“I really am.” Sean’s lack of concern was impressive.
“This is a mistake of career-breaking proportions.”
“I disagree. Thank them for the invite and give them my regrets. Bye, Randy.”
I stayed put, fully prepared to confess to my eavesdropping once he came out. But instead of heading over to my place like I assumed he would, I heard him turn on his shower. Randy must have called as Sean was finishing his workout.
I turned and went back inside my house, pulling out a can of nuts so that I could snack on them as I mulled over what I’d just heard. Sean had turned down a benefit concert. On the one hand, it had been nice to hear him so confidently turn it down, with no regret in his tone. But on the other hand, I was pretty sure he should have taken the gig. It wasn’t a huge tour for months on end. It wasn’t even a solo concert where it would be nothing but him and his screaming fans. A benefit concert with multiple artists would be much more low key. And it would be good for his image. Especially since people thought he and I were having a secret love child.
Or maybe it would just give the hyenas more fodder.
As I settled into the couch, my phone rang. The name “Randy” flashing across the screen made my stomach drop. I’d added his contact information back to my phone when Sean had flown to New York to allow some “accidental” photos to be taken. “Hello?”
“Libby!” He sounded excited or relieved, I wasn’t sure which. “Thank you for picking up. We need to talk about Sean.”
“Okay…”
“The record label is getting nervous, and I mean really nervous. They’re talking about dropping him.”
“How can that possibly be? His album sales are ridiculously high.”
“Sure, sales have been great, when he’s been working. When he’s made appearances and reached out to fans and all that other stuff. But he hasn’t. It’s one thing to stop touring. We could deal with that. But giving his fans the silent treatment?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure he’ll be forgiven the moment he decides to come back.”
“And when will that be?”
“I…don’t know.”
“Before the baby is born?”
It was a punch to the gut, having him throw my baby into the equation. My mouth just gaped.
“After it’s born? After the two of you get married? When is it going to be time for him to go back to work, Libby?”
“He is working! He’s writing every day.” My vehement defense of Sean surprised me.
“You know just writing the songs isn’t enough.” His tone was condescending and I was tempted to hang up. “It’s not just the record label. It’s him. He needs this, Libby. He thrives on it. He loves what he does. Especially now that he isn’t touring, now that he’s had time and space. He comes alive when he meets the fans. The few concerts he’s done have energized him instead of wiping him out. This is his passion and he needs to get back to it.”
I couldn’t respond, because I was fairly certain he was right.
“Just, think about it. And when you realize I’m right, you have to convince him to do the concert. I need a solid commitment in seventy-two hours or he misses his slot. He’ll listen to you.” He paused, probably waiting for a response, but I had nothing to say. “It was good talking to you, Libby. Congrats on the baby.”
And he hung up.
It was good talking to me? Congrats on the baby? Were his platitudes meant to make up for the fact that he was trying to steam roll me and Sean?
I resented his heavy-handed efforts. Yet his words kept tumbling through my head, circling and circling, and each circuit seemed to make them more true.
Sean had to go back to his public life at some point. If not now, then when?
I didn’t want him to go, but it wasn’t just because he was a great friend who took care of me. I didn’t want him to go because…because I wanted him to always stay. I was falling for him—maybe I already had. And if I was going to do this—if I was going to let myself fall for Sean Amity—I had to do it with my eyes wide open. I had to do it knowing that he would choose to come back to me as many times as I would choose him. I was terrified to let him