Ruth glanced over her shoulder as if someone might be listening before turning back with a sheepish grin. “I think I love him.”
Jamie grabbed her and hugged her tightly. “I’m so happy for you!”
“Thanks,” Ruth said, still sounding a little dazed. “I can hardly believe it myself.” She hesitated. “It’s like he’s perfect or something. I don’t know.”
Jamie raised her brow. “Have you slept with him?”
Ruth toggled her head from side to side. “Same room, separate beds.”
“So, no sex?”
She shook her head. “No, but we’ve done other stuff.”
Jamie smirked. “So, you know what you’redealing with?”
Ruth threw back her head and laughed. “Oh, I know exactly what I’m dealing with. Like I said, he’s perfect.”
“What are you waiting for—marriage?”
Ruth hesitated, then lowered her gaze before looking up with big green eyes. “I don’t know . . . maybe?”
Jamie narrowed her eyes. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me something?”
Ruth blew out a breath. “I didn’t want to bring it up here at Disneyland. But since you asked, I’d never lie to you . . . I’m moving in with him when we get back to Franklin.”
Jamie’s stomach clenched. “Are you quitting?” The thought unraveled her faster than she’d expected. Ruth had been with her nearly every day for five years—not just as an assistant, but as her best friend. This wasn’t the kind of job you could post on LinkedIn.
“No, of course not.” Ruth shook her head. “And I’ll still go on the road with you, no question. Anyway, we’re kind of homeless right now.”
Homeless. Jamie hated that word. At sixteen it had clung to her like a label she couldn’t peel off. She didn’t have an address, just a duffel bag, a list of maybes, and the hope that someone’s couch might be free for the night. Otherwise she’d sleep on her guitar case so no one would steal it. It took months of tip jars and late shifts before she could afford a grimy basement apartment that smelled like mildew and loneliness.
“Have you thought about where you’ll live after the tour?” Ruth asked.
She bit her lip and said, “I guess I’ll stay at Shorty’s for now. I’ll figure it out after my exams are done.”
“Do you think you’ll come back here? To LA, I mean?”
Jamie’s answer was instant. “There’s no way in hell.”
When they left the restroom Freddy was waiting by the entrance. Jamie gave a closed-lipped smile as they passed him, signaling that everything was fine.
“That took a while,” Freddy remarked, glancing at his dive watch, though she couldn’t picture a wetsuit big enough for him.
“I had to take a shit,” she deadpanned, which shut him up fast.
With that they plunged into the full Disneyland experience. The day was a blur of rides, ice cream, and souvenir shopping. The twins insisted on getting watches like Jamie’s, so she bought them each one. She also picked up Mickey Mouse ears for everyone—even Freddy. Of course he refused, grumbling that he’d look ridiculous, which was exactly the point.
Jamie had her own moment of magic when she posed for a picture with Mickey himself—the highlight of her year. So far, anyway.
A few fans asked for selfies and she caught a couple of people sneaking unsolicited photos, but other than that no one had bothered them. She no longer cared about the rumors linking her to Clayton. She no longer cared what Derrick thought.
By nightfall exhaustion hit them all like a brick wall. Dragging their feet they made their way to the bus, the day’s excitement finally catching up to them. Freddy called a rideshare back to LA since they were heading east and he was heading north.
As his car pulled up he turned to them with a rare, almost sentimental nod. “Thanks for a great day.” But just before he climbed in he did the unthinkable—he pulled the Mickey ears onto his head.
Jamie grinned.Mission accomplished.
With just five shows left they were officially in the home stretch. In a week the tour would end in Nashville and Jamie would be facing her HiSET exams. The thought made her stomach twist in knots.
