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I blink at him, shocked. “Really?”
“Why not? Do you really need more time off?” He tilts his head and gives me the look that says, I already know how you’ll respond to this.
“No. I don’t. I’m ready to sing and record. I’m not ready to tour, but yes, on the music.”
“Then let’s make some music. You’re not under contract. You can do whatever the fuck you want.”
“I need to grab that package that was delivered the other day,” I say to my brother when he opens the door to his condo. “And hi, by the way.”
“Hey, come on in. The box is right here. It’s fucking heavy. What did you order?”
“Everyone told me that I need a ring light to make good videos for social media, so I ordered one of those. And while I was shopping, I found some cool notebooks, another hoodie I didn’t need, and a bag of Twizzlers.”
He blinks at me. “That’s a wide variety of shit.”
“Amazon.” I shrug. “Where’s Stella?”
“She’s out at the vineyard with her mom, Liv, and Natalie. She’s decided she wants to get married out there.”
“I don’t blame her. Liv’s wedding was gorgeous. It’s the perfect place for it. Are you still thinking about late summer?”
“Next month,” he replies, shaking his head.
“Next month?” I scowl and reach out to smack his arm. “Jesus, were you going to tell any of us?”
“She just decided yesterday.”
“Next month is in two weeks.”
“Three weeks until the wedding. She’s ready. Hell, I’m more than ready. It’s time.”
“I’m so happy for you. I love Stella. I love the entire family. They’re awesome, Gray.”
“I know. They’re big and loud and kind of crazy sometimes, but there’s never a dull moment, and I’ve never met a family like them.”
“How heavy is this box?” I squat next to it and lift it, only struggling a little. “Shit, I ordered too much.”
“Need me to carry it down for you?”
“Nah, I got it. Just get the door for me.”
Gray follows me down the hallway to get the elevator for me, too, and waves as the doors close.
“Three weeks,” I mutter. “What will I wear? I need a wine night with Stella.”
The doors open on my floor, and I step out and walk down the hall to my rental.
I have to set the box down to unlock the door, but I manage to muscle it inside. I haven’t been here in a couple of days because I’ve been staying with Keaton.
Which has been awesome, but I like having my own place, too. I’ve always been independent.
I turn up the heat a little to take the chill off and walk into the bedroom to change into yoga pants and a cropped sweatshirt.
If I’m going to perform live on an app, I need to look comfortable but still a little trendy, according to Keaton’s cousins.
I’m going to take their word for it.
I put on a little more makeup and then get to work, opening the big box with the treasures inside.
“Oh, I forgot I bought these.” I set the bag of pens I forgot all about aside and pull out the biggest bag of Twizzlers I’ve ever seen. “I guess I should read the description of things when I’m shopping online.”
The ring light is in its own box at the bottom.
And it takes me thirty minutes to figure out how to put it together.
“I hate this kind of crap,” I mutter and blow my hair out of my face. “I’m sweating, for Christ’s sake.”
I have to step back and prop my hands on my hips and catch my breath.
Who knew this would be so strenuous? I have a new respect for influencers. I’ll have to tell Sophie that the next time I see her.
Finally, after blinding myself when I turn on the light, I have everything set up the way I want it and prop my phone in the little holder thingy in the middle of the light.
“I need sunglasses,” I mutter as I turn and reach for my guitar.
When I’m all situated, I bring up the app that Sophie helped me download and get signed up for and see that I already have over a quarter-million followers.
Holy shit.
How did that happen?
I press the Live button, and while the app does its thing, I do mine, making sure my guitar is tuned just right. I glance at the phone and see that people are already commenting.
“Do I really have ten thousand people here?” I ask out loud, surprised. “Wow! Hi, everyone! Hey. This is my very first time here on the app, and I thought I’d come hang out with you all for a little while. Whoa, the comments are going really fast. Sorry, guys, I won’t be able to keep up with that. I’ll try to get better, okay?”
I smile, a little overwhelmed by the number of people already here, and then take a quick drink of water.
