “Urgh, they’re frustrating as fuck. Mom’s obviously only staying because she’s worried leaving him will cause another heart attack. But they’re flat broke and asking me for money, which, of course, I can afford, but it’s all a bit scary, you know?”
Exhaling, I walk over and place my hands on her shoulders, massaging gently. “It can’t be easy, baby, but you need to look after yourself in this, too. If this is making you sick, you need to step back.”
She sniffs like she’s trying not to cry again as her hand comes up, holding mine on her shoulder. “I’m okay, I’ll be fine. I’m always fine.”
