Page 68 of Wild

"I'm sorry, Dooley, but nothing on that schedule can be canceled." Jude tries to keep his voice even, because he's exhausted from arguing with this woman.

"Tomorrow's rehearsal could be dropped, and the fitting could be pushed later—right before the sound check, so there's no dead time in between that serves no purpose."

Jude blinks, visibly on edge.

"The Washington show is one of the most important ones on the tour, and after her appearance at the awards ceremony, the remaining tickets will probably sell out. The rehearsal has to happen, because everything needs to be perfect."

"Your idea of perfect can—"

"Hold on, Dooley." Mia stands and walks over to her, drawing her slightly to the side. "I can handle it. And Jude's right about this one—that show matters. But I promise I won't push myselfin rehearsal more than I have to. Some choreography with the guys to get a feel for the space and that's it."

Erin looks at her steadily and runs a hand along the back of her neck, giving in, because she suddenly feels like she can't say no to this woman.

"Fine," she agrees, reluctant.

Jude's sigh of relief is loud enough that Noah and Nell can't hold back their laughter.

"Wonderful. We're done here."

The agent and the lawyer are the first ones out; Erin and Nell follow, and behind them come Mia and Noah, heading toward the elevator with two of the singer's bodyguards who will shadow them wherever they go.

"And where exactly do you think you're going?" Nell asks, catching Erin by the arm before she can open the door to her room.

"I have an important call to make," the doctor answers.

Nell narrows her eyes and lets go of her arm.

"Things are good with Mia, from the looks of it," she says, raising an eyebrow as she steps back.

Erin smiles.

"Yeah, seems like it. See you later?"

"I'll meet you downstairs in an hour. You're coming with me to do some shopping before we leave Philadelphia," the tour's production director announces.

"All right."

Erin goes into her room and stands by the door for a few seconds. She likes being here, with all these people—and the realization surprises her more than she would have expected, because at first she'd felt out of place, and now she feels more comfortable than she does anywhere else. Nell is a wonderful woman, and they're starting to build a friendship that Erin genuinely likes. Then there's Noah, with whom she has a warm,easy rapport that probably won't grow into a real friendship but could come awfully close. Then there's Violette, who appears and disappears as though she can teleport, and with whom Erin also feels a real connection. And then there's Mia. Erin just sighs when she thinks about her and ends up smiling like a teenager—but the smile disappears when her phone rings and she sees her sister's name on the screen.

She's surprised it took her this long to reach out. Erin had been expecting it the moment she woke up, because when Brooke wants something she can be relentless. She moves to the window, leans her shoulder against the glass, and answers.

"Hey, Brooke."

"Have you done it yet?" Her sister doesn't even say hello. "I was looking at the tour schedule last night and the next show is in Washington, D.C.," she says, as if Erin didn't know. "I talked to Senna and I figured we could both go—she loves Mia Wilder too. I could rent a car, I just need you to—"

"You're not coming, Brooke," Erin cuts her off, exhausted.

"What?"

"I'm not pulling any strings for this. I'm tired of your whims and of you only reaching out when you want something or need something from me. I'm your sister, not an ATM or some decorative figure in your head that only exists when it's convenient for you."

"What the hell are you talking about, Erin? Have you lost your mind?"

"I wish," the doctor's voice cracks, and Brooke, who had her mouth open to defend herself, snaps it shut when she hears it. "I've spent my whole life taking care of you, fixing your problems, making sure you never went without—and when Mom got sick you didn't even offer to help with something that was just as much yours to carry."

"You know how hard it was for me to see her like that, Erin. I couldn't handle it."

"And I could?" the doctor asks, but she decides not to go down that road, because she has no desire to remind her sister that she'd visit their mother once every two weeks, stay for ten minutes, and then fall apart before walking out the door as if she were the only one who was suffering. "I'm not going to throw your behavior back in your face, because in the end I'm the one who let you get away with everything since you were little. But it's over, Brooke. From now on I'm going to take care of myself. So if you want to reach out to ask how I'm doing or to spend time together, I'm here. But if it's for anything else, don't bother unless there's a real, serious problem."