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Allison:I think you should at least talk to Vince. You work together. It’s not healthy to avoid him like this.
I groan and shove a handful of complimentary trail mix into my mouth. Allison’s right, but confronting Vince would be unbelievably painful.
When Vince’s pants dry, the leather constricts. He walks stiffly onstage and tries his best only to move his torso. He’s moving like Gumby, and it’s a bit funny, but I still feel like shit.
Las Vegas, NV.
One week later.
Our final show of the tour is in Las Vegas. The band’s been doing this for decades.
However, their jaws still drop when they walk into the opulent hotel, taking in the kaleidoscope of colors and sounds provided by the chic chandeliers illuminating the slot machines below.
“Vegas, Baby!” Priya hoots.
Henry and Apollo high-five
I try to lose myself in the magic of Vegas. Instead, I lose $20 on a slot machine shaped like a cowboy boot and eat some lukewarm fried shrimp at a buffet.
Vince still won’t look me in the eye. Instead, he buddies up with Henry, and they play poker for hours.
I checked my phone and saw that someone had left a voicemail. I slip away to listen. It’s the repair shop. The bus will finally be ready next week, a week after tour ends.
“Great,” I mumble. I lean back against the rococo-patterned wall and sink onto the floor, shoving my head in my hands. I think back to how excited I was when I first got this job.
The Lyndsey from five months ago would be laughing in my face right now. She’d tell me that she was right; tour-mances never end well.
I don’t know why I thought Vince and I were different, that we could make it work, when I’ve seen dozens of my friends in the industry fall prey to the same heartbreaks.
“Not a poker fan?” Priya asks when she spies me hiding in the hall.
“Nah, gambling’s not my thing.”
“Mine, either. But you look glum. What’s wrong?”
“I can’t stop thinking about Vince,” I admit. I wait for a beat and wait for Priya to ask me why I can’t make it work, like how my mom and Allison have been pestering me.
Instead, she sits beside me on the floor and pulls me into a hug, letting me rest my head on her shoulder. Her silk blouse is soft against my cheek.
“The two of you did a number on each other.”
“Yeah,” I mumble.
“But I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I think it shows how much you care about each other. And I know for a fact that Vince still cares about you.”
“Does he, though?”
“He’s not the most articulate guy, but he doesn’t look at just anyone the way he looks at you. I’d be a massive hypocrite if I told you to give him another chance. If Vince isn’t your cup of tea, welcome to the club. So, I’ll leave it at this: You never know what can happen with someone until you give them a chance.”
“Thanks, Priya.”
“Anytime, love. Now, let’s get ready to rock.”
I’m printing out the final tour setlist when someone knocks on the greenroom door. Apollo and the guys are already backstage, so it’s just Priya and me.
“I’ll get it!” Priya says abruptly, though she’s in the middle of putting on her earrings for tonight.
Priya hops up and opens the door. Only then do I hear a familiar voice.
