“This chicken parm is good!” Benny says enthusiastically. “Hey, did you guys watchCrossroads of the Heartyesterday?” He looks at Crusher and Dilly.
That’s the soap opera a bunch of them watch all the time.
“Yeah.” Crusher is distracted, thank fuck. “I can’t believe Nash is the father of Everette’s baby.”
“I don’t know,” Dilly replies. “I really thought it was Forrest.”
I tune out that convo and finish up my lunch so I can get home to Nikki.
I hate that she’s having nightmares. I hate that she doesn’t want to do anything except sleep and shower. I hate that she’s sad. I have this terrible feeling of helplessness because I’d do anything to help her but there’s nothing I can do. Other than be there for her. I can’t change the past and I hate that, too.
But I’m waylaid on my way out of the arena by Alfie (Carson Alford but we call him Alfie).
“Hey,” he says. “I need to talk to you.”
I turn to him. For the first time I notice he looks like shit. “What’s up?”
He glances right, then left. We’re in a corridor, alone. “I was wondering if I could come crash at your place for a while.”
I frown. “What do you mean, for a while?”
He rubs the back of his neck. “I need to find a place of my own.”
I stare at him. Does that mean… “Oh, shit.”
His Adam’s apple bounces up and down. “Ayla and I are splitting up.”
Dismay settles in my gut like a rock. “Shit,” I say again. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah.” His jaw clenches. “Me, too.”
I know things have been hard for them since their son died. It’s been over a year, though, and I thought they were getting through it. But I guess not. “Fuck, I’m sorry, man, but you can’t stay with me.”
“Oh.” His face falls. “Why not?”
What the fuck do I say? I’m harboring a fugitive pop star? “If I tell you, you can’t tell anyone else.”
His eyebrows fold down. “Huh?”
I sigh. “I know it sounds weird. I have someone staying with me. But it’s secret.”
“A woman?”
“Yeah, but not like… well, not what you think. It’s Nikki Sullivan.”
His head jerks back. “Holy shit. Seriously?”
“Yeah. The media is hounding her after what happened at her concert so I brought her to my place. No one knows she’s there. Other than Benny and Mabel. And Dilly and Crusher. And now you.” Shit. That’s a lot of people who know. “So, yeah, sorry, man. My spare room is occupied.”
He gives his head a shake as if he can’t quite believe what he’s hearing, then nods, his mouth a glum line. “Okay, I get it. I’ll get a hotel room.”
“Ugh. That’s not ideal.”
“I know. But I’ll find an apartment soon.”
“What about Hakim? He lives alone and has that big place over on Washington.”
He tilts his head. “Yeah. Maybe. I’ll check with him.”
