Page 88 of My Rock Star Neighbor
Me:Do you have another envelope so we can see what this one contains?
Lily:Bella is on her way over.She’s going to buy one and bring it here so we can open the envelope, see what’s inside, and replace it.
Me:You guys are the best!!
As I wash the potatoes, my phone beeps again.
Lily:It’s the title of a book: Rocky Mountain Heat.I read that!She has good taste in books.
She sends me a photo of a piece of paper with the title typewritten on it.
Me:Thank you!This is great.
Yes.We’re making progress.We know now how they’re communicating which book holds the pay-off.
I hum as I put the tray with the beef and potatoes in the oven.I splurged.But also, I’m so happy that Nick likes me.I feel all bubbly inside, like my veins have become twinkly sparking lights.
And when Nick finally comes home and hugs me, it’s as if I’ve been plugged into the socket and filled with a rush of energy.Until I realize that Nick is clinging to me.When I pull back to look at his face, he looks tired.
“What happened?Did the recording not go well?”I ask.
“The recording went really well,” he says.“Although I didn’t get a chance to work on my latest song that I started composing last night.”
“So MusEn was upset about the contract,” I say.
“What did your boss say?”he asks.
He’s deflecting.It must be bad.
“That it could hurt my career,” I say.“But she was more interested in my current investigation.”
“Did she have any suggestions on how to get conclusive proof?”he asks.
“No.I told her I recruited Tasha and her friends to follow Beatrice because I will be in Chinatown for the parade this Saturday, and I can follow Pommer then.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“I’m going in disguise again,” I warn him.
“As you should,” he says.
He still hasn’t told me what his label said.
“Felicity thought it was good that we were actually dating, so it wasn’t as bad as I feared.”I take his face in my hands.“Tell me.We’ll figure it out.”
“They suggested we break up because then there would be no issue,” he says.“I told them that wasn’t an option.”
No.
“Okay.”I bite my lip.That wasn’t the response I expected from MusEn.“And they were okay with not breaking up?”
“They said we could wait and see and ‘keep it in our pocket as a possibility.’”Nick makes air quotes.“But I think we can ride it out together.”
He kisses me, and I give in to all the longing I feel for him.He enfolds me in his arms, and I feel protected.We will be okay.Therehasto be some way we can make this work to our benefit.This is definitely a feel-good story that people should support.
As he pulls away, he says, “What are you cooking?It smells good.”
“It’s a roast, so it needs more time,” I say.
