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Graham squeezed her hand. “They were brilliant. Especially the song about unrequited love.”
Shay jolted as if she’d been struck.Of course he’ll like the song about himself.
“You need to let the label see this.”
“Maybe Barney’s right. I shouldn’t show it. They’ll say no.”What if I screw up again?
“Nothing beats a failure but a try. This right here?” Graham lifted the notebook and shook it. “They’re incredible. These songs need to be heard. This is the real you.”
The commercial for RoeFest began to play on the TV, and they highlighted the celebrities attending and performing. She appeared on the screen, bits of her at her concert the night before in LA playing.
“Excuse me? Um, are you Shay Baby?”
Shay turned. There was a young girl, probably eighteen, with two other girls on either side. They looked at her with wide eyes and anticipation, and Shay smiled.
“It’s me.”
“Oh my God!”
The girls teetered in excitement, drawing curious looks from the other diners. Once people began to recognize her and stand for a better look, she saw Graham glower.
“Can you sign this for me?” The leader offered a napkin she’d taken from the table’s dispensary.
“Who can I make it out to?”
“Makayla.”
Shay motioned to the other girls. “You both want one too?”
They both nodded excitedly. Shay chatted with Makayla as she signed her autograph.
“I’m glad you’re doing RoeFest! I was surprised when they said you would perform. It’s so cool of you,” Makayla said.
Shay handed the first girl her signed napkin. “It’s a new experience for me too.”
“I wish we could have gotten tickets.”
“There should still be some left.”
“We can’t. We’re driving to California.”
“For vacation?” Shay finished her signature.
A dark look passed across Makayla’s face.
“No…Jenny—Jenny, uh… Arizona banned abortions so…”
Shay blinked rapidly, her eyes going to the young woman behind Makayla with a mop of curly hair. A pensive expression on her face, she looked at the ground the moment she caught Shay’s eyes.
She looks like I did.
The scared look on Jenny’s face did something to Shay. Without thinking, she reached into her purse, counted some bills, and placed them in Makayla’s hand.
“Just in case you all need anything else.”
“Oh! No, we can’t take this.”
“Take it.” Memories of being alone, scared, and without hope overwhelmed her.
