Page 53 of One More Bad Boy

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Iset up my new phonewhile sitting in my car. Or Bach's car, or whatever.

The first thing I did was check my email. There were a few spam items, but I noticed the multitude of messages from Korine. The subject lines were increasingly panicked.

Where are you?

Why aren't you answering your phone?

Oh God I hope you weren't kidnapped and this whole LA thing was a trap!!!

The last email from her said,I saw you on TV!!!!

My skin prickled with a million goose bumps. Opening the message, I saw she'd inserted a video link. With my anxiety mounting, I clicked it.

A host I didn't recognize was talking into a mic. “Many new artists performed last night at the All That Glitters Gala, but one of them took the event by storm.” I inhaled sharply as I saw myself on the stage; the camera zoomed in, a graphic shot on the screen, displaying my name. It was beyond surreal.

I typed up a message to Korine as quickly as I could.

Just got your email, sorry for the silence, I lost my phone. Could you text your number to my new one?

I sent the email, then leaned back in the driver's seat. How many people saw me singing at the gala? I knew there would have been a bunch of attendees, but I hadn't really wrapped my brain around the idea that it'd be broadcast across the country, or the world, now that it was on the internet.

Gathering myself up, I focused on the things I could control. I fished out Bach's card, tracing my thumb over his phone number. Then, imagining his whiskey-smooth voice through the speaker, I breathed quicker.I'll text Violet instead.I sent her a message sayingThis is my new phone. Then another clarifying thatthismeantAmina Richards.

My phone came to life; I jumped, nearly dropping it on the floor of the Tesla. I didn't recognize the number. “Hello?”

“Amina!” screamed Korine. “Oh my God it's so good to hear your voice. When I couldn't reach you, I thought all these horrible things. Then I saw you on stage and I wondered if maybe you were avoiding me on purpose because you got all famous or something.” She laughed to show she wasn't serious.

I giggled in relief. It felt so good to talk to my friend again. “No, nothing like that. I just forgot my phone in the airport like a dummy.”

“But you are famous now, right? I saw that video! You sang at an event with thousands of people watching. The must have been crazy.”

“It was something,” I admitted.

“How's LA? Is it hot? Oh! Is Bach as hot in person as he is in the photos?”

A wave of heat washed over me. “I guess.”

“Let me guess, that VP is keeping you miles away from him. I figured as much. Well, that's fine. You should be focusing on your career anyway.”

How did I explain that Violet wasn't keeping me from Bach? If anyone was keeping me from him, it was me! “How are things at the café?” I asked

“It's only been a couple days since you left, Amina. How much can really change?”

Lots,I ached to scream.

She kept talking. “I want to hear about your life. That's where all the excitement is at. Are people taking photos of you on the street? Do you have a team rushing you place to place so you aren't mobbed?”

“It's seriously nothing like that. No one knows who I am.”

“Did you read the comments beneath the video?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because then you'd see how many people are obsessing about you. God, you're so bad at this whole fame thing. Amina, people are losing their minds. You should be booking shows, getting interviews. Capitalize on this momentum!”

“You sound like Bach,” I muttered. “I just want to sing.”

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