Page 68 of Make Me Laugh

The glint in Joey’s eyes as she stares me down is all I need to see, though—if it is toxic, Joey doesn’t mind.

“Josette,” I gasp. “Have you not been paying attention at all?” Cause neither have I… “Have you learned nothing from the sacrifices of your kind?”

“I think they’ll understand when they meet you in the afterlife why I did it.” She looks smitten with her snarky response, so I’ll let her have the last word… This time.

We manage to catch up to the group without them noticing we were gone, and for the rest of Mara’s tour I take every opportunity there is to make Joey laugh.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

THE ONE WITH SWEET DREAMS

HexedHeroine commented on WestParkerComedy’s latest post: I see you’ve Googled me #teamdevil

Comment reply: Will you take pictures with fans at the shows?

Comment reply: Gold digging whore

By the time the night’s over and we’re headed back to my place, it’s almost midnight and my belly hurts from laughing so much.

I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun.

Which, sadly, just kind of proves Frankie’s point. I have gotten uptight.

We stopped to eat after the tour and then popped into a couple late night shops where West bought an I Heart Cougars T-shirt, promising to turn it into a crop top just for me.

Frankie says her goodnights, shuffling up the stairs and into the house. I know she’ll be stripped into a T-shirt and burritoed up in my bed when I get inside.

Enzo steps away to take a call, leaving West in charge of requesting a car.

“Does that sign say late-night ice cream?” Kell marvels, eyes growing wide.

I nod. “It’s a locally owned creamery.” The words are barely out of my mouth before he’s sprinting towards the corner.

He calls over his shoulder, “text me if anyone wants anything!”

West puffs a laugh through his lips as he finishes what I’m assuming is requesting a ride back to wherever they’re staying in Boston. The look on his face when he glances over his shoulder at Kell has me wondering more about who the youngest is in this group of men.

“How do you know Kell?” I ask.

His gaze flicks to mine, and for a second I think I see panic, but it vanishes before he answers. “He got off at the wrong bus stop when we were in elementary school, followed us home like a lost puppy, and he’s kinda just been around ever since.” He pauses, and I can’t help but feel like West’s leaving something out. “His parents wanted him to go to grad school. He wanted to move abroad and take a gap year. I convinced them to let him come on tour with me instead. That way he gets, at the very least, a gap semester, he scratches his travel itch, and his parents don’t have to worry about him all alone in a foreign country.”

I scrunch my brows, and he returns the look. “I know what you’re thinking, Josette. Why would anyone let their child, grown or not, come on the road with me?”

The way he says my full name sends a featherlight touch of warmth down my spine. There are very few people who still call me that—who I allow to call me that—and I think West can be another exception.

He doesn’t wait for me to answer. “Picture Kell alone in a foreign country for a second…” West pauses, and I do.

Nope, yep, much safer on tour with West.

“Exactly, but also I’m fun and know how to take people’s minds off the bad stuff.” The playful scrunch of his brows softens, and I get a glimpse of the man he’s hiding behind the comedian.

“Who helps you take your mind off the bad stuff?” The question comes out the second it crosses my mind.

His lips pull up in a smile I’ve never seen from him before, one I’m not sure I understand yet. “I’m in therapy, Joey baby. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about me.”

It’s usually the happiest person who’s hiding a closet full of the biggest skeletons. I wonder what West doesn’t let anyone else see, what hides in the dark when he’s alone in the quiet.

“Are you okay?” he asks, taking me by surprise. Wasn’t the spotlight just pointed at him?