Page 110 of Lyric & the Heartbeats

Lyric: Greenroom. Be there soon.

Lifting the packet again, she counted the days once more and shook her head. The plastic crackled as she popped one out of the foil, and she stared at the little white pill.

That was probably why she’d been sleeping so well. At the time, it hadn’t been more than a passing thought, but the past three nights had been some of the best she’d ever slept. Her gaze leapt to the blue bottle of headache relievers. She also hadn’t needed to take three of those a day to combat the aches brought on by the suppressants.

She gulped, guilt settling above her like a rain cloud as she let the thought brew.

What if she just… stopped taking them? Would that be so bad?

She did just go through her heat, so she wouldn’t have to worry about that particular problem until after the tour was over.

And by then she could just start taking them again.

Or you could let Adra and Emerson help.

Her fist tightened around the pill, the thought almost enough to scare her into taking it anyway. But no, it wouldn’t come to that.

The bed sank beneath her weight as she sat on the edge, pill clenched in one fist and the plastic packet in the other. No matter what she decided, it was a big decision to make alone. And it not only affected her, but it would affect everyone else on the bus.

I can’t put them in that situation.

At least not without letting them know.

Lyric popped the tiny white pill into the foil and slid the packet back into its sleeve. After putting it back in the nightstand, she swallowed down her nerves and made her way out of her nest. She’d talk to Henry the first chance she got.

When she opened the bus door, Nohen was waiting outside.

“Buddy system,” he said with a smile. “Care if I walk you?”

“Oh, hey, did Henry send you?”

Nohen shrugged as she stepped off the bus and walked with him across the lot. “I might have offered. If you remember correctly, I did say I liked having you all to myself. Even if it is for a thirty second walk from the bus to the venue.”

Lyric couldn’t help the smile that curled her lips at his flirting. “I remember something like that. Hey, by the way, have you seen my green sweatshirt with the flowers on it?”

Nohen ran a hand through his curls as he seemed to think it over. “Not that I can remember. Did you lose it?”

“I don’t know. It was my favorite.” She hadn’t seen it since the bus had broken down and she’d turned her nest upside down looking for it.

“I’m sure it’ll turn up.”

Lyric sighed. “You’re probably right. What are we having tonight?”

He held the door open for her as he spoke. “I’m not sure, but it smelled good.”

She could have eaten on the bus, probably should have after her discovery, but she didn’t want to raise any alarms. Each night she’d been spending a little less time in her nest, and more time with everyone else. To suddenly barricade herself in the nest would be suspicious.

Act cool. Nothing’s wrong.

As they pushed open the door to the greenroom, Lyric paused, the mixture of scents striking her as familiar, though she couldn’t place them.

The room was just like all the other green rooms. A table, a few couches and chairs, a few mirrors for them to get ready in front of, and a mini fridge stocked with water, snacks, and whatever weird flavor of gummy bear she’d requested.

But what was different about this room was the spread of food set up on the white folding table. Cardboard and aluminum containers were spread out like a buffet of sorts, the scent of garlic and spiced meat and fresh salsa mixing in the room to make her mouth water.

“Hey, guys,” she greeted. Her stomach rumbled, and she drifted closer to the table to see the spread. “It smells so good,” she gushed, and grabbed the plate Emerson handed her. Without hesitating, she moved down the line and served herself.

The others shadowed her, and it wasn’t until she was seated, staring at them in a line, that she realized what they’d done. “Did you guys wait for me before eating?”