Page 55 of Take What You Want

“We don’t have any other roommates, do we?”

“Is that what we are? Roommates?”

I scoop the eggs and bacon on my own plate before turning around and setting it on the opposite side of the island from her. “For now.”

She arches a brow and I smile at her. I’ve never been much of a morning person, but since having Jane here and learning her schedule, I’ve been making an effort to get up earlier so we havemore time together. She’s an early riser and has been out of the door as the sun is coming up. I know she’s doing it to try to make a good impression with Arun.

She doesn’t need it. He already told me how well she’s been connecting with his clients and the trust a lot of them already feel in her.

“Thanks for cooking,” she says as she surveys the plate. “Again.”

“No problem,” I say, grabbing a strip of bacon and devouring it in two bites. “Sleep good?”

She moans around a bite of toast and I grit my teeth at the sound. “So good. I’m going to take that mattress with me when I’m out of here.”

“Never,” I say, hoping she catches the double meaning. “Do you have any meetings today?”

“Nope. I think Arun’s too tied up with your show tonight to want anything else filling up the team’s calendar.”

The back of my neck grows hot thinking about it.

“Are you excited?” Jane asks cautiously, sensing my shift in mood.

I take a sip of coffee to buy myself a moment. Of course I’m excited to be back onstage for the first time in months. It’s where I’ve always felt safe, confident, at home.

But it’s also the first show I’m doing without my best friends by my side. Who am I onstage without their presence boosting my own?

“I am,” I finally say. “Nervous though, too. It’s been a while. I might be a little rusty.”

She waves me off. “You’ll be amazing. Performing has never been an issue for you.”

“But that was when I was with the guys. With Kerra? I don’t know.”

The show is an intimate pop-up show for the two of us to perform our new single before it officially releases next week. There’s a party before and after the performance as well.

Jane’s tone noticeably cools at the mention of Kerra. “Sure the music performance is the only one you’re nervous about?”

“Jane—”

She stands, the barstool scraping loudly against the floor. “Sorry, it’s not my place. You did what you needed to do for your career.”

“It’s not permanent. It’s just while this single is launched and a few months after to keep the buzz going.” I still don’t know if telling Arun to agree to the PR relationship with Kerra was the right move. I went back and forth, using every single minute of my deadline to think it over, but ultimately, I agreed.

I can’t let this new solo career fail before it’s even started. The fear of people not caring about me as an individual artist outside of the success of Whisper Me Nothings has grown more consuming as time goes on.

If I don’t have music, I don’t know how to breathe.

So if putting on a performance with Kerra on and offstage is what I need to do to ensure the boost I need at the start here, it’s what I need to do.

Jane rinses her plate and loads it into the dishwasher. “I have a few errands I need to run, so I’ll be out of your hair for a bit.”

“Do you want to ride with me to the show tonight?”

She shifts on her feet, her pink slippers a bright pop of color against the light, cool-toned floors. “That’s alright. I don’t want to hold you up. I’ll meet you there.”

I open my mouth to protest, to try to convince her otherwise, but I shut it and nod. I’m just happy she’s coming at all.

Arun advised against inviting Reid, Walker, or Hayden to show as they would be a distraction and going against the new solo image we’re trying to create for myself. But I neededsomeone there to support me. Someone to lean on. Someone to look out into the crowd and find that sense of peace in the chaos.

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