Page 141 of Goodbye Note

Varian: That’s really good!

Arik: It is.

Our conversation felt so sanitized.

Forced even.

Varian: Can you talk?

I hit the video call button since we were waiting for our opening band to go off.

He answered and immediately smiled. “I missed your face. I had to see you.”

“I missed yours.” This was easier than texting. It almost felt like he was next to me. “What time is it there?”

“Almost two in the morning.”

“Why are you awake?” I frowned, not wanting him to miss sleep. He needed it more than me.

“We just got out of the arena. The festival was packed, and we were the headliners, so we played until almost midnight, and then our bus was slammed with fans. No idea how that got out, but we had to have the parking lot cleared to get to it.” He looked exhausted. There were dark circles under his eyes and even tiny lines from stress.

“That bad?”

He nodded. “It’s getting worse every day.”

“Maybe that’s a good sign. They are ready for your next record.”

He scrunched up his face. “I think it’s gossip about us.”

“All press is good press.” I had to stay positive. What else could we hold on to? “I’m sure it’s the music. People aren’t obsessed enough to stand outside half the night looking for their favorite band just for a ship.”

“I don’t think you fully know what we are dealing with, but I’ll give you they are super fans.” Varian softened a little.

I smiled, wanting to cheer him up before he slept. “See. You’re going to be even bigger. It’s going to launch you to the next solar system over.”

“Why do you always know what to say to make me happy?”

“Because I love you.” I grinned, giving him both dimples because I knew he liked it.

“Fuck, I wish I could kiss your dimples right now.”

“Come here and get them,” I taunted, like he could hop on a plane and be here in time. If only the planet weren’t so big.

“I would trade my sun and all the stars to do just that, Stardust.”

I basked in the glow of his words. “Right after you finish this leg. It won’t be long.”

Another six weeks, but who’s counting?

“Tell me what your journal post from today means?”

I closed one eye, trying to remember what I wrote. “I honestly don’t even remember what it says.” I laughed, finding it more amusing than he did.

“Really?”

“It’s just a journal post. What I’m feeling in that hour, that minute. Poetry. Random thoughts. Things I’ve written in my notes. Kiernan wants me to keep doing them because he said it’s developed a cult following. I guess the traffic is ‘wild,’ or so he says.”

“They want inside your head as much as I do. I don’t blame them. But it’s mine.”

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