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“I didn’t do anything.”
“Yes, you did. Goodnight, Hollis.”
“Night, Mia.”
I hang up, setting my phone on the night table, and when I roll back over I’m asleep before I’ve barely closed my eyes.
* * *
An entire weekpasses before I can start looking at places. I don’t tell my dad I’m starting to look because I know he’ll come along and my mom as well—I want their approval on wherever I decide on,ifI decide, but this is something I need to do myself.
Although, I invited Hollis along.
I tell myself it’s because I want his unbiased opinion. Truthfully, I want to spend time with him not at the studio or sneaking around town. We haven’t had a night like the first since, but we have made out a few times.
I can tell the guys either know or suspect something, but they’re not talking and don’t seem to be judging me. Instead, I find myself becoming closer to all of them—laughing and joking like old friends. Much to Hollis’s chagrin they invited me to come out with them tomorrow night for dinner and something else they won’t tell me. I warned Hollis if they had a prank up their sleeves, I was punchinghimin the face for it. But even Hollis swears he doesn’t know. At least Kira is coming along too, with Rush. I know she’ll protect me if there’s trouble.
Kira swears there’s nothing more between them other than really amazing sex, her words not mine.
Hollis and I walk side by side down the street and to the first rental property.
We meet the landlord outside and he leads us inside and up a rickety set of stairs to a second-floor apartment. We take one step inside the first place and Hollis shakes his head adamantly.
“No. Absolutely not.”
I have to agree. It’s small, so small the bathroom is practically in the kitchen. I don’t even see room for a bed, let alone anything else.
We turn around, saying an apologetic goodbye, before heading to the next one on my list.
After seeing three more places I’m beginning to give up hope.
“This is pointless,” I whine to Hollis, exiting yet another building that smelled moldy and I’m certain I saw a mouse tail disappearing around a corner. “If I’m going to live on my own in a decent place, I’m going to have to let my dad help me,” I groan.
“Is that such a bad thing?” he inquires.
“No,” I frown. “It’s not but…”I wanted to do this on my own, I finish in my head.
He stops walking and presses a finger to my lips, forcing me to stop too.
“Stop right there,” he says. “You’re thinking too much. Do you want to move into your own place?”
I nod. “I do,” I admit.
“Okay,” he lets his finger drop, “then we keep looking. The right place is out there.”
His words reassure me and I square my shoulders. He grins at the motion, clearly amused.
“I have two more places on my list for today. If these don’t work out, I’ll have to search elsewhere.”
“One of them is going to work,” he says confidently.
We fall into step side by side. My heart stutters when his fingers brush mine. I itch to reach out and grab his hand, to hold it in mine, but I know we can’t dare. Not when there are loads of people in this town who know my dad and would unknowingly let something slip.
I look up at Hollis, his strong jaw shadowed with a day’s worth of stubble, his floppy hair and eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. Dressed in a pair of jeans that hug his ass and a shirt I’m pretty sure is glued on, he commands the attention of all nearby women. I can’t blame them for looking. I would too if I saw him on the street of some random town. There’s something about his presence, too, that draws people in. It’s some sort of spark I know will help him and his band go far in this world.
I stall at the thought.
Whatever we are, whatever this is, is just starting. It’s new, with no definition, but if it continues it could become something. Then what? He won’t stay here forever. He’ll go back to L.A., to hisreallife, to promoting and concerts, to clubs and other venues, while I’ll be here doing what I always do.
