Page 21 of Second Chance at Us

I imagined the headlines: “Rock star silences his fans” or “Famous singer advocates censorship.” I hated that I even had to think this way, but I had been in the public eye long enough to know that anything could be used against me. No, I would need to make a statement. It was the only way to clear up this mess.

I pulled up my email and sent off a quick message to my publicist:

Hey Andrea,

Can you draft a statement for me? The music last night wasn’t meant to be an announcement of any solo career. It was just me playing around with some new music in what I thought was a safe space. Would love a statement to send to all these people requesting interviews.

Thanks,

Callum

There—one problem down. I knew Andrea would create something to fend off the hungry sharks of the media. At least for a little while. I sighed. I had never been so glad to have a media team that could handle things like this!

With this problem on the way to being solved, my worries about Darcy floated back to the surface. Had I given her the impression I didn’t want something serious? It was possible. After all, if Liz had asked me just a few months ago if I wanted to find a relationship this summer, I would have laughed in her face. But lately, I had been feeling the urge to settle down. And the presence of Darcy wouldn’t leave my mind.

Year after year, relationship after relationship, Darcy was the girl I had never stopped thinking about. In my last year of high school, only weeks before heading off to college, I had thought we might finally have our chance. I took Darcy on a date, beaming the entire time to have her on my arm. But it hadn’t worked out. Darcy had shown me she wasn’t interested in me in that way.

Just like now, I told myself. Darcy was making it clear she saw last night as a one-off event. She didn’t want anything more with me. But did Darcy really know me? Sure, she knew the rock star she saw in magazines, a carefully curated image my media team perpetuated. But would she feel the same way if she knew the real Callum Jones?

I threw my coffee cup in the trash with renewed energy. I could get to know Darcy and, in turn, she would get to know me. Darcy would see that I wasn’t the person she thought I was. And then, if she still wanted nothing to do with me, I could walk away. At least I would have given it my best shot.

Feeling more energized than I had all morning, I left the park and took off down Main Street until I reached my destination. With a slight smirk, I pushed through the door of Dream Home Realty.

“What are you doing here?” Liz asked. She sat at her desk with a pen in her mouth, flipping through a folder of papers.

“Alright, we got the contract.” Darcy emerged from the copy room, looking down at the contract in her hands.

“We have a visitor!” Liz announced.

I saw Darcy flip into realtor mode, a huge smile on her face as she prepared to welcome a new client. But then she saw me standing in the doorway. I tried not to feel insulted as the smile dropped quickly from her face.

“What are you doing here?” Darcy asked. It was curt and cold, a clear indication she was not happy to see me.

“Wow, Darcy,” Liz said, responding to the harshness in her friend’s tone. “Can’t the man come by to say hi to his sister?”

I watched Darcy relax her face. At least she wasn’t scowling at me anymore.

“Sorry,” she muttered. Darcy crossed to her desk and kept her eyes on the paperwork in front of her. It seemed she was resigned to ignore me.

“Who knew your concert would make such a stir?” Liz said as I took a seat in one of the chairs set up across from her desk. I dropped down with a groan when I heard her words.

“Don’t remind me,” I said. “This whole thing is getting blown way out of proportion.”

“Might be a good time to capitalize,” Liz said. “Seems like all your fans are ecstatic over the idea!”

“I’m not sure my bandmates are so excited.”

“Yeah, but they’ll get over it. Haven’t you been thinking about going out on your own?”

“Sure,” I said. “But not in any serious way. It’s just something I like to daydream about.”

I let my eyes slide over to Darcy’s desk. I wondered if she was listening to us. I secretly hoped she was. Anything to let Darcy see the real me.

“So, look,” I said, standing up. I made a slow cross to Darcy’s desk, hoping to draw her attention. I was pleased to see her look up at me, her eyebrows raised.

“I’ve been thinking about some property.”

“Really?!” I heard Liz squeal from the other side of the room. I inwardly groaned at my sister. I needed her to be quiet right now. This conversation was meant for Darcy, and Liz’s interjections would only complicate it.

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