Page 63 of Movers and Shakers

I wanted to believe him, but I wasn’t sure if I could. My entire life had been making others happy, and this was making no one happy but me.

And Barry.

“Come here,” he said, and I leaned into him. His arms came around me, pulling me to him tighter. He smelled like leather and patchouli, almost like home. I’d only hugged him once when I was saying goodbye, yet it had cemented in my mind as one of the most incredible hugs I’d ever received.

“I’ve got you. I’ve always got you.”

His arms were so comfortable, but then I saw the time. “You need to be at the bar.”

“Yes, but—‍”

“No buts. It’s important to you.”

He looked pained. “I can stay.”

I shook my head. “You don’t have to. I should call my parents anyway. They should know.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“Not at all, but you have a life and I don’t want to derail it more than I have. If I need you, I’ll call you.”

“You promise?”

I nodded. “I’m fine. A hug from you can heal almost anything.”

“I do need to be sure my team’s okay, but I’ll be back as soon as the bar closes.”

“Okay. I’ll be here.”

Barry’s lips pressed to my forehead before he left the apartment. The feeling of the simple action lingered and I had to take a moment to collect myself before I pulled out my phone.

It was time to call my parents.

While I knew Mom would always be angry with Dad, she was civil, and I needed to let them know what was happening. I didn’t do joint calls very often, but I couldn’t bear to tell them separately and repeat what happened more than once.

I texted them both and waited for their reply. Mom called and then Dad did. Once they were combined, I let out a sigh of relief. “There. Now we can all talk.”

“A joint call with your mom? Is everything okay?”

“Yes, dear,” Mom said as she came on the line. “I’m worried about you.”

“I don’t even know how to start this,” I muttered. “But I’m releasing a new song tonight.”

“Oh, good!” Dad said. “What’s it about?”

“Blaze and I . . .‍” My breath quivered. “We’re over. I dumped him.”

“Really?” she asked. “I saw something had happened at your house, but I wasn’t sure if it was true.”

“What did you see?”

“That your agent was outside of your house in a blanket?”

I cringed. So someonehadseen that. I bet Perez Adder was all over that, as he was with everything in my life. The comments on that were going to bewild.

“Yeah, that’s a part of it.”

“People are all up in arms about it.”

---