Page 44 of Taming the Rockstar

“Can we say hi?” Apollo asks.

“I wanna say hi,” Vince adds.

I roll my eyes and press my phone into the crook of my shoulder. “You can say hi, but you have to play it cool,” I instruct.

“We will,” Vince says.

“Especially you,” I say, poking Vince in the chest.

“I’ll behave!” Vince promises. “Gotta make a good impression,” he adds.

I pick the phone back up. “Hey, Mom?”

“Yeah, Lynds? Do you have to go? I’m sorry if I interrupted.”

“No, no. It’s not that. Um, they want to say hi to you.”

“Who? The Imposters? The imposters want to say hi to me?” Her voice inches up into an octave that only dogs can hear.

“Yeah, is that okay?”

“Mhmm!” She squeaks.

I sigh as Vince grabs the phone out of my hand and puts it on the speaker; this had to happen sooner or later.

“Hello, Mikki?” Priya says.

“Hi-hi! Hi! Holy fuck, is that Priya?”

“Yeah, it’s Priya! It’s so lovely to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“I’ve heard so much about you! I had a poster with your face on it in my bedroom when I was in my twenties!” my mom gushes.

“Well, thank you! Thank you for raising such a brilliant daughter. Lyndsey saves our asses daily.”

“We love Lyndsey! This is Apollo, by the way!”

“Lyndsey rocks,” Henry adds. My face is beet red.

“Lyndsey’s an angel,” Vince quips, pulling me close.

“Vincent, by the way.” I shoot him a look and mouth, ‘Vincent?’

My mom giggles. “I’m so glad you think so. You let me know if she gives you any trouble. How’s the tour going?”

“It’s a breeze! We’re playing CBGB tonight,” Priya says.

“Aw, no way! Lynds, FaceTime me!”

“Mom, I don’t know if I can,” I start.

“She can! I’ll bug her about it,” Vince says.

“Thank you, Vincent. Lynds, he’s a sweetie. Ask him who his mystery girl is!” my mom blurts. I almost drop the phone. Henry claps his hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter.

“We don’t talk about personal things like that,” I lie.

My mom scoffs. “Oh, you’re no fun! Vince, tell her to loosen up!

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