Page 77 of A Love Song for Dreamers

“She’s not. And as for the party—I don’t know the host well enough to invite a friend. Dad’s focused on promoting a newartist.”

She seems to sense me shutting down and leans in. “Well, I bet the money is better in music than thestage.”

“Probably,” I concede. “I don’t think people go to Broadway for the money. But if you want to be part of something incredible and touch people every night, it’s the place tobe.”

Fiona laughs. “It soundsexhausting.”

I try to keep the conversation on her because every time it comes back to me, I end up feeling as if she cares more about what I can do for her than who I am, what Ilike.

We finish our glasses of wine, and I make my excuses before putting her in a cab to go home with a hug that’s shorter on my end than hers, one I wish I could lean into butcan’t.

By the time the car pulls away, I’m actually aching to go to an industry party with the people Ilove.

* * *

“How didI score two handsome dates to this event?” Iask.

“Correction.Iscored two handsome dates.” Beck shifts across the back seat in the limo and hooks an arm around myneck.

Five of us are in the limo—Dad, Shay, Beck, Tyler, and me. High-end carpooling isn’t usually feasible in LA, but Beck surprised us by showing at our hotel, so he came withus.

Despite the weird meeting with my mom and the fact that tomorrow, I’ll be on a plane leaving this city without Tyler, I’m grateful for the companytonight.

My dad looks up from his phone for the first time and shakes hishead.

“Haley will be okay,” I insist. “Serena’s withher.”

“You won’t miss your kid being born, Big J,” Beckstates.

We get out of the limo, Shay lingeringbehind.

I grab her arm and whisper in her ear, “You recorded a single this week that’ll be the first release from my dad’s new label. This is your coming-outparty.”

“I’m not sure I wantone.”

Her uncertainty has empathy risingup.

“He didn’t either,” I say, nodding toward Tyler, his confident strides eating up thesidewalk.

At the doors, Tyler turns, looking for me. “Youready?”

“You bet.” I take hisarm.

We make our way past security into the house of a huge producer. I’ve been to these parties in New York, though a Chelsea loft party has a different feel than a house in theHills.

This is spacious, like our house but with a killer view. The house is modern, all glass, with doors swept wide open out to a marble terrace with an infinity pool. A five-piece band is playing on one side of thepool.

When my dad takes Shay to meet the head of the biggest music magazine on the planet, Tyler huffs out a breath next tome.

“She’s notready.”

“She’ll figure it out.” He holds my stare, but Beck and I drag him toward the bar. Beck insists on champagne allaround.

“I have news,” he declares, looking handsome in a pale-blue dress shirt that sets off his dark hair and eyes. “My pilot got picked up. We have a ten-episode run. We start filmingMonday.”

“That’s amazing!” I hughim.

“Yeah. I play a cop with psychicpowers.”

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