This place is not what I was expecting it to be, but somehow, I’m starting to love it.
Chapter 9
Aura
Absolutelynot.Itossone more designer dress onto the heap already piled on the questionable bed. Did I sneak out to the next town over to buy a brand new set of sheets and a comforter? Yes. Did it make the lumpy mattress any less suspect? Not really.
But I can’t actually take Quint up on the offer to stay at his place, right?
I eye the clothes one more time, then my cell sitting on the bedside table. Then I’m back to glaring at the clothes, which are great when heading out on the town in LA, but probably not so great for a small-town country bar.
Finally, I heave out a sigh before picking up the phone. I start tapping out a message, delete it, type again, delete. This is not a text type of situation. I need to call.
So I steel myself and start typing my best friend’s number onto the keypad. Although, the way I’ve beenghosting her this past year, she might not be my friend anymore at all, much less my best friend. She probably won’t even answer, anyway.
But to my surprise she picks up after the first ring.
“Ree? Is everything okay?”
The confusion and fear in her voice hits me hard, and I collapse onto the lumpy mattress, fighting back the tears welling in my eyes.
“Hey, Abby. Everything’s fine. Sort of. You know. As good as it can be.” I falter over the words. There’s too much distance between us. Too much time I’ve spent pushing her away. I can’t explain this all away in one phone conversation. What am I doing, trying to call her for fashion advice when I should be groveling?
“What’s up then?”
“I don’t know. Maybe this was a bad idea. I’m not even sure why I called. I’m sorry. I’ll let you go.”
“You better not hang up that phone, Aurelia Lane. Don’t even think about it.”
I jerk back, startled at the intensity in my friend’s command. She’s supposed to be the sweet one. “Okay.”
“Now tell me what’s going on. I make a habit not to look at online gossip, but I do know what went on with that asshole. Are you okay?”
“Yes.” It’s the knee-jerk response. The politeeverything is fine. But this isn’t some reporter, some random costar. This is Abby. She’s seen me at my best and my worst and everywhere in between. “Not really. But things might be getting better. If I can just land this role.”
“Oh, are you at an audition? Can you talk about it? Maybe we can meet up later.”
I laugh. “That might be a little difficult.”
“Oh.”
“I’m in Canada.”
“Canada? What are you doing there?”
“Okay, this is a bit of story. Do you have time?”
I stand up and start pacing around, putting even more wear and tear on the already tired carpet.
“For you? Of course.”
“I don’t deserve you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Ree. I understand what it’s like. Living in the spotlight. Under scrutiny. I may spend more time writing songs than on the stage myself, but turns out if you write too many chart toppers, people kind of get to know you anyway. Doesn’t help that I married a pro hockey player.”
“How is Seb?”
I can hear the love in her voice through the phone line. “He’s fantastic. They might not have made it to the playoffs this year, but he still had his best year, and the team’s built so much momentum, they’re going to take it all next year. I can feel it. But you don’t want to hear me gushing about him.”
