“Mom set up a Google alert for your name.”
“Of course she did,” I grumbled, imagining her glued to the computer waiting for the alert to sound. “She can’t do that.”
“Try tellin’ her that,” Dad replied, and I heard the smile in his voice. “If it keeps her sane, leave her be. She knows you’re sensible, sweetheart, and she knows you’re in good hands. If you weren’t, I wouldn’t have let you get in that SUV with Mr. Portman. Now don’t you have a show to prepare for?”
My gaze flicked to the wall clock. It was a little past five. I still had time before I had to be on stage. A shiver ran up my spine, imagining all the fans pouring into the arena. All seventeen thousand of them. Thanks to Alistair’s press release, most of them would know who to expect tonight. They would know all about the Sweetheart of Country.
“Put Mom back on, please.” Despite her over the top theatrics, I still needed her to know I was okay.
“Sure thing, sweetheart. Show them what you’re made of out there tonight, my sweet girl. You got this.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Hi, baby,” Mom sniffled, and I groaned.
“Mom, no waterworks, remember?” I’d made her promise she wouldn’t cry every time we talked.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’ll do better, I promise.”
“Mom, I had three drinks. I want you to know it wasn’t like they said in the news article.”
“Just be careful, Eva, please. Your body is still healin’.”
“I know, Mom. I won’t neglect my regimen, you have my word.”
“So it’s your big show tonight. I still can’t believe my baby girl will be singin’ for all those people.” Her change of subject was a relief. I didn’t want the whole ‘you survived cancer’ talk. Not now, not when I was waiting for the biggest moment of my life.
“The arena holds seventeen thousand people, Mom; it’s crazy.”
“It’s really somethin’. I’m so proud of you, baby, you know that, right? I always knew you were destined for great things, Eva.”
Letty slipped into the room and waved a bag of chips at me. My stomach grumbled. “Mom, I need to go and finish preparin’, but I’ll call you after, okay?”
“Gavin, she’s goin’.” There was a commotion and then both their voices came over the line. “Good luck, sweetheart, we’re rootin’ for you.”
I hung up and took a deep breath. Talking to my mom was intense. She had this way of making me question everything. I knew she didn’t mean it. It was just her protective mother bear instinct. But at times, it was stifling.
“Everything okay?” Letty asked, joining me on the couch. I’d been holed up in my changing room for the last hour. Letty had helped pick out my outfit, but a team of stylists had preened and primped me within an inch of my life. My hair was in curlers and I was wearing a big fluffy robe. The whole get-up made me snort; so much so, I’d sent Molly a selfie with the caption #divalife. Of course she didn’t think it was diva at all. She thought it was fantastic and insisted I video call her to show her the entire room.
“Just my mom bein’ her usual overbearing self, but I think for once, I probably deserved it.”
“Better to have a mom who cares than one that don’t.”
“Crap, I’m sorry.” Guilt coiled around my words. “I didn’t mean to—”
“Oh, my mom cares just fine.” Letty waved me off. “But in this biz most people have a story to tell and skeletons in their closet.”
That was a strange thing to say. I wanted to ask her if she meant the band, but I didn’t want to pry, and I didn’t want to put her in an awkward position since she was friends with them as much as she was their ex-assistant.
“How are you feeling?”
“Okay, I think. I mean, I’m terrified but I also kinda want to get it over with.”
“Understandable. Half the battle is the unknown. But after the press release, I think people will be excited to see what you bring to the show.”
“So I shouldn’t worry about bein’ booed off stage or showered with eggs then?” My lip curved in a half-smile to match my half-serious words.
“When the Die Hearts are around, you always need to worry. Those bitches are crazy.” Letty smirked. “Just worry about your set and leave everything else to other people.”
Just then my cell phone vibrated. “It’s probably Molly,” I said, reaching to retrieve it off the table.
“What does it say?”
My brows pinched as I scanned the message from the unknown number.
* * *
Good luck out there, Angel.
* * *
“I think it’s... Levi,” I croaked.
“Well, well, the fucker has a heart after all. How’d he get your number?”
“You didn’t give it to him?”
“Me?” Letty blanched. “What the hell would I do that for?”
“Huh, weird.” I typed a quick reply, keeping it to a simple ‘thanks’. I’d seen the guys in passing today, at sound check and backstage, but there hadn’t been much time to talk. Not that I knew what to say after last night.
I still cringed every time I pictured Travis having to practically carry me out of the club. Letty assured me it didn’t quite go down like that, but it didn’t ease the embarrassment that had burned through me most of the day. I could still remember the way Rafe had carried me to my suite, how safe and protected I’d felt in his arms. He’d been so kind and caring. So possessive. Part of me wanted to believe it—believe it meant he still cared—but I didn’t trust the liquor-haze that had clouded my mind. And when I’d seen him earlier, he’d barely looked twice at me, let alone asked how I was feeling
It was confusing.
But there was no time to dwell. I had a show to prepare for, and seventeen thousand Black Hearts fans to win over.
The knot in my stomach tightened, my hands trembling.
“You need to find your pre-show ritual.”
“Ritual?” I frowned at Letty.
“Yeah, like your way to get in the zone. You know like Weezer playing frisbee or the Foo’s doing Jäger shots. I heard from a friend of a friend that Coldplay like to do this group hug thing before they go on stage.”
“We could hug.” I fought a smile as my shoulders lifted in a small shrug.
“You need to find your own thing.” Letty tapped her lips with a single finger. “Like naked rain dancing.”
“Naked... what?” Laughter rumbled in my chest. “You’re jokin’ with me.”
“Of course I’m joking, but it took your mind off the show, didn’t it?”
“Maybe that can be my ritual. You can make lame-ass jokes and distract me.”
“Hey, my jokes aren’t that bad.” My brow rose, and she flipped me off. “What song are you most looking forward to playing tonight?”
“I haven’t really let myself think about it. Since... well, since everythin’ happened, it’s like my brain is wired differently.”