Page 100 of Just Wait

I do think it was good advice, but I also purposely hit him where I knew it would hurt. That’s why I know we can’t fix things. I’m entirely too spiteful for us to be together after what he did.

Rather than leaving the venue, the guys have food delivered.

I’m actually starting to miss the bus, but I’m also wondering how we’re all going to fit. From what I hear, Wren, the woman Tennyson knows from back home, is also going to be on the bus with us.

I haven’t gotten much of an opportunity to get to know her, but I want to try. It’ll be nice to have some feminine energy around. It also makes me feel guilty because I mentioned that I could take one of the bunks once we’re back on the bus to give her the opportunity to take the bedroom.

Tennyson was the loudest opposition to that, and I still have no idea why. I’d think he would want his friend’s sister to be comfortable, but whatever.

I have too much on my mind to fight them on it, and it’s mostly irrelevant right now, since we’ll still be in the hotel.

Kasey sticks close to my side as we watch the show from backstage. I have no idea where Wren and her brother are, but I think they have actual tickets out in the audience.

Benji gave me an entirely new backstage pass with family and friends access, except this time, it’s for Liminal.

It’s kinda ridiculous that I have a view of the guys that most people would kill for, and I’m still melancholy. Seeing Theo earlier really fucked with my head. I don’t regret fooling around with Mal and Riser last night, but it almost feels like I cheated on Theo—which is fucking ridiculous.

I broke up with him.

He cheated on me.

Emotions are complicated.

I read over the contract while the guys got their hair and makeup done. It offers five thousand dollars per song in which I deserve primary writing credit, as long as they are original works, which they are. It also offers an additional two thousand dollars for two songs it was deemed I contributed to a “collaborative writing effort.”

I think I understand what that means, and if my math is right, it’ll guarantee me a check for just under forty grand.

That’s life-changing money.

I’ll be able to pay off the apartment, find a new place, and stockpile a little money.

Kincaid put a call in to his lawyer, and they sent me a digital contract to sign for their services. After that was done, I scanned the contract from the record label using my phone and emailed it over.

I’m supposed to get a call from the lawyer tomorrow to explain the terms.

I’m still not sure how that’s going to go, and I hate how unsettled I feel when I think about it. Shaking out my hands, I smack into the guy next to me.

“Shit, sorry,” I say softly, making a point to step closer to the wall.

“Thank you all so much for coming out tonight,” Kincaid purrs into his microphone.

The crowd goes wild.

“Seriously, you’re the best audience we’ve had in a while,” Malcolm chimes in.

“How about we close this one out with a fan favorite?” Kincaid suggests.

“What are we giving them? ‘Dandelions?’” Tennyson chimes in.

“‘Mother May I?’” Malcolm suggests.

“I thought we’d do Columbia a solid and finish this one out with ‘Echoes.’” Kincaid leans toward the crowd, cupping his ear. “If that’s okay with you?”

The audience loses it.

Malcolm peers over at me, winking, and my heart flutters. They aren’t in their masks tonight, but I heard they will be tomorrow. Although I used to think the shows were better when they were all masked up, now I prefer being able to see their expressions.

Damn.