Page 177 of Movers and Shakers

Her smile fell. “I know, and I’ve been thinking a lot about how I’ve let my nerves stop me from everything. I want to see you perform, even if it’s only once.”

My first thought was that I was being pranked. This was bold, especially for her. She didn’t just get on planes and surprise me. She always stayed home.

But I wanted her to see a show of mine.

Badly.

“And you must be Juno,” Mom said.

“Nice to meet you in person,” Juno replied.

“Yes. I must apologize for my anxiety about my daughter’s secret. I should have never put that pressure on you.”

Juno’s eyes widened and she looked at me with an expression that mirrored my own feelings.

What thefuck?

“Wow, this house is beautiful,” she said. “I can’t believe I’ve never seen it.”

“H-how are you not terrified right now?”

“Oh, I am. But your dad found me a doctor who recommended some medicine to help, and it has. I want to seethispart of your life. Even if I choose to stay away from cameras.”

“Yeah, okay. We can make that happen.” Juno walked back to her list of plans. “You can ride in separately from everyone and arrive early.”

“That’s perfect.” She looked around. “Is Barry here?”

“Um, he’s home. Back in Nashville, I mean. He has a life there.”

“That’s a shame. I was hoping to meet him.”

“He’ll be flying in later today, though.”

She smiled, and it hit me that I’dneverseen her like this. What the fuck had Dad done?

My watch went off, a reminder that I had to get to the stadium and do my dress rehearsal.

“Work calls. Do you mind if Juno and I go?”

“Of course not. I’ll be here. Maybe Rose and I can get up to something tonight?”

“Yes, definitely.”

I nodded to Juno, who was waiting for me. I asked her to get another guard here in case Mom saw anyone, and she called someone in.

“So,” Juno started after we got on the road, “that was not the same woman I talked to on the phone.”

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Dad visited her after he found out what she’d done to you. Apparently, he helped.”

“We’ve gotta thank him.”

“This isn’t like him, though. He spent all of his time on traveling and avoiding responsibility. Why would he help with the family issues now?”

“Some people change. It’s best not to question it.”

“Is it?”

“Let me rephrase, it’s best not to question it when the biggest tour of your life starts in a few days.”

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