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I woke up before her the next morning and hoped that I’d get the friendly version of her, but I knew I’d end up with the hostile one. I was sick of playing this game. If she wanted to hate me while she was sober, that was fine, but if I was going to be the one to put her back together every night, I needed to have her closer. Last night was just another example of how quickly things could spiral out of control.
I sat on the couch drinking disgusting hotel room coffee while I waited for her to get up. We stayed up talking about nothing for a long time the night before, and I had a feeling she wasn’t sleeping while she was with Bill.
I saw her hand creep across the mattress, looking for someone. Does she even remember where she slept last night? “Over here, bestie.” She groaned and threw her arm over her head. “You should call Connor so he knows where he is before breakfast arrives.”
“I think I’ll do that anywhere but here.” Hostile Cee was here.
“And I think after last night, we’re about to become inseparable. I don’t want you out of my eyesight until this tour is over,” I snapped back.
“I don’t need a babysitter, Serge.” She looked around the floor for her pants.
“Tell that to hotel management.” She cringed. “Perhaps you recall kicking a vase off a coffee table like it was a soccer ball?” The way her eyes widened suggested she did not remember that until now. “Since I’ll be footing the bill for all the things you broke last night, you’ll be sticking with me from now on.”
“If you hadn’t forced me to come on this stupid trip, you wouldn’t have these problems, would you?”
“It was a group decision. I was just the messenger.”
“Whatever. I need my notes and shit to do my job. Are you going to get them for me, or do I get to leave unattended?”
I trusted her to stay out of trouble while she was sober but wasn’t sure she’d actually stay that way if left to her own devices. “Just get whatever you need for the day and come back here.”
She scowled at me but didn’t argue. She was still wearing my shirt when she left the room. Tom and Matteo walked in as she left. “What was that all about?” Tom’s eyebrows were nearly touching his hairline.
“She tried to trash the fucking lobby last night. Beth called me to contain her,” I explained.
“Sure. Whatever.” Tom winked. “She’s wearing the shirt you had on last night.”
“Trust me, both sisters hate my guts.”
“Elle absolutely hates you. She’s hard to read, and everyone can see that,” Tom agreed. “What did you do to Cee?”
I listened to her sister. “We had a difference of opinion,” I replied simply. “What can I do for you two?” I didn’t want them in the room when Cee came back.
“We want the chisme.” Matteo picked up the room service menu from the desk.
I took the menu from his hand and put it back down. “There’s nothing to tell. She got out of control and passed out here.”
“He means with her and Bill,” Tom chimed in.
“No idea. None of my business. And you’re not going to ask either, so get lost,” I grumbled.
“Whoa. Didn’t mean to piss you off. Just trying to decide if we have to tread lightly with the Sparrows today,” Matteo explained.
“Why? Did I miss something last night?”
“Just some hushed conversations between Bill and Connor. Seemed a bit sus,” Tom answered.
“If I hear anything you should know, I’ll tell you.” I ushered them to the door and opened it, revealing both room service and Cee. “I’ll meet you two downstairs in an hour.”
Cee walked into the room, followed by the room service attendant. I tipped the staff member, and she left. Cee had made herself comfortable on the bed, paperwork spread out around her. “I ordered you fruit, toast, and coffee,” I informed her, holding the plate out to her.
She didn’t look up from her work. “I’m not hungry.”
“I don’t care. Eat.” I was in no mood for her obstinate behavior. She pulled the plate from my grasp with a jerk and the toast slid off the plate into her lap. Huffing in frustration, she picked up one piece and took a large, dramatic bite. “You wanna tell me what’s going on?”
“We’re in Cleveland. Scheduled to be on the buses by noon to travel to Detroit. It’ll take roughly three hours. You’ll do a series of radio interviews. No show tonight.” Cee rattled off the schedule as if that’s what I was asking for.
“Christ, you are a pain in my ass. Let’s try that again, shall we? What’s the deal with Bill?”
