Chapter Six
Wynter
I spent the afternoon reading in my room and look up when I hear my phone buzz, indicating I have a text. I reach for it, surprised to see a text from my sister.
HARLEY: Heading to the venue for soundcheck in thirty. If you want to ride over on the bus with us, meet us in the lobby. We won’t come back to the hotel before the show, so be prepared to hang out at the arena until after.
I quickly respond.
WYNTER: Getting dressed! See you downstairs.
I’m surprised they’re still going to do the show because Kingston’s throat looked like it would really hurt to sing, but what do I know? I’m only a nurse. Kingston has the money to get the best medication and medical advice available. This couldn’t be the first time he got sick in his decade-long career.
No matter how strongly I want to tell him not to risk damaging his vocal cords, I have to learn to keep my opinions to myself. That kind of thing gets me into trouble at work sometimes too. It’s like I care too much.
And in my experience, people rarely appreciate it.
That’s a big part of the reason why I’ve been considering going into travel nursing. I won’t be in one place long enough for my mouth to get me into trouble, and the money is so good I’ll be able to save up the down payment for a house relatively quickly.
At least, that’s the loose plan I’ve come up with.
I’m thirty-three and still living with my sister. I initially moved in to help with River, and then I never left. I assumed I’d wait until I met the right guy to think about something more permanent, like buying real estate. But now she’s back with Tommy, and I feel like a third wheel. They offered to let me live in his condo, the one he lived in while they were divorced, but they were leaving to go on tour so I figured there was no point in moving.
But now it feels like it’s time to grow up.
Move out, get my own place, start living for myself instead of for Harley.
I don’t need a man to be the best version of myself.
Or even a more stable version.
I shake off my maudlin thoughts and focus on what to wear.
I brought a black leather skirt, a lace-up corset that shows plenty of cleavage, and black heels to wear for the show, so I quickly pull them on. Since I didn’t know whether or not I’d be going anywhere tonight, I did my hair earlier but hadn’t bothered with makeup. Now I’m not sure whether to go all out with my heavily layered rock and roll face, complete with false eyelashes and black lipstick, or to just keep it simple.
Ross is mad at me, so he won’t pay attention to my makeup, and since I don’t have a lot of time, I opt for the basics: foundation, bronzer, a little eye liner and a couple of coats of mascara. Mauve lipstick rounds out my look, and I stuff my room key, ID, some cash, and the lipstick into my crossbody purse. It’s my favorite, small and comfortable for a rock concert, and I drape it over my shoulder as I walk out of my room.
To my surprise, Ross is just coming out of his room across the hall.
He looks like he’s in a hurry, so I smile as I catch his gaze and our eyes meet.
“Hey.”
“You riding over to the arena with us?” he asks.
“Yeah.”
“Cool.” He doesn’t say anything else as we walk to the elevator and ride it down to the lobby.
Ugh.
He’s almost definitely mad about earlier.
“You look nice,” he says as we step out of the elevator.
Okay, maybe not mad-mad.
“Thank you.” I bite my lip shyly.
