Page 74 of Deeper

“I work retail at this clothing store called Angles,” I said.

“Oh. Do you dance or sing or anything?”

I shook my head. “My dancing is okay, but I can’t sing worth a lick.”

“She’s just a regular girl,” Paul concluded for me.

“That’s what I like about her,” Zander added.

During this sit-down, I learned that Paul was single and very much mingling after a couple of TMI tales he disclosed. Blunt or not, Paul was fun and funny, and he hadn’t lied—he could talk shit but could take it just as well. He poked fun at Rajaa and Zander, and they gave it back to him without missing a beat. I enjoyed myself, sitting there on the floor beside Zander, laughing along with the group. I’d like to think of that moment as before the storm, before the rush of what could possibly happen come Friday when he dropped his latest single, when he finally stepped to the plate to show the world he wasn’t going down without a fight. With no pressure, and just a good time amongst us, it was one hell of a night.

* * *

Holliston texted me first thing Friday morning letting me know how much she liked “Canvas.” It was out for the world to hear and interpret, and I was both excited and nervous for Zander.

A quick browse through Twitter showed mass approval. Everyone was raving about the song and it was currently number one on the all-genres chart on iTunes, as well as their Pop chart. I wrinkled my nose at the classification, but a win was a win.

I was home in bed and today was about promo, pushing the song for others to go out and buy or stream as well. Still, my mind drifted to Victoria.

It didn’t feel right to just completely focus on Zander. To celebrate and have fun, with things still messy with Tori. So I gathered my phone and called her.

Unlike before, she wasn’t busy as she picked up. “Hello?”

A lump lodged itself into my throat and suddenly I didn’t know what to say. “Tori?”

On her end, Victoria chuckled dryly. “The one and only.”

“It’s been a while. It feels like you’ve been ghosting me for about a week.”

“Never. It’s summer, Bia. I’m getting hella clients right now for weddings and events. I’m actually on my way out the door. Look, let’s talk Monday. Okay? Just let me have this weekend to gather my thoughts and we’ll link up Monday and talk, coffee and snacks on you,” Victoria said. She seemed in a rush to go, but I noticed a lack of agitation in her tone. Perhaps she was over the shock of it all—hopefully.

At least she was finally ready to have it out with me. “Okay.”

For a moment, she was silent, but due to the sounds in her background, I knew she was still on the line. “I like his new song, congrats. It’s one of his best, and it’s about you.”

I didn’t know what to say, because it was hard to acknowledge such a feat. “Thanks, Tor.”

“I…I could never hate you, Bianka. You’re like my sister. Youaremy sister.”

Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried my best not to tear up. My heart had never felt so good hearing those words. She knew me well, and these days, she was practically the only family I had. To not lose her over a man, felt good. Felt safe. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. See you Monday.”

“Monday.”

We hung up and I felt better.

There was no time to dwell. I quickly got out of bed and showered for the day. Zander had advised keeping it simple since I would mostly be sitting around and waiting on him as he did his interviews. So I put on a teal velour tracksuit and placed my hair in a ponytail under a baseball cap. I didn’t even bother with a touch of makeup.

It was just early enough to where the drive to Zander’s house wasn’t a pain. I’d beaten traffic, making it to the Hills in just over twenty minutes.

By the time I pulled in, I spotted Terry, Dax, and Paul already standing outside on his front doorstep. Everyone was ready for today.

Paul was in another expensive dress shirt and dress pants combo, keeping it business, while Terry and Dax were in black tees and jeans.

Dax took one look at me and made a face. “Thisis still happening.”

“Don’t like it, should’ve guarded him better,” Paul spoke up on my side. He nodded towards me. “Morning. Ready for a long day of promo?”

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