Page 153 of Movers and Shakers

“Rose, you don’t need to give everything to make others happy.”

“I don’t know how to stop.”

“You can start by letting your dad handle this for now and focusing on the tour.”

“What if he messes up or it gets worse?”

“That hasn’t happened yet,” he said. “And we can’t live our lives thinking about what isn’t happening.”

He was right. I knew he was. It wasn’t even like I wanted to worry about everyone else. I just did.

Taking a shaky breath, I nodded. I wanted to be better.

“Okay, I’ll focus on the tour for now.”

“Good, the guys said we needed to be there at one, and judging by how awful LA traffic is, we probably should get ready.”

Barry

“You did amazing today,” I told Lila, but I knew words weren’t enough to describe how she moved onstage. We weren’t even on the real one where she’d be performing, but she owned the small practice theater like she was made to be here. Her strong voice was undisturbed by however she moved and she had energy for days.

“I was off in a few ways,” she said, “but it wasn’t bad.”

“Off? You were perfect.”

“There were a few notes that I messed up.”

“You’re way too hard on yourself.”

“But it makes me better.” She gave me a bright smile. “That’s how I keep doing this.”

“Lila,” Justice said as she walked up. “Have I told you howgreatit is that you found a stand-in? Thank you for being here, Barry.”

I liked Justice. She’d taken my temporary help with a smile and rolled with it.

“You’re welcome,” I replied.

“And I bet you have a good voice. I can just tell.”

“He does,” Lila said, nodding.

“So good that maybe he could perform ‘On This Night’?”

I blinked. I thought I’d never perform it again. That had been a one-time thing, and I wasn’t even named.

“That song isn’t on the tour for a reason,” Lila said.

“People will love to hear it.”

“I can’t perform it by myself.”

Justice gestured to me.

“But I’m just here for a short time.”

“Maybe you can make an appearance. Without the hat, you could be a real presence onstage.”

I glanced at Lila, whose eyes were wide. I knew why it couldn’t happen but hoped it somehow could. I loved the stage at Movers and Shakers and knew I would love this one too.

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