Page 149 of Goodbye Note

“That’s good!”

I nodded. “You coming really helped.”

“I hate this cold turkey shit. It sucks. I don’t want to quit you.” He grinned.

“Arik. I need to talk to you,” Kiernan’s voice asked next to the curtain.

“Give me a second.” I dropped my voice. “And here comes the wet blanket.”

“What’s going on?” Varian asked.

“Kiernan needs to talk to me.”

“Want me to stay on the phone?” Varian asked.

“If you want to hear, you can.”

“I do—shit, no, I got to go finish this tour. Text me about it, okay?”

“I will. I love you.” I hung up and got out of my bunk, pulling a tee on. “What?”

“What did you two do in your little twenty-four hours?” Kiernan had his arms crossed.

“Nothing.”

“Did you go anywhere?” he asked, like he was accusing me of a crime.

“First off, I’m a fucking adult. The way you’re talking to me is so out of pocket after I’ve done everything you, the label, and the publicist have asked.”

“I’m not trying to—” Kiernan made a frustrated sound and shoved a hand into his hair. “That’s not how I mean it. I just want to know what the damage is.”

“What are the photos even of? We didn’t leave the fucking hotel room until we went to the airport and both got on fucking red-eyes.” Why couldn’t we do anything without it causing an issue?

“I just got a heads-up from your publicist that there are photos for sale, and they are asking if you want to comment. They are being tight-lipped on what they are. Maybe it’s nothing just to get a comment, but considering they know Varian was in the country…”

“Fuck.” I linked my hands behind my neck. “We were backstage, in a car, then in the hotel, and we went in the back and up a service elevator. I cannot imagine what there can be pictures of.”

“You didn’t have dinner in the hotel? Go on a walk?”

I shook my head. “We did not leave the room. We ordered food, and I got it so more people weren’t seeing Varian.”

Kieren was quiet for a minute. “Someone must have seen you, then camped out until you left.”

“What do you want me to do? Live like a fucking caged animal? I was as careful as possible.”

My phone buzzed.

Varian: There are pictures. Is that what Kiernan wanted?

Arik: Yep. I’m getting the third degree, like I’ve done something fucking wrong.

Varian: John is being nice about it, but I can tell he’s not happy.

Arik: At least he’s treating you like an adult with free will.

Varian: He’s probably getting less pressure than Kiernan is getting.

Varian: Give him a break. I’m sure he doesn’t want to be the dick that has to pull this shit.

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