Page 254 of Rock Me All Night
I hold the phone to my chest and take three deep breaths. Each is less calming than the one before it.
I bring the phone back to my ear. "Maybe it would be better if I didn't work at your company. I don't want anyone to resent me for being the boss's daughter."
"Kara, sweetie. Everyone loves you. Everyone wants you there."
I fight my desire to backpedal, to apologize and promise I'll do whatever it takes for her to feel better.
"You'll be great," she says. "We can talk more over break. I have a meeting in a few minutes." Her voice stays dead. "I love you, sweetie. I'm so proud of you for finishing your degree."
"Thanks." I back into the concrete wall of the studio. "I'll talk to you later."
I hang up the phone without waiting for her reply.
She sounds miserable.
How can I add to that?
I shove my phone back into my purse. Two weeks until spring break. I'll figure something out. Somehow.
The entrance to the practice space is around back. I make my way through the alley. The music gets louder. It's unmistakable. That's Sinful Serenade and that's Drew playing.
The door is open a few inches. No sounds except the music. But, then, this song is the last in their second set and it's almost over. Not that I have their setlist memorized.
I wait until the song's outro and I step inside.
Eyes turn my way. Pete looks worried. Miles frowns. Tom shakes his head as if to saygreat, someone is throwing gasoline on the fire.
And there's no describing the look on Drew's face. Happy and smug and impatient all at once.
Meg is sitting in the corner with a giant textbook in her lap. She waves at me. It seems she's the only person here who isn't expecting something explosive.
Drew and his ex must have been more of a train wreck than he's let on.
Or maybe the expression on my face is more tortured than I think it is.
"Hey, Kara," Miles says. "How was the drive?"
"Fine, thanks."
Tom glances at his watch. "You want to take five, loverboys?"
Death glare from Drew. Of course. I guess the idea of us together, really together, is still awful to him.
So that answers the wholedoes he actually like me or just like fucking mequestion.
Drew pulls his guitar over his head. "Give it a rest, all right?"
Tom shrugs as if to saywho me?"Not everything is about you. I was speaking to Miles and Pete."
Pete rolls his eyes. "Make it ten. I'm going to get a drink." He motions to me and Meg. "You two want anything?"
"Iced tea." Meg looks at me as if to ask, you too?
I nod.
"Green for me and black for Kara."
"You buying my girl drinks?" Miles asks.
