Chapter 19: Leslie
He smiled at me.
Okay, I'm pretty sure he's drunk and is smiling at everyone, but at least he didn't glower at me.
I'm not even sure Josh can glower. What I get is usually more of a scowl. But that's not the expression that's on his face tonight.
He looks so happy.
And he should be. The three Sassy Cats have all but adopted him as their own pet. Sure he may have been the guy in the background playing the piano, but he was on stage with this power trio.
I could see them taking him on tour. He'd be wonderful with them. I could even see him collaborating on music. Maybe someday he'll win a Grammy or something, and I'll tell … whomever I'm with at the time … that a long time ago that boy used to love me.
I still want him to love me.
But I need to love myself first.
I'm working on that. Monday's my first appointment with Malachi Andrews, Gloria's therapist. I finally had the courage to call him to schedule something. And then I had to work up the courage to call my parents to ask them to loan me some money.
I've decided that with only four weeks until I have to be back here in Hicklam forAn American in Parisrehearsals, I might as well just stay. Imani's cousin Jade did agree to sublet my share, so at least I don't have to worry about rent.
Just a place to stay for the next month.
And a way to pay for it.
I'm sure I'll figure something out. There's got to be a restaurant here in town or something.
Grayson slides up next to me. "Well, you did it." He raises his beer in salute, and I match with my plastic cup of wine. I'm a lightweight, mostly because I never drink.
Too many calories.
But the calories be damned, I've earned this toast. "Thanks for the chance and your patience. It was pretty touch and go for a while."
"You bit off a lot—I thought more than you could chew. But you pulled it off."
"I'm anything if not too stubborn to know when to quit. You hired me for something, so I was going to deliver."
Grayson cocks his head. "You know we never expected half of the aerial stuff that you did. We hoped maybe you could sit on the hoop or do a split or something." He laughs. "Actually, it was Tabby who suggested you, and she said something like, 'she's a ballerina so she can do bendy stuff.' All we needed was some bendy stuff, but you came out swinging. Literally."
I laugh. "God, why didn't you tell me? My life would have been so much easier. Do you know that everything, right down to the roots of my hair, hurts?"
"But you know the show wouldn't have been so special."
I do know.
Grayson continues. "So thank you. What you did was superhuman and it may be what movesShowmanonto the next level."
His praise makes me uncomfortable. Probably because I'm so used to setting impossibly high goals and then berating myself when I can't achieve them.
I'm not used toactuallybeing successful.
"Okay, then. Well, so is there a set time I have to be out of here on Monday? Can I stay until then? I mean, I guess I can leave right after the show tomorrow afternoon. I just don't really have my next place lined up yet. I'm sure I'll find something."Dear God, why am I rambling?I drain the rest of my wine. What are the odds that my glass will magically refill itself?
Grayson shakes his head. "Don't worry about it."
"Worry about what?"
"Leaving. You're coming right back here in a few weeks. And frankly, your work ethic is something special."
