Page 46 of Songs for Libby

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I was on my computer when a message popped up from Naomi.

Naomi: You need to see this.

Attached was a link to an article with the title “Sean Amity Finishes Rehab. Now What?”

My stomach dropped and I clicked on the link. I didn’t bother reading the article, knowing that all the pertinent information would be in the video.

Footage of Sean leaving the center in a baseball cap and big sunglasses filled the screen as a news anchor did a voice-over.

“Singer Sean Amity was released from a substance abuse recovery center today after a four-week stay. He entered into the program after being hospitalized for what is assumed to be a substance overdose.”

The camera zoomed in on Randy as he directed Sean into a waiting car. “Sean’s manager, Randy Michaelson, was there as he was released, and some sources have indicated that Sean’s mother has been a regular visitor during his recovery. However, the question on many fan’s minds is about this woman.”

A photo of me filled the screen. Scarf over my head. Giant sunglasses in place.

“Though she hasn’t been identified and it’s clear she tries to hide her face and change her look whenever she’s around him, stories are surfacing of this same woman being present during many of the singer’s drinking binges.” Photo after photo of me with Sean popped up as the voice-over continued. “While some claim she encourages his drinking, or is the cause of it, most reports indicate that she only appears when this derelict celebrity needs to be escorted away from his bad habits.”

A short clip of me in jeans, t-shirt, and baseball cap played, the view blocked by several of Sean’s security guys, but still showing my attempts to walk a stumbling Sean out of a dive bar he had found in the middle of the night about five months ago.

“Some even call her his guardian angel, but if that’s the case, then why isn’t the mysterious woman there with him now?”

The reporter went on with more information and speculation about Sean, his stay, and what this meant for his career.

When the clip ended, I leaned back and pressed the heels of my hands against my eyes.

This was the first time that any significant news piece had focused on me. I’d managed to stay under the radar because of my limited contact with him as well as the ability I’d honed of blending in and not causing a scene. There’d been pictures of me, but I’d always been unnamed and unimportant.

Now that they’d collected so many different photos and realized they were all the same person, I knew it wouldn’t be long before one of our old school friends identified me.

That was fine. It would be a pain for a while, but now that I was out of contact with Sean, they’d lose interest soon enough.

I would need to tell Jonas though. And soon, before people started sending him photos and asking if he knew his girlfriend was friends with Sean Amity.

♪♫♪

Luckily, our plans for the evening consisted of staying in and eating food, so when Jonas came over, I delayed the food making and made him sit on the couch with me.

“How much do you know about Sean Amity?” No use beating around the bush.

“Um,” he said with a confused smile. “He’s a singer. I like a lot of his songs. Why? Did you want to go to a concert?” he asked, as if ready to pull out his phone and book tickets right now if I said yes.

“No, but thank you.” I pulled my feet up onto the couch, trying to hide my nerves behind a casual facade. “He recently got out of rehab.”

“Checking that off of the old rockstar bucket list, huh?”

My heart ached. “Unfortunately.”

He noticed my despondence and turned more fully toward me. “What’s up?”

“You know the friend who was always getting into trouble?” I unlocked my phone and tapped into my photos.

“Yeah…” he dragged the word out, obviously curious.

I pulled up a photo of Sean and me then handed him the phone. “Sean Amity is the friend.”

He reached for the phone slowly, his eyes on me, his brow pressed down, then finally broke his gaze to look down at the photo. His eyes widened. “Wow…how old were you here?”