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Without a warning, Sweets hugs me, clinging to my neck like a drowning woman to a buoy. I put my hands on her shoulders just for enough time to assure her, and gently push her away from me when I see Miss Trouble approaching me from the other side.
“What did I miss?” Lily asks, amused by the scene before her eyes.
“I was just telling Sweets she’s in good hands,” I say, tapping Sweets’ shoulder. “You both are.”
Lily grabs a towel from the rack nearby and smiles from ear to ear, noticing I’m walking on eggs shells.
With the towel to her forehead, she wraps her free arm around my back, pasting her body against mine just enough to let Sweets know this is her territory.
“He’s awesome, isn’t he?” Lily says before kissing me.
Sweets seems mortified and leaves our side for the stage without a single word. And Lily, all the while, laughs in silence, hiding her mouth behind a hand.
“You didn’t have to go that far,” I say, half a plead, half embarrassed.
She just giggles from behind her hand. Then she lets me go and fetches herself a bottle of water. “Where’s Sandra?”
“I’ve left her right here…” I say jokingly as I look in my pocket.
After Lily giggles, I continue, “Now seriously, I don’t know. She was with me just a second ago. She’s probably trying to find a way to open that damn envelope without us knowing.”
Lily widens her eyes “What did she say about it?”
I start to walk, accompanying Lily towards her dressing room. “Nothing much. Moral lesson, yadda-yadda. ‘I want to open this,’ blah, blah.”
She shakes her head, “I’m guessing that’s going to be everyone’s reaction.”
We take a corner backstage, and then go up a set of stairs where all the dressing rooms are. There’s already security posted there, and they greet me with a quiet, “Hello, boss,” or simple nods.
Lily’s room is simply furnished and yet very cozy: a carpet, some lounge chairs, a table for food and drink and a dresser with a large mirror, where all her makeup items are stored.
There’s also her clothes’ rack near the entrance to her private bathroom, where all her show garments are on display, short dresses and boots all around, driving my imagination crazy.
“I’m going to take a shower and stay around here,” Lily informs me, heading for the bathroom. “Are you going back to the hotel?”
“I have to if I want to get in a suit,” I say vaguely, following her inside, where she’s already disposing of her t-shirt and shorts. “But I have some better ideas…”
She looks at me with devious eyes, with anticipation of what’s to come. I lock the door, remove my shirt, and go help her with her underwear so we can hop in the shower.
Chapter Twenty-Three
LILY
Wehadthreeshowsin Tampa, then we moved to New Orleans. Despite everything, I’m having a blast and don’t want it to end. I just hope Bartleby is caught soon so the tour can keep on going without any hassle.
I perform my show. The boys shine, but the legion of fans in front of us shines even brighter.
“Thank you so much for being here!” I yell at the end of the performance, “You have no idea what this means. Let’s not let fear rule our lives!”
The crowd roars and shouts my name; it vibrates through the stadium with a bone chilling effect. The band plays the last chords and comes forward to take a bow with me, and we leave the stage under thundering applause.
My first instinct is to find Brody but Sweets’ hand finds me first. For somebody who had barely been speaking to me, she shocks me by hugging me and burying her face in my hair.
“You’re so courageous,” she says. “You’re getting way more popular than me, and I still hate you for it, but you’re so brave that I’m not afraid anymore.”
I pull back to look at her. Sweets comes across as an insecure and frail girl, but sincere in her thoughts and actions, enough to warm my heart and rekindle my admiration for her.
“Oh, stop! I’m the one who looks up to you!” I say, full of smiles.
