Page 90 of Anything But Lonely

My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I ignore it.

Emerson texted me just before Sugarcoated Lies finished their set. She said Talia picked up Crew, and they were headed to Talia’s hotel. I sent off a quick thank-you before pocketing my phone, needing to get my mind off my nanny if I wanted to make it through this show tonight.

Since I know Crew is taken care of, I don’t bother checking my messages.

But then a string of them come through, my phone vibrating over and over again enough to have me backing out of the wings, heading to a quiet corner to make sure everything’s okay.

Emerson

Hey, rockstar

I’m sure you’re getting ready to go on stage

The show must be starting any minute now

Figured I’d send you this for some good luck

Don’t make a mess ;)

Make a mess?

A mess of what?

I figure she’s probably just throwing a jab at me—calling back to the time she told me not to break anything when I accidentally called her my nanny in front of everyone.

As I finish the thought, ready to pocket my phone, a text with a video comes in.

I can’t tell what it is by the freeze-frame, so I click open the video.

Pressing play, there’s some movement, like the phone is being set down. I hold my phone up to my ear, but all I hear is shuffling.

Then, it’s Emerson’s voice.

Hi, rockstar.

More shuffling. And then a buzzing sound.

I’m trying to place it, figure out what it could be, and then Emerson is moaning into my ear.

I rip the phone from my ear, turning the volume all the way down as I hold my phone against my chest, hiding the screen as I look over my shoulder to make sure no one heard.

Luckily, the crew is too busy preparing for us to go on, the chaos being a perfect veil.

“Mateo!” Eddie shouts, waving his hand at me from the stage wing. “What are you doing? We’re on!”

I power off my screen, making sure it’s off before holding it up and pointing at my phone. “I–I need to take a call.”

Eddie’s jaw drops. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

Nodding my head, backing up to head to the greenroom. My mind on one thing and one thing only—needing to know what this video is.

“Stall!” I yell out, “Just repeat the walk-on intro an extra time—I promise I won’t miss my cue!” I disappear down the hall behind the stage—but not before I see Eddie lift his arms in frustration before turning to Theo and Silas.

I’ll deal with them later.

I just need a minute.

Slamming the greenroom door behind me, I unlock my phone, finding the video paused.