Page 104 of Goodbye Note

“Labels have whole departments to help with this shit. They have all the contacts, and touring is the best way to promote the album.” Serafin put a hand on my shoulder. “This is what you wanted.”

“It is. I’m just…” Imagining how my parents would react when I dropped out and then didn’t apply to law school. “Who are we even touring with?”

“They haven’t worked out opening bands yet.”

I stopped. “Say that again.”

Ser turned to look at me but didn’t find me and had to turn around to find where I’d frozen. He started laughing. “We’re headlining our own tour.”

“You’re fucking with me.”

“He’s not, and we are getting a better bus!” Kiernan called.

I shoved my hands into my hair, feeling like the only one having an honest reaction to this news. “What the fuck has happened?”

“Your number one single and your album sales! Get used to it. You guys are gonna be superstars.” Kiernan yelled without breaking stride.

I turned to find Varian. “Can you believe this?”

“I told you.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, probably so he didn’t pull me into a hug.

“What the fuck do I do? It doesn’t feel real.”

“We should celebrate.”

“How?” I asked, unable to contain my smile.

“Tattoos! And drugs.” Varian got a glint in his eyes.

“That’s every day. Well, not the tattoos, but the drugs.” I had to laugh.

“No, we should do something more fun. Like Molly or X.”

I kicked at some dandelions, sending the white seeds exploding all over. “Have you—um—ever done drugs like that?”

“I have. Have you?”

I shook my head, feeling like the most innocent twenty-one-year-old ever. “No.”

His mouth spread into a bigger grin. “Will you let me break your cherry, then?”

THIRTY

VARIAN

“It should be easier to get drugs on a fucking festival ground.” I pulled at the Saniderm covering my tattoo. We’d gotten our ink, but we couldn’t find any harder drugs to save our lives.

“Everyone’s broke at this point.”

“How? They are selling merch. Isn’t everyone flush by now?” I decided to peel off the bandage since the itch was getting to me.

“Most of that goes to gas and laundry and shit unless they are raking it in. Not everyone is killing it like we are.” Val tossed his controller aside and leaned forward to watch as I revealed the tattoo.

“Bro…” Vallen shook his head. “Bit obvious, don't you think?”

“Obvious of what?”

“It’s a little ghost carrying stars. You don’t think everyone is going to instantly going to relate it to Arik.”

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