Page 33 of The Duet

“So did The Lady Kings,” I say.

“Maybe, but in a totally different way.”

“You’re so full of shit, Tim,” Daphne says.

Tim ignores her and continues. “I’m just wondering if you would have recorded that song with Isabel Adler fifteen years ago. That’s all.”

“What does it even matter?” Cleo says.

“It does and it doesn’t,” Tim turns to her. “Fifteen years ago, we were fourteen years old.”

Ouch again. I should have stayed on the bus.

“We were so into The Lady Kings back then. We still are now. The Lady Kings are our beacon.” Tim fixes his gaze on me now. “That’s why it should be obvious that I mean no offense with anything I say, Lana. I—we—love you so much. You have my respect and admiration forever, but… things would have been totally different if you’d released a duet with Isabel Adler fifteen years ago. That’s all I’m saying.”

Ah, the arrogance of youth. In a way, it’s a beautiful thing.

“If Izzy had asked me back then,” I say, pushing my sunglasses up my nose, “I would have jumped at the chance to make music with her. She’s a class act. There’s no one like her. That’s my final answer.”

“It’s easy enough to say now.” Tim can’t let this go. It will be interesting to introduce him to Izzy next week.

“On the subject of this song.” I take off my sunglasses. “Cleo, can I talk to you in private for a minute?”

Admittedly, my segue isn’t as smooth as I would have liked it to be. But the bus will leave soon, and I just want a few moments alone with Cleo.

“Sure.” Cleo takes a few steps back and, together, we walk to where the buses are parked.

“Thanks for your message,” I say, successfully keeping myself from touching her.

“Sorry about Tim. I don’t know what’s with him today.”

“That’s perfectly fine. My ego isn’t that easily bruised.” Anymore.

We stop and look at each other. Even though we’ve only slept together once, there’s already so much between us. “I’d love to see you tonight. I’ll text you my room number later,” I can’t resist saying.

“Can’t wait.” Cleo digs her fists deep into her jacket pockets. “I haven’t told anyone, but it’s hard. We’re on that bus all day, and all I can think of is you and I can’t tell my friends.”

“I know. Time feels so compressed when you’re on tour and you feel so many emotions so much more intensely.” That’s probably why standing here with Cleo and not being able to touch her feels like absolute torture. “But think of Jess. You don’t want to…” You don’t want to get her into a state over something that might be nothing, I think, but don’t say. I wouldn’t mean it. Despite the heightened emotions that come with a tour, something nobody is immune to no matter how many tours you’ve been on, I know this is not nothing. “You should probably break the news to her extremely gently.”

Cleo nods. “You know what else I look forward to?” she says.

I shake my head and I can’t help myself. I take a step closer.

“Singing with you tomorrow night.” She tilts her head. “Isn’t that what we’re supposed to be talking about now, anyway?”

I nod. I glance around. As far as I can tell, no one’s looking at us. I reach for her wrist. She slides her hand out of her pocket and I take it in mine.

“That’s how it all started,” I say, threading my fingers through hers—and losing my mind a little more.

Chapter 20

Cleo

We’ve been back on the bus for an hour, but I can still feel where Lana touched her fingers against mine.

“Can we talk?” Jess has appeared out of nowhere.

“Sure.” I make room for her next to me. “What’s up?”

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