I can’t run off to Florida—not when the man who wrote that note is still here, just miles away. What’s wrong with me? Am I really so broken that I can’t let myself be happy? My ex twisted me up so badly I barely recognize myself. But Sully…Sully showed me something different. He’s better. He’sreal.
And I’ll be damned if I let Amy and Gigi win.
Alice is right. I can’t let Sully slip away. Not without trying. He only wanted to help me, and I pushed him away like everyone else.
This time it’s do or die. I can’t just survive anymore. I need to live my life and face the pain and heartbreaks that come with it. Scarlet Failure has a song about walking through hell for love, and I’m about to blast open the gates of Hades to see if what’s between Sully and me is the real deal.
43
Alicepullsmebehinda concrete column and sneers at a group of girls passing by. We’re standing in front of a venue, and Gigi’s name flashes on the marquee sign. I punch Alice’s arm and hiss, “What the hell are we doing here?”
“Calm down.” Alice rubs her sore arm and lowers her voice. “Gigi posted that she has a surprise for fans tonight. On Charlotte’s Insta, she posted being at a restaurant around the corner. I know a bartender who works here and asked if Scarlet Failure was spotted. He said yes and confirmed seeing Sully. Though he was moody and told anyone who spoke more than three words to piss off.”
“Why would he be here? He told me he quit the band.”
Alice shrugs. “You said that Charlotte confronted him in the hotel lobby. Maybe they made some kind of deal?”
“Deal with the devil,” I mutter, wishing I could smash Gigi’s name off the building. How dare her terrible name be in lights.
“What’s the plan? We go inside, and what?” I tug on my hair. “Please don’t say you’re going to have us meet them after the show because—”
“No. I won’t force you to relive that little meet cute you had. My plan is more devious.” She grabs my hand and pulls me around the corner. “We are going in through the service entrance.” She sends a quick text and shows me the screen. “My friend, Randy, is coming.”
A dark cloud hovers over me. We’re sneaking in and about to ambush Sully like he did me at the pool. Crap. I need to take calming breaths and center myself. If I knew sneaking around was in our plans tonight, I would’ve worn quieter shoes and something more blending in, not a short blue dress with a sweetheart neckline. I would’ve dressed the part of someone backstage.
“Okay, you found us a way into the venue, but how are we getting backstage and finding Sully without being caught?”
She laughs, flipping her hair back. “Bitch, this is backstage. Once we’re in, we zip our hoodies and keep our heads low. Grab anything you can hold and act like a roadie.”
I want to wring her neck when the door cracks open. A guy wearing a beanie steps out. “Hurry,” he says.
Alice and I slip inside, and she high-fives Randy. “Thanks, man. You’re helping my friend’s Cinderella story in the making.” She gives me a side hug, squeezing me too tight.
“Just don’t get caught. If you do, I know nothing.” He points to our left. “I saw Scarlet Failure over there about fifteen minutes ago. You should find Sully easily. He’s the one yelling.”
“Maybe this is more like Beauty and the Beast,” Alice mutters, zipping her jacket and popping up the hood.
I mimic her, and we grab the stands next to a drum set. “Stop naming Disney movies and tell me the rest of the plan.”
“That’s easy, V. Don’t draw attention and find Sully. Talk to him, and then…I don’t know…it’s up to you.”
“I can’t believe we’re doing this.” I bite my lip until the pain is unbearable. Alice hugs the walls, but the coast is clear. She moves forward, and we freeze when we hear voices.
“The lights are off. We need to reset them,” the guy in blue jeans says then looks at a clipboard.
“We’re already running late. I’m fucking tired of these delays.” He grabs his radio and says, “Jimmy, reset the lights, and God help you if you screw this up again.”
They see right through us and keep walking. A weight falls off my shoulders, and I lean against the wall.
“It’s a maze back here. Maybe we should—”
“Give up? Crawl under a rock again like you always do? Yeah, okay. You can keep living how you were and pretend Florida will change everything.”
I set the stand down and wipe my sweaty palms on my jacket. “Are we going to search room by room? I don’t think—”
“Randy said Sully was yelling. We can walk until we hear his voice. This place isn’t that big.” She touches my arm and smiles. “We’re rewriting your story. Remember that.”
“Okay.” I grab the stand, and we’re off. Lars and Ben exit a room, and I turn around to face Alice. “Shit,” I mouth.
