Luke groans, leans back, and brings his phone up to his face, furiously tapping like he’s done with the conversation. I smirk at Raoul, who chuckles and turns to look out the window, wisely keeping quiet.
The car door beside me opens, and Alana slides in holding my boots and dress. She shuts the door and takes one long breath before glancing around. “Wow! Bit frosty in here,” she mutters.
I nod and roll my eyes toward Luke.
Alana raises an eyebrow. “Okay… well, Mercs told me to tell you he’s sorry. For what he said.”
My stomach sinks.
He wants to forget last night.
Like just erase it.
It was only a kiss, and we fell asleep curled up on a lumpy old sofa. But still, it was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years. Something about Mercs calms the chaos in me. He grounds me, and I liked it. A lot. But if he wants to forget it ever happened, I guess whatever was starting between us is already over.
Alana drapes my dress over my lap, then grabs my hand and squeezes.
“Stop overthinking. Don’t go there. Don’t go to that place, Effa,” she murmurs.
I raise a brow. “What place?”
“That place where you lose your confidence, your sparkle. Don’t do it. You’ve worked hard to become Effervescent. Don’t let one guy rain on your parade.”
Luke glances up from his phone but says nothing.
“I’m okay, I promise,” I murmur. “I just… I don’t know. Mercs is different. The other crew guys practically throw themselves at us. He didn’t. That means something.”
Alana nods. “Even so. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
“And how exactly are you gonna do that?” I chuckle as the car pulls away from the curb.
She clears her throat and sits up straighter. “Have you heard of the star Effervescent? She really is quite fluorescent. A hippie by day, a rebel, you’d say, she’s such an antidepressant,” Alana singsongs with a grin.
I burst out laughing. It’s missing her llama costume, but I don’t even care. She’s trying to cheer me up, and it works. She always knows what I need before I even realize it myself. I don’t know what I’d do without her or Kristy. These girls are my heart.
Luke lets out a snort, still glued to his phone, but casts Alana a sideways glance that borders on pride.
I lean over and wrap my arms around her tightly, holding her close. She hugs me back with just as much love.
“Thanks, sis. Your limericks never get old. You always know how to lift me up.”
She sighs and pulls back. “That’s what I’m here for.Always.I love you. But next time you decide to ghost everyone, at least tell someone. Or have Raoul text me.”
I nod, guilt pulling at my chest. I didn’t mean to scare them. If my phone hadn’t died, none of this would have happened. I get it, I’m the voice of this band, and I can’t just disappear. I have to be moreresponsible.
And now that Mercs has decided to shut the door, I have no excuse not to focus onLuminous.
No distractions.
No new friendships.
My heart twists at the thought of not seeing him again. Of not hearing his quiet sarcasm or feeling the calm in his arms.
But if forgetting me is what Kaden Mercury wants…
Then that’s exactly what I’ll do.
***
