Page 101 of For Wrath and Redemption
But what if the inside?—
Shut up.
I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head.
“Shut up!”
Inhale. Exhale. I’m going to be fine. Inhale. Exhale. I have this under control.
Ineedto be in control.
I open my eyes and grab a banana.
I’m halfway through the banana when the door to the dressing room opens, and Ziggy barrels in, followed by Brynn, Levi, and Sav’s security guard, Red.
“Claire. Hey. Sorry. Would have knocked if we knew you were in here.”
I put the banana down and smile at Levi. “Hi. It’s okay. I’m just hanging out until it’s time to get to work.” Ziggy sits down in front of me and nudges my leg with her nose. I pet her head, then give her a cheese cube from the food tray on the counter. “You’re all in a box tonight, right?”
“Yep.” Brynn steals a strawberry and takes a bite. “All of us. The Caveat boys, too.” She rolls her eyes and sighs. “I hope they behave.”
Red laughs and gives Brynn’s shoulder a nudge as he reaches over her and snags a few grapes. “Not everyone can be as mature as you, Boss.”
“They’re in their twenties. It’s annoying.”
I flick my eyes to Levi with a grin. He shrugs. “She’s not wrong.”
“Are you going to sit with us?”
I turn my attention back to Brynn and shake my head. “Probably not. I need to get pictures for Jonah’s social media.”
“His page looks awesome.”
“Thanks.” I arch a brow. “You have social media?”
“No. I saw it from Sav’s.” She huffs. “Dad and Sav say I can’t get my own until I’m thirteen.”
“That’s smart. There are a lot of weirdos out there.”
“Yet I have to go on tour with Ezra, Crue, and Rocky.”
Red and I bark out a laugh, and Levi ruffles Brynn’s hair. “Not the same kind of weirdos.”
She huffs again. “Yeah. I know.”
Brynn trudges to the sofa and dramatically throws herself on it, then Ziggy jumps next to her and lays her head on Brynn’s lap. I look at Levi, and he flares his eyes, making me laugh again.
“She’s right, though. Jonah’s socials look great. Seems like the press is liking what they’re seeing, too.”
“Yeah, thank you. I’m happy with how we’re progressing.”
“Do you think you’ll be finished up, soon?”
It’s a normal question. Completely harmless. But it bothers me in a way that it shouldn’t.Finished upis synonymous withleaving. Will I beleavingsoon. I shrug and force a smile.
“I’m not sure. I’d like to be a little more confident in the stability of the branding before I close it out.”
The words turn my stomach. They’re so impersonal. Soprofessional. Jonah is a human. He’s so much more than a brand. He’s become so much more to me...
