Page 20 of Beyond the Bright Lights

Ugh.

With all the phones pointed his way, this little performance will surely be all over the internet by tonight.

“You better let that boy fuck you.”

“Ginger,” I gasp.

She puts her hands on her hip and bobs her head at me.

Bitch.

“How long has it been?”

Double bitch.

“That’s what I thought.”

Triple bitch.

“He’s too young, case closed.”

“Permission to revisit evidence?”

“Denied.”

“Lanaaaaaa,” Ginger whines. “I’m not talking about a relationship. Just have a little fun for once.”

I sigh and focus on pouring a beer so Ginger can’t see the fear in my eyes.

“I can’t. Not when I'm about to reopen my healed wounds. Not when I'm about to grieve Tyler again.”

After Mylan got my phone number and left this morning, Ginger barged in and demanded I spill. So, I told her everything. I told her I agreed to help Mylan with the role, and she was thrilled. She thinks this will be the closure I need to move on with my life. Now I'm wondering if she's trying to play matchmaker with the two of us.

“I get it. I do, but I'm telling you, the way that boy looks at you just . . . go into this with an open heart. You deserve love again, even if that love comes in the form of a summer fling with a Hollywood hottie.” She pauses and takes a deep breath, her voice shaky when she speaks again. “You’re my best friend and you deserve the world and beyond. I hope you know that.”

“Don’t you dare make me cry again Ginger Ann Cartwright.”

She pulls me into a hug, only releasing me because I squeeze her side, making her squeal. Payback for getting emotional with me in public.

Mylan’s song ends and the crowd goes wild. I swear the constant cheers for this man are driving me crazy.

“Okay, that was badass,” Harkin says and gives Mylan a bro-worthy handshake. He turns back to the swooning bar-goers. “Mylan Andrews everyone!”

Mylan opts to hop off the stage instead of taking the stairs this time, and he’s escorted through the mass of people by Bruno and the two officers.

“Now that the king has performed,” Harkin purrs into the mic. “Time for our queen to take the throne and show us how it’s done. Lana?”

I don’t receive celebrity-level applause, and I couldn't care less. I have no need to feed off attention like this cocky fool sitting back in his seat in front of the taps.

“Your majesty.” Mylan raises an eyebrow at me. A challenge, daring me to do it better.

Oh. Two can play this game.

Brat, brat, brat.

Chapter 6 - Mylan

What a rush. I wasn’t sure if it was the crowd pulsing with excitement and feeding me the adrenaline to sing and dance on stage as if I'm headlining a sold-out concert, or maybe it was the way Lana’s cheeks reddened as I sang directly to her. She tried to fight a smile, but I saw it spread beautifully across that stubborn little face of hers.

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