Page 31 of Starstruck
Isa is good at reading people, and she did say he asked for my number, but if he did write it about me…what would that mean?
“If you say so, Is.” I sigh. “Is the song good at least?”
My laptop dings as the question falls from my lips. I shift my attention toward it as she nods, her smile growing.
“You know I’m not the biggest fan of his music typically, but ye?—”
“Hold that thought,” I interrupt, holding a finger up to stop her as I scan the subject of the email that just landed in my inbox:Benefit concert cancellation.
No.This can’t be happening.
My eyes go wide, and my shoulders tense as I click rapidly on the email.
“Everything okay?” Isa asks as she leans forward, noticing my change in body language.
I simply shake my head as I begin to read the email from SON!C’s manager.
Lennon —
Hate to tell you this, but SON!C can’t do the benefit concert after all. Another opportunity has come up that same weekend and it’s one they just can’t say no to—one they’ll be getting paid for. They send their apologies and hope you can understand. I know your parents would.
Best of luck,
Jason Grove, Artist Manager
156 Bloor St. E., Toronto, M4W 0A2
Oh, you’vegotto be fucking kidding me.
“Not in the slightest.”
[12 ]
HOLD STEADY
LENNON
“CRY FOR HELP” BY DAUGHTRY
“What the hell am I going to do now?” I cry as my ears start ringing, my breathing accelerating.
Isa rounds my desk, bending down next to my chair. “Lenny, just breathe.”
I drop my head into my hands, barely registering as Isa shifts so she can read the email. Taking quick breaths, I glance up to reread it, too, unable to believe the words are really on the screen in front of me.
What pisses me off is that SON!C has been known to do this in the past, but for some reason, I believed they wouldn’t do it to me. With how close they were to my parents, it just seemed like a given that they’d do itdespitethe fact that they aren’t getting paid.
Andthatpisses me off even more.
“Lennon, you need to take a deep breath before you start hyperventilating,” Isa instructs firmly, squeezing the hand she has grasped in hers to get my attention. “Breathe in for seven seconds.”
My eyes flash to her, my knees bouncing. She holds my stare,squeezing harder to ground me as I inhale shakily.
“Now hold for four.”
I count to four in my head, Isa’s deep-brown eyes holding my hazel ones.
