Page 83 of Loved Out Loud
“We were already awake,” Dan says. “The entire security team wakes up early to work out together while on tour.”
“Oh, well, I’m not sorry in that case,” she chuckles. “How early?”
“Depends on the schedule for the day,” Adam answers. “Have either of you even slept yet?” He looks at me.
“Nope,” I grin back at him. “We kept ourselves busy for a few hours after the show and then started writing.” I wink at Hazel. “Being her muse is a twenty-four seven job.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “Who said you’re my muse?”
“The way you can’t stop looking at me while you write says everything I need to know.” I’m only half joking.
“The only way you’d be able to know how often I look at you is if you’re looking at me even more frequently.”
“Of course. You’re my favorite thing to look at in every room.”
“Hi, I don’t mean to intrude.” Another server, younger this time, steps up at our table. “I’m a huge fan, and I was wondering if you would sign this.” I reach for the pale pink leather case she’s holding out, but she pulls it back. “I’m sorry, not you.” Her eyes move to Hazel. “You.”
“Me?” Hazel points at her chest in astonishment.
“Yes. It’s my Kindle case. I always have it in my purse.”
“Sure, I can sign it, but I don’t have anything to write with.” Hazel says looking around for a pen to magically appear.
Adam pulls a sharpie out of his pocket, something he’s just begun carrying for me when we’re out and about.
“Thank you,” Hazel tells him, taking the marker. “You really want me to sign this? It’s so pretty the way it is.”
“Yes. Sign wherever you want, inside or out. I absolutely love your book.”
They talk about Hazel’s book and reading in general for a couple minutes before the server walks off. Hazel’s eyes are bright as she watches the girl walk away.
“I’ve never had that happen before, someone ask for my signature out in the wild like this. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be recognized in public.”
“And I’ve never been humbled so quickly, either. My ego hasn’t been hit like that in forever,” I joke, rubbing my hand over my chest.
“You and your ego will be just fine.” Hazel rolls her eyes.
She pulls her phone out and opens it while I turn my attention to Adam and Dan.
“Is everything good to go when we get back?” I ask.
“Yeah. It’s a short drive from here to Chicago, too.” Adam takes a sip of his coffee. “We have the schedule for all your appearances.”
“Hers, too?” I gesture with a nod in Hazel’s direction. I hear his answer, but it doesn’t register as I watch the color drain from her face. “What’s wrong, baby?”
Her eyes are the color of storm clouds when she looks up. “Check your phone.”
I pull mine from my pocket as Dan leans over to look at her screen. After years of bad press surrounding my addiction, I learned to turn social media and google alerts off. Jade deals with all the press and PR, so I’m generally insulated.
While I don’t have many notifications, there is one from Darren.
Darren: Your stunt on stage last night worked beautifully
Me: It wasn’t a stunt
He sends a link to one of the east coast morning news programs. I watch the video of fucking Mark O’Malley and Amy May sitting side by side at an anchor desk with a still of a grainy video from the concert last night. It’s from the moment I went rogue and walked off stage to kiss Hazel because I was jealous of the awe in her eyes while Tobias played his solo.
In truth I really was burning with jealousy. I know he’s fucking talented. He wouldn’t be our drummer if he wasn’t, but damn, seeing that look in her eyes directed anywhere but at me was too much. I hated it.
