He stands, sits, then stands again. “I have to perform, but we’ll figure something out, okay?”
I swallow and nod, then slump back into the cushions.
He fits his in-ear monitors at the mirror, then leaves.
My pulse picks up in that uncomfortable way, so I lie back on the couch, hands folded over my stomach, and force my breathing to slow.
I stare at the ceiling and let myself have exactly thirty seconds to feel bad for myself. Paula has all the cards and she knows it.
When my thirty seconds are up, I’m going to join Cash onstage for our duet, then I’m going back to my hotel. I’ll watch the Saints beat Florida and get a full night of sleep.
Tomorrow, I’ll figure out plan B.
FORTY-SIX
I startle awake.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
That would be why. The glowing alarm clock says 2:00 a.m. Who knocks at this hour?
Bang.
Crash.
What the heck?—
“Summer. Sum, it’s me.” Cash’s voice is thin, like a whisper, but ten times louder, so not a whisper at all. He’s going to wake up the entire hotel. How did he even break out of Paula’s cage?
I throw on a flannel over my sleep shorts and shirt, then tiptoe to the door. I flip the deadbolt and open it. Cash comes tumbling in. I step back just in time to not be crushed. He sits on the floor, feet stretched out in front of him, looking like a lost puppy.
A puppy who reeks of whiskey.
“What’s going on?” I try to pull him up. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fucking fantastic, Sum.” He stumbles over to my bed, plopping down on the end. When he bends over, I think he’s going to be sick, but he just wrestles with his boots.
I crouch down, pulling the zipper at his inner ankle, and he’s able to free himself. He tosses them in the general direction of the door.
He looks down at me with the dopiest expression.
“What happened to you?”
“What do you mean? I’m really, really,reallygreat,” he slurs.
“Really?” My lips twitch.
“Yup.”
“Okay.” I stand, and he attempts to follow me with his gaze. He ends up closing one eye and tilting his head. Oh, he’s not going to bereally greattomorrow.
“I love you, Sum—” Cash hiccups. “Just as a friend. Don’t tell Hockey Boy. I don’t wanna get punched in the face. I like my face.”
“You have a nice one.” I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. “I love you as a friend, too.”
