“You’re a bad influence.” She giggles.
I get into my car, smiling when I think about what she looks like right now. I wonder if she’s at her piano, or sitting on the floor with her guitar. Is she in an oversized T-shirt? Is her hair pulled back or hanging loose around her.
“Is that a yes?” I start my car, ready to drive to her instead of going home.
“No, you and I both know we wouldn’t nap, and I’m sure you could use one before your game.”
I sigh because she’s right, but I would much rather nap with her.
“Are you coming later?”
She hums, her voice light and airy. “I’ll think about it.”
“I’ll see you after, Sunshine.” I know her answer even if she won’t tell me.
We hang up, and I drive back to my house. As soon as I’m through my front door I beeline it to my bed and fall asleep almost instantly.
I wake up to my phone ringing, and I grab it half awake, mumbling what I think is supposed to be “hello.”
“I’m sorry, did I wake you up?” my mom asks.
“Yes,” I grumble.
“Well get your lazy butt up, then,” she jokes.
I don’t even manage a laugh, more of a puff of air in response. My eyes aren’t even open and I feel myself drifting back to sleep.
“Did you have an early practice?” my mom asks, and I think I dozed off for a second before she spoke again.
“Mhm.”
“Well maybe you should go to bed earlier.”
This time I smile thinking about why I didn’t get much sleep, though obviously she doesn’t know that and never will.
“For sure,” I answer groggily.
“Wow, you really are asleep because normally I’d get a ‘I’m an adult, Mom.’ Or a ‘don’t tell me what to do.’”
I hum in response, already dozing off once again.
“Okay, well since you’re so talkative we’ll catch up later.”
I don’t even remember hanging up the phone or setting it down before I fall back asleep.
CHAPTER 32
Rae
I’m so in the zone with this new song I let my phone go to voicemail several times. The fifth time it rings it finally pulls my focus away from the music enough to answer it. I’m a little surprised to see it’s my manager calling and not someone from my family.
On one hand, I’m glad it’s not a family emergency, but on the other hand a work emergency isn’t great either.
I try to keep my breathing under control as I answer, “Hello?”
“Hi, why do you sound nervous?”
I hate how transparent I can be sometimes.