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“You know what? Don’t worry aboutit.”
It’s too late to do much more damage, and some part of his words are right—I can’t hide who I amforever.
I’m going to have to be this much more committed to being noticed on my ownterms.
“Listen,” Beck starts again, “I don’t know what’s happening with you and Ty, but Zeke put our boy onice.”
That has me payingattention.
“He promised Tyler a meeting after he slayed that show last week. But it was mysteriously canceled two days later and not rescheduled. Zeroexplanation.”
Shit.Tyler never mentionedit.
I’d never stopped to think about what my dad would do to Tyler. If my dad pulled his support or said something to Zeke to make him doubtTyler…
“The showcase will fix it,” I say, half to myself and half to Beck. “He’ll crush it, and someone smarter than Zeke will recognize how talented he is and give him achance.”
“You think so, Manatee? They might be more interested in Jax Jamieson’skid.”
It’s the validation I wanted but for the wrong reasons, and thecost…
I hate that it could cost Tyler hischance.
I hang up and find Elle behind me, arms folded. I relay what Beck toldme.
“So, your dad can say one word and Tyler’s shot is gone,” Ellecomments.
The unfairness of it has resolve hardening in my gut. “No,” I decide. “Hecan’t.”
* * *
The morning of the showcase,I wake up to atext.
Tyler:Hey, I was thinking about you last night. Not about you in my bed, though I swear I can still smell you on my pillows, and I hate the thought that it might fade before you’re back, but about how you look when we’re practicing. How strong you are. How much I believe in you. Whether today’s the start of something or the end, there’s no one I’d rather be up therewith.
Igetout of bed and stumble to the bathroom. I take a hot shower and wash my hair, letting the heat scald every inch ofme.
It’s not until I’m halfway through drying my hair that I realize what I have todo.
I send a text back toTyler.
Annie:I can’t do theshowcase.
My phone ringswhile I’m pulling onjeans.
“What happened?” Tyler’s voice is full of disbelief andconcern.
I take a steadying breath. “With everything going on with my dad, I just can’t. I’m sorry, Tyler. You have to do our song yourself. You can sing it and play it. You know it insideout.”
There’s a pause before he replies, “We need to talk aboutthis.”
“We don’t. You’ll dogreat.”
“Annie—”
I click off, squeezing the phone in my hand hard enough it leaves marks in mypalm.
The fall showcase is attended by a few thousand people. Each seat is filled by someone from industry, all of them eagerly anticipating the new crop of talent, hoping to discover the flame that will take their career to the nextlevel.
