Page 132 of Disharmony

“You can go,” I say to her, groaning at my pounding head. “You must have a lot of work to do.”

“I did most of the prep last night, so Kelly and the other staff have been helping this morning.” Claudia takes my hand and squeezes it. “Are you sure?”

“I’ll be okay, honestly,” I say. There’s no point in everyone sitting around my bed like I’m dying. “It feels like the hangover from hell, but I’ll be fine. Thank you, for everything.”

“Stay hydrated,” Claudia says, standing up. “I’ll come back to check in on you later, okay?”

I force a small smile and tiny wave as she heads out, shutting the cabin door gently behind her.

“I’m not leaving you alone,” Cookie insists, not budging an inch. “Leila and the twins have been here all night too. They just left before you woke up.”

“But Cookie… this is your big show…” I groan over my pounding head. “I won’t let her ruin this for you too.”

“You’re my friend, Ash,” Cookie says fiercely. “I’m not leaving you like this. I’m staying right here. I may be the stage manager, but I’ve been so organized that the show will go on without me.”

“What about my family?” Tears fill my eyes. At the thought of Dad and Brick who will already have hit the road. “I don’t want to let them down.”

Cookie checks the alarm. “We still have nine hours until the live show.”

An abrupt knock on the door makes both of us jump. Cookie hurries over to the window, peering around the curtain at the figure on the other side. She cracks it open an inch.

“Can I help you?” she asks.

“I just came by to see how Ashley is this morning,” Levi York says. “McCallister is looking for her.”

Of course he is. Despite the first performance not starting until six this evening, preparations are underway all day. From last-minute rehearsals in the studio all morning to makeup and wardrobe arriving at noon. If I’m not ready in nine hours, I’ll miss an opportunity to potentially change my life forever. An opportunity I’ll never get again.

I’m glad Cookie is communicating with him through the window. I don’t want Levi to see me like this. It’s bad enough knowing that Damon Archer had to fish me out of the lake last night like a pathetic loser.

“She’s not well,” Cookie says. “She’s not up to seeing anyone.”

“How unwell?” Levi probes. “Unwell enough to not perform?”

She casts a look back at me. I can’t stop hot tears from streaming down my cheeks. The biggest moment of my life is being stolen from me. Despite how terrible I feel, I don’t want to let Tiffany win, but I can’t see another way.

“Ash?” Levi calls through the window. “Can I speak to you?”

I shake my head.

“No,” Cookie snaps. “You can’t.”

“Is there anything I can do?” he asks. “I’m here to help. What do you want me to tell McCallister?”

I pull the comforter up to my chin and want to bury myself under it. If I can’t move without my head feeling like it’s about to explode, how can I give the performance of a lifetime?

“Tell him she’s not well and has a stomach bug,” Cookie says, thinking on her feet, “but she’ll be there for the show.”

“He’ll make Tiffany stand in if she doesn’t show,” Levi adds darkly. “You know what he’s like.”

“Ash will be there,” Cookie insists with a fierce determination that I hope I can muster.

I don’t want to give Tiffany what she wants. I won’t let her get away with this… not again. She needs to learn that there are consequences for her actions. My anger rises to the surface. I want to fucking scream and tear down her perfect world with my roar.

fifty-one

Venom

“How is she?” Ripper jumps down my throat as soon as I return. He hasn’t slept, and his eyes are bloodshot as he nurses his third coffee of the morning. “Did you see her?”

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