"Uh, I took it off once we got in the car. I figured enough people saw it on me today already." That part is true. But the part about it not being my style, and that I’m not being big on jewelery…I’ll keep that to myself.
"You’re still wearing your necklace," he points out, his eyes flicking toward the diamonds glinting against my skin.
I rest my hand on my collarbone, but don’t comment on it.
Outside, the city’s already fading, and the airport is getting closer with every mile to our month-long distance.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" He taps his fingers on the steering wheel. The car slows as we pull up to a vacant parking spot. "Because it’s not too late to back out. People will come torealize eventually that you’re not who you portray yourself to be."
"You mean, I’m not boring?" I tease, cutting in and clicking the latch on my seat buckle, letting it fly back up in its harness. Turning to face him, I study him closely.
He’s stiff. Unsure. Like he’s waiting for me to realize that I have a choice in all of this. Like he always needs to be on guard and careful of the people he keeps close to him.
And now, that includes me.
"You know what I mean, Olive. You’re impressive, way more so than you give yourself credit for. And you’re so new on the scene. Are you sure being associated with someone likemewill benefit you the way Orlando, Josie, your label…" He trails off, shaking his head. "It’s not too late. For you, I mean." He runs the pad of his thumb across his bottom lip, sinking into the driver’s seat of his Mustang before running his hand over his head.
"I signed a contract, remember? I’m in this. However long it takes. For me, and for you." I place my hand on his forearm, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I’m a big girl, Avery. I can handle myself."
"You can handle a lot more than—"
"You’re ridiculous, you know that?" I cut in before he can finish whatever sexual joke I know he was about to make, and swing the passenger door wide. "I’ll see you in a month," I say.
Avery looks around us, probably to make sure there are witnesses, before leaning over and kissing me.
Once.
Just once.
And it makes my heart double over.
"It’ll be the longest month of my life."
Chapter twenty-five
Avery
Atlanta.Houston.Phoenix.
City after city, she lit up the stage.
I watched from the glow of my phone, alone in the dark. Same front-row view as everyone else, only miles away, and a hundred times lonelier.
Thank God for concert live streams—something I recently discovered, thanks to Google. I haven’t missed a show.
But Ihavemissedher. Or maybe it’s just her company. Having somebody around who hasn’t known me for years, who only knows this new version of me, and still wants to stick by my side.
I’ve tried to tell myself that she doesn’t have a choice, that the deal is done. But I can’t quite accept that as the truth.
Every single night while she’s been away and I’ve been traveling around with the team, we’ve spoken in some capacity. Whether on FaceTime, a quick phone call, or a text.
To me, it all counts.
A lot of it is superficial, nothing with real depth, but I’ve become accustomed to hearing from her.
Hearing her voice, seeing her face.
It always comes at the right time, too. After hearing an ear full from Coach White, or when the team glares at me when coach reminds us about our fuck ups.
