Why did anyone even stillgive me the time of day?
The bathroom door hingessquealed as the door opened again, a hollowthudsounding as it swungclosed. I held my breath, hoping whoever it was wouldn’t notice me in here.
When I glanced down, I saw afamiliar pair of boots approaching.
Fox’s boots.
My stomach clenched. I wasn’t ready to faceFox. I wasn’t ready for him to be mad at me, and I was evenlessready for him tobe kind.
I didn’t deserve itafter everything. After kissing him, and running away, and then cowering behindhim like a baby.
Why did he even care aboutme? What could he have seen in me that was worth his time?
“I have a bottle of water, acouple of aspirin, and another pack of peanut butter cups. Thought you mightneed some or all of those.”
I swallowed. I needed all ofthem, and a blanket, and a hug.
Tears running down mycheeks, snot running from my nose, I was such a mess. At least I wouldn’t have to worryabout whether or not Fox was interested in me after this. Who would be?
I grabbed a few sheets ofthe thin, awful paper in the dispenser to wipe my nose with. After one lastdeep breath, I unlocked the door.
Fox held the water out tome, and I spotted the bottle of aspirin and the peanut butter cups next to thesink. I went for the aspirin first, hoping it’d do something about mypounding headache, and looked up at myself.
I was a disaster. Ilookedlike a disaster. Puffy-eyed and red faced, my hair all over the place, onestubborn strand sticking out away from the rest, as if it was trying to escapethe embarrassment of being attached to me.
The mirror reflected Foxbehind me, leaning against the wall and staring off into the middle distance.Giving me space.
Or ignoring me. I’d put him in anawkward position last night, and I hadn’t done anything to fix it.
He deserved better thanthat. He wasstillbeing kinder than I had any right to ask.
“Does everyone think I’m aspoiled crybaby now?” I asked. It wasn’t what Ishouldhave said, butit was what the anxious, insecure part of my brain was screaming.
“Not at all. They think you’restressed. Lucy asked about contacting the record company and making some excuseabout technical difficulties, to give you another day.”
I blinked. “Really?”
“Really. She likes you,” Foxsaid. “And for the record, there’s nothing wrong with crying. Especially notwhen there’s so much weighing on your shoulders.”
It was a surprise to hearthat from Fox, but I let it wash over me all the same. He wasn’t judging me.
I took two aspirin andswallowed down about half the water before splashing my face with some from thesink. Between those three things, I was starting to feel a little better.
The peanut butter cupwrapper crinkled under my fingers as I opened it, already a comforting soundafter yesterday. This was the thing I was going to end up being weird about,wasn’tit? I’d be demanding one before every show.
This time, I offered thefirst one to Fox.
“I had breakfast,” I saidwhen he hesitated. “I won’t eat two.”
“It’s lunch time,” he said,but when I held the package out further, he took the candy.
Happy, I took the secondpiece and nibbled on it. I must have looked awful, but there was still a warmlittle smile on Fox’s face.
That was what had made mekiss him yesterday. Healwayssmiled at me. He was always kind to me, asthough I was someone worth being kind to.
I wished I could see inmyself what he saw in me.
Even now, even with all theguilt and shame and embarrassment, the thought made warmth blossom in the pitof my stomach. Right up until Uncle Vincent caught us, I’d been havingone of the best nights of my life.
