Page 58 of The Only Thing That's Real

It’s 11:45 on a Friday night. If I say no, I’m a loser.

Knox

so?

Daisy

I’m a loser. What’s up?

Knox

what can you tell me about ryan jameson

My phone rings before my thumb leaves the send button. Chuckling, I hit the green accept call on my screen.

“What are you up to, Knoxamillion?”

“Well, hello to you too, Driving Miss Daisy.”

“I know Ryan’s on tour with you. I saw her when she wasin town a few weeks back. She said you... how did she put it? Oh, yeah, you hate her.”

“She said that?” I ask quietly praying she can’t hear the spike in my interest, because I fucking heard it.

The roar of the bus is loud, so I know those in the back can’t hear me, but I still keep my voice down.

“Something like that. Why?”

“Tell me about her.”

Daisy gasps on the other end of the line. “Oh, my God. You like her!”

“Didn’t say that, Dais.”

“But you do. You never text me and you never ask me about girls.”

“I do text you and I didn’t ask you about a girl. I asked you about the journalist writing about our band. I’m doing my due diligence.”

“Like I said, she’s been with you guys for weeks. Why are you calling now?”

She’s right, I don’t reach out as often as I should and if I’m reaching out; she knows I’m serious as a heart attack.

“I didn’t call you. You called me. Why does it matter?”

“It matters, because she’s the best. I don’t need you trying to get in her pants. She’s more than a random hook-up.”

“Don’t I know it,” I sigh.

“I knew it,” she says sweetly. “I get it, though. She’s awesome.”

“She is.”

“And have you two... you know... bumped uglies yet?”

Laughing much louder than is wise, I scold my sister. “God, who raised you?”

“I learned everything I know from my obnoxious older brothers.”

“Fair point.”

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