Page 105 of When the Lights Come On
“You don’t want to be here, do you?”
The voice behind me makes me turn. I find Dannika walking over. She leans against the bar beside me.
“I just needed some water. It’s kind of been a long day.”
“I don’t just mean dinner.” She props her head on her hand. “You don’t want to be here at all.”
“I...” I guess there’s not much point in lying. She’ll find out soon enough. “I guess not, no.”
She nods. “It’s not what I thought it would be—all this.” She sweeps her hand out to indicate the bar, the hotel, maybe even all of LA. “You see all the movies about it, you hear all the interviews, but nothing can really prepare you for what living this life is like.”
“That’s true. It’s not what I thought either. Is it...I mean, is it still what you want?”
I glance away as I ask. We’re nothing more than strangers, but it seems like she’s been where I am, and I need to know.
“It is, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong if it’s not whatyouwant.”
I stare at her, my water glass still clutched in my hand. “Are you a mind reader?”
She throws her head back and laughs. “I’m a woman in the music industry. I wouldn’t survive without a little mind reading.”
I nod, my thoughts on another woman in the music industry—another woman who does everything she can to fight for what she wants.
“I guess there’s still part of me that’s scared I’ll regret it,” I admit.
Dannika shrugs. “Maybe there always will be, but I think you know what you want. I just wanted to come over and say it was nice to meet you and wish you luck, since I might not get a chance later. Things might turn into a bit of a shit show once you drop out of the deal.”
Now it’s me laughing.
“Can’t wait for that,” I say, voice dripping with sarcasm.
She mimes clinking an imaginary glass with mine and then pats my arm as she smiles at me. “Good luck, Youssef.”
“Thank you, Da—”
I pause when her eyes shift to something behind me. I glance over my shoulder, and it’s like the whole world gets put on pause.
Paige is standing right there.
Paige is here, in LA, right there, looking at me.
My jaw drops, but I can’t speak. I start to smile, and then I notice her expression. She isn’t looking at my face. She’s looking at Dannika’s hand on my arm.
She stays frozen for a moment, and then she takes off running out of the lobby.
Time resumes. The clatter of the restaurant fills my ears. Dannika drops her hand and looks from me to the lobby and back again.
“Do you know her?”
My mind and heart are racing so fast I feel like I might pass out. All I can do is nod.
“Oh, shit. I didn’t mean anything with the—” She gestures between my arm and her hand. “I think you better go get her.”
“Right. Yeah.”
I keep nodding like a bobble-head and stay exactly where I am.
“Youssef?”
