massive audience and walk off the stage with tears in my eyes that make Aimee smile. I keep my head down and try not to look at anyone. They need to be here, but I don’t. I never go back and join them for the encore. My job is done.
In the dressing room, I fall face first on the small sofa and reach for my earbuds. I turn on my Reckless Alibi playlist. I’ve listened to nothing else this past week.
Someone bangs on the door. I pop up and wipe my eyes, suspecting the gallon of mascara they made me wear is all over my face. I peek through a crack in the door, then open it. “Oh, gosh. I’m so sorry. Please, come in.”
I move aside and let Brett, Emma, and Evie into the tiny room. I’d forgotten I gave them backstage passes.
“Bria, what’s wrong?” Emma asks, touching my arm.
“You must be sad about this being your final show, eh, kiddo?” Brett says.
“You were soooooo good,” thirteen-year-old Evie says. “I love your dress.”
I move to the mirror and grab a tissue to run beneath my eyes. “Let me clean up, and I’ll show you around.”
Evie stands in the open doorway, hoping to catch a glimpse of the band. Emma comes up behind me. “It’s not only that this is your last show, is it?”
I lock eyes with her in the mirror. She knows it goes deeper than that. She turns to the others, fingering the lanyard around her neck. “Brett, why don’t you take Evelyn wherever you’re supposed to take her with these passes? I’ll help Bria gather her things.”
“But don’t you want to meet the band, Mom?” Evie asks.
She shakes her head. “It’s not important to me, but I know it is to you. Go. It’s okay.”
Emma and Brett have some kind of telepathic conversation and then Brett takes Evie out of the room and the door shuts.
“What’s really going on?” she asks.
Feeling claustrophobic, I peel off the too-tight dress and slip into my robe. “I feel so stupid.” I sit.
“How can you say that? You were fabulous. I knew you would be, but I had no idea I’d be able to hear you. I thought your voice would blend in with the band. But you had solos. You completely blew me away, as I’m sure you did the other ten thousand people here.”
“Thank you. But that’s not why I feel stupid.” Hot tears travel down my cheeks.
Emma sinks into the couch next to me. “Tell me.”
I hesitate.
“Come on,” she says, taking my hand. “We’re about to be sisters. We haven’t had a chance to bond because you’ve been on tour, but that’s going to change. I suspect we’re going to be more than sisters. We’re going to be good friends.”
I look at the floor, embarrassed. “I never even told Brett. I’m not sure why either. At first, I couldn’t believe it. Then I thought I might jinx it.”
“Are you pregnant?”
My eyes snap to hers. “God, no.”
“Then what is it?”
I close my eyes, wanting this to be the last time I mention it to anyone. “I was dating Adam Stuart.”
“Adam Stuart,” she repeats. “Who’s that?”
I laugh. “Lead singer of the band you came to see.”
“I came to see you, not them.” She gives me a sympathetic look. “You said you were dating him. So I guess it’s over now.”
“Since last week.”
“Oh, Bria, I’m so sorry. Did he end it because the tour is over?”
I shake my head. “I’m the one who ended it. I can’t believe how stupid and naïve I was to think he’d be faithful to me. I should have known better. I see what goes on, but he was good at hiding it, and so was everyone else. It’s almost like part of their job description was to keep me from finding out about his indiscretions.” I pull the robe tightly around me. “Am I that gullible?”
“Sweetie, no.” She rubs my back. “This was all surreal for you, I’m sure. You got caught up in it. It’s understandable that when Adam turned an eye your way, you’d be flattered. I’m sure he was very charming.” She’s silent for a beat. “Did you … fall in love with him?”
I wipe my tears for the hundredth time. “Love? No. I think I’m embarrassed more than anything. And I’m upset that I ruined my chance to join them on the next tour.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. I was being silly. They probably never would have kept me on anyway.