I can’t stop my confused look. “Why?”
“Jen!” Roxanne scolds me. “If the headliner wants to speak to you –”
“Rox.” Ariel puts her hand on our manager’s arm. “It’s random that I’d want to talk to her. Think about it. She’s dating my ex.”
Roxanne goes silent, then focuses on me. “I’m going to get comfortable, head to the back of the bus, and get lost in a book. Behave.”
She turns on her heel and I look at Ariel. Her bottom lip disappears between her teeth to suppress a laugh, and I do the same. She starts to unpack, and I turn back to my guitar.
Time passes and Beau gets the bus underway. An idea for a new song popped into my head tonight before the show, so I mess around with notes and lyrics. Everything is gibberish right now, but that’s how my songwriting usually starts. After a half hour or so of playing around, Ariel appears by my side. “Is this a bad time?”
My eyes swing to her. She’s changed clothes, and her dark hair is piled in a messy bun on top of her head. With her hair off her face her features look exotic, something I hadn’t noticed before. “No,” I say and move back a little. “What’s up?”
She crawls on to my bunk and faces me, crossing her legs. “Nothing really. Just lonely and bored.” She glances around and her eyes land on Oliver’s drawing taped to the wall. She smiles. “I bet I know who made this.”
I’m about to confirm her thoughts when my phone vibrates. “One sec,” I say and pick it up. It’s a text message from Pete: Hey, rock-n-roll queen. Where are you?
I smile. On a bus in the middle of nowhere. Where are you?
Home in bed. I should be asleep, but I’m not. I’m worried out of my mind.
I frown and respond Why? Is everything okay?
Three little dots appear on my phone, indicating he’s typing back. It must be a long message because the dots linger. I hope nothing is wrong with Jules or our family, although my parents would’ve called. Great. Now I’m starting to worry, too.
“Who are you talking to?”
I look at Ariel. “My brother. He’s being vague and annoying.”
“Older or younger?”
“Older.”
Finally his message comes through. Everything is fine. I’m awake because I have an expensive diamond ring sitting in my dresser drawer and NO IDEA HOW TO PROPOSE.
“Is that all?!” My voice is loud. You idiot! I send. You scared me.
Ariel cocks an eyebrow. “Is something the matter?”
I sigh. “My brother needs help coming up with a way to propose to his girlfriend. They got married in secret and now he’s backtracking. I told him I would think of some ideas for him, but I’ve fallen down on the job.”
Ariel shrugs like it’s no big deal. “That’s easy. Have him do it at a show. Call them up on stage and have him surprise her. She’ll love it.”
My mouth falls open. It’s so simple it’s stupid. “How did I not think of that? Thanks!” I start rapidly typing while Pete responds to my idiot comment.
Calm your buns, I send. Ariel Allyn is sitting across from me and she says you can do it on stage.
He replies. Are you serious???
Yes. You should do it in Detroit, since mom and dad will be there. I grin. It’s perfect.
You said Jules deserved epic and this definitely qualifies. Thank you Jen. Now I can sleep.
I make a face. Because that’s what’s important, dork. I’ll get back to you with the details.
No, seriously. Thank you.
You’re welcome. I set my phone down.
“Everything good?” Ariel asks.
“Yes. I’ll work out the details with Dean later. I’ll tell him you said it was okay.”
She smiles. “I’m glad I could help.” Her eyes go back to Oliver’s picture. “His nephew drew this, right?”
I nod. “Oliver’s a cool little kid.”
“What is he now? Five years old?”
“Seven,” I say.
She shakes her head. “I can’t believe how much time has passed.” Her eyes land on my guitar. “So, what are you working on?”
“Not much. I’m just messing around.”
“I used to play, too, before I was told I could only sing.” She gets sarcastic. “It’s all about the image. I should demand some changes in my next contract.”
I’m surprised. I was under the impression she could do whatever she wants. “Do you still practice?”
“Not much anymore.” She tips her head. “I’ve been watching you play. You’re good.”
My cheeks flush. That’s not unusual or anything. “Um … thanks.”
Ariel smiles, then looks down and studies her cuticles. “Look, Jen. I’m going to be honest.” Her eyes meet mine again. “I don’t have many close friends, but I’d like you to be one. When I talked to Latson, he said you’re good people. I’m thinking of making some changes to my style. I’m sick of being a pop princess.”
What? “How can you be sick of success? I mean, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”
She pulls her knees to her chest and wraps her arms around them. “I’ve been doing this for a long time. It’s getting old; I’m twenty-seven. I need to grow as an artist. Hell, I need to grow as a person.”
I’m silent. Does she think I can help?
Ariel sets her chin on her knees and continues. “I need a fresh perspective. I need to hang around someone normal. Someone who’s still grounded.”
I’m skeptical. “So, the dancer drama was a lie?”
“Oh no.” She turns serious. “It’s true. Some of those girls are straight up bat-shit crazy.”
I snicker as my mind flashes to Heidi. Some of the groupies are, too.
“Anyway, enough about me.” She lowers her legs and crosses them in front of her again. “Let’s talk about you. Let me hear something. Play an original Jen creation.”
Why not? It’s not every day a pop star asks to hear your work. The song I wrote in Chicago comes to mind, the one about the couple on the beach. “Okay,” I say. “This one’s called “Fairytale”. There might be a few changes, but it goes like this.” I straighten my back, clear my throat, and strum the strings to find my place:
“When the fairytale ends
When it all falls apart
Who will pick up the pieces
Of our shattered hearts?
It can’t be you
And it won’t be me
Because unlike a fairytale
We were never meant to be.”
I take my time and play the entire song, stopping only once when I get tripped up on the second verse. When I finish, Ariel has a glassy look in her eyes. She blinks to clear it and then quietly says, “Save that one for me.”
“What?” I don’t know what that means.
“I love it,” she says. “If anyone approaches you about that song, tell them it’s taken. Tell them you’re saving it for me.”
My eyes grow wide. “You would sing my song?”
She nods. “In a heartbeat. Show me what else you’ve got.”
Chapter Twenty Two
“You’ll never guess what the record company did for us.” I shut the bedroom door so I can talk to Latson in private. “They upgraded our hotel room to a penthouse. A penthouse! Can you believe it?”
“That was nice of them.” He sounds doubtful. “I thought the tour was only in Dallas for two nights.”
“We are. Tonight and tomorrow, then it’s off to Houston. But, we found out they upgraded us there, too.”