“Oh, dear. Are you okay?” Susan comes over to check on me.
“Yes. I’m just a klutz in heels. I haven’t eaten, so I’d better do that. I, um, I get low blood sugar.”Really, Aurora? That’s the best thing you could come up with?
“I have some candy in my purse.” She roots around in her large canvas tote and pulls out a butterscotch candy.
It looks like it’s seen better days, but if my mouth is full I can’t answer any questions, so I pull off the banged-up Werther’s Original wrapper and pop the candy in my mouth. Did I just get a mouthful of lint? Yes. “Tank yuu,” I mumble around it as I hug her and usher her toward the door. “I’m going to get some rest. I’m soooo tired.”
“Of course, dear. And please eat something more substantial.” She pats my hand so sweetly, I feel guilty for lying.
“Let’s hang out again later this week.” Jace and I had better get our story straight before then. What’s he going to tell his band about why he ditched rehearsal?
I press my hand against my stomach. I’m not built for subterfuge.
Once Susan leaves, I cover Layla with a blanket, hoping she doesn’t wake up at five a.m.
I consider my shredded sweater and admit I’m out of my depth, so I kick off my heels and get out my phone. When Baylee answers, I sigh in relief. “I need your help.” I’ll have to talk quietly so I don’t wake up Layla.
“I’m here with Paige and Honey. Tell us everything! How is it living the country star life?”
I chuckle. “It’s really not that glamorous. Especially when the band returns for the night smelling like booze and bad decisions.”
They all laugh, and I curl up on the couch. “I need your advice. We have a situation.”
“Can we video-chat?” Baylee asks, and I agree. They call back a minute later, and when I swipe my finger across my screen, my three friends smile back at me.
“Hi, guys.” After some small talk, I stop beating around the bush. “Before I tell you this, you have to swear you won’t tell anyone.”
Baylee makes a circle in front of her, Paige, and Honey. “Cone of silence over here. We got your back. Do we need to kick someone’s ass?”
“If I knew who was doing this, I’d let you at him or her.” Sometimes, I think this weirdo is a woman. Other times, I think it’s a man. I pull out today’s delivery. “We have a stalker. Or Jace had one, and now this person is fixated on me. I’m not really sure how to describe this.”
When I finish explaining everything, Honey throws up because she’s pregnant, Paige looks scared, and Baylee’s pissed. She narrows her eyes. “Why haven’t we called the cops yet?”
“Because the band’s afraid of getting bad publicity.” I rush to explain. “Jace just sang a duet with Marlowe, and she got up close and personal with him on stage. So now Frank is worried if it gets out that Jace is married, it’ll look like he’s cheating with Marlowe.” That was a lot to say in one breath. Did that even make sense?
“Girl, what? Why would people think Jace is cheating?” I’m not explaining this well. I try again. This time, Baylee makes a fist. “Do I need to have a talk with Jace? Because I will.”
Paige shakes her head. “Calm down, Bruce Banner. Don’t want you to Hulk out.” She leans closer to the screen. “Did Jace tell you not to call the cops?”
“No. Actually, he fought hard to call the authorities. He was really upset that Frank and the guys thought it was a bad idea. Jace wants to escort me everywhere now. Oh, and he got me some mace. But the band has solid reservations, and that’s why I didn’t call the police tonight. Plus, everyone’s at rehearsal, so I can’t check with them first.”
Honey returns, looking a little green. “I heard everything.” She tries to smile. “I love that Jace wants to protect you. Beau is like that too.”
Paige nods. “All the Walker men are super protective. Except Isaiah. Don’t know for sure about him. He’s always holed up in the Airstream.”
“So what do I do about this?” I hold up the shredded sweater. “Do I report it? Throw it away? Tell Jace? But if I tell him, he’s going to go to Frank, and then the guys are going to think I’m starting trouble again.”
“They can’t possibly think this is your fault.” The irritation in Paige’s voice sparks gratitude in my heart. It feels good to have friends on my side.
“Maybe not directly, but Cooper rolls his eyes at me anytime I breathe.” At least, that’s how it feels.
“Do you have any idea who might be behind this?”
I rub my temple where it’s starting to throb. “It changes all the time. At first, I thought it was this mean groupie, Karina, and I’ve even wondered if our drummer was trying to scare me off. And tonight, I thought it was Marlowe.”
“Hmm.” Honey leans forward. “What if you wait to tell Jace about the latest delivery until he’s not around the rest of the band? Ask him to keep this to himself, and then see if anyone acts weird. Because whoever did this is trying to get a rise out of you, right? What if you don’t give it to them?”
I consider her suggestion. “That’s a good idea. We’re in a hotel for a few days, so we’ll have more privacy to talk.”