Page 17 of Knot Their Opening Act

“Viv. Fucking shit. This is a nightmare.”

Her face is ash grey and she has reddish bags under her eyes. She’s practically spilling out of her maternity top which is clearly way too small, even though I helped her pick it out only three weeks ago. Her hair’s in the messiest of buns, and she looks over it.

Then I realize she’s crying.

“Oh my God, Jez, I am so, so sorry. I’m so pissed at myself for missing your calls earlier. Manuel took me to A&E. The other two were at work but he was working from home.”

A&E? My stomach lurches. Maybe alcohol was a terrible idea. “What’s happened? Are you okay?”

She shakes her head and covers her mouth. “I don’t know. I felt worse than ever. I had the worst heartburn of my life, and a migraine. The meds didn’t sort it out and I can’t take anything stronger, at least not without the midwives’ approval. So Manuel took me in. They’re sending me for an ultrasound tomorrow because I’ve also had sharp pains.”

“Oh, Jesus. Viv. Why can’t they just do it now?”

She takes a settling breath, and almost smiles, hand rubbing her belly. “You know what they’re like. Anyhow. I feel better for having seen you. And the heartburn medication’s kicking in. But it was so scary, it wasn’t like anything I’ve felt so far, all at once.”

I nod slowly. “I wish I was there for you. This is the worst timing—this tour?—”

I trail off. I want to tell her everything that’s just happened, but is this the best time? No, it fucking isn’t. I prop the phone against a bowl of fruit on the coffee table and pull a hairband from my handbag and tie up my sweaty hair.

“What time’s the ultrasound?”

“8:30 tomorrow morning.”

“Okay,” I say. ”Call me right after, if you can. As soon as you can. We’re in Edinburgh tomorrow night, and then down to Leeds the next day. Maybe I’ll still see you in London on Friday?”

She bites her pale lip. God, I want to wave a wand and take the nausea and sickness away from her and deal with it myself. She’s been really struggling, and I’m already feeling gross so it seems only fair just one of us has to suffer. “I hope so, Jez,” she says in a small voice. “I’m so sorry.”

“All right, missy. We need to agree right now, no more apologizing to the other about not being there for them. Because this is the hand we’re dealt. We’re getting amazing things out of this time apart—you’re bringing three boys into the world, and I’m bringing—ah?—”

“Your music to a whole new set of fans who are going to love and appreciate your art and your passion and your gorgeousness,” she finishes, her voice of encouragement, even exhausted, is always a sweet song to my ears.

“No, you,” I say, my usual response to her heaping praise on me.

I raise the Champagne glass, realize its empty, and suddenly am hyper aware of my thighs rubbing against each other. But I feel no slick. And no other signs of the heat, really.

AmI in heat? Or was I more likely just imagining it because of the adrenaline and emotions and who knows what other chemicals flinging around the inside of my body? I just had acrazy-ass experience.Opening night of a four-month tour, with Fable on Fire.

“Is Manuel still with you?”

“Of course,” she says, a cheerful grin now returning to her colorless face. “He said he won’t go to sleep until the others get home. He’s been amazing.”

Viv met her pack less than a year ago, and they’ve never gone wrong so far in my book. I’m grateful my best friend has such a loyal bunch of Alphas around her. But sometimes the jealousy of the time they’ll have with her that I now lose is real. I don’t crave a pack, but sometimes, late at night, I get lonely.

But I don’t tell her that.

I clear my throat. “I have some news.”

“Oh, shit! How did tonight go? Your set’s over now, isn’t it?” I hold up the Champagne glass for her to see until it fills the screen. She claps and gasps. “It went well?”

I pull it away and set it on the coffee table. “I think so. I mean, better than I expected. There were three fans in the front holding signs for me. I gave them picks afterwards. They were really sweet. Apart from them and the guy shouting for Fable, I didn’t really hone in on anyone else, you know? I tried to just play like it was a one-off show, and like everyone in the crowd was there for me. That’s all I could focus on.”

“And it worked, it sounds like! WOOHOOO!” she shouts, her voice screeching through the phone. I hear Manuel in the background.

“Oi, thought you were resting?” but he sounds amused.

“It’s Viv, Manny!” she calls over her shoulder.

“Oh shit, tell her congratulations and we’ll see her in London!”

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