Chapter 15

I didn’t get to see the finished results of all the security upgrades or get the walk-through Mrs. Phillips got when they were done, but she said she’d show me them and Isaiah said he’d make sure I understood how everything worked when I got back.

As with the last several weeks, at least those with tour dates, Friday we tended to start fairly early, since they spent a lot more time on the sound checks and lighting. We checked it all every night, but if something was going to go wrong, it was more likely to happen on night one than after we’d already used it, so they always put a lot more effort into everything.

What that meant for me was flying out Thursday night instead of Friday. This was one more missed day of school and another night in a hotel; but, as Mrs. Phillips said, this is what I signed up for.

Besides, I only had this stop and the final date the following week in Atlanta, and then I was done. After that, we just had to worry about the tour Warren was setting up. I’d spoken to him about it a few times, and he’d already made a lot of changes, as larger venues than even the ones he’d already been talking to had been calling him.

The wild thing was, according to him at least, that it was all the stuff with Alina and being in the press about it that was getting me this attention. More people had seen our denial of the story than had read the original story, which maybe was what Quinn had been talking about when she said my name recognition was starting to take off.

I still had a few minutes until we boarded, and was contemplating running to a little store to get something to snack on during the flight, when my phone rang. Surprisingly, I saw Alina’s number pop up.

“Alina, this is a surprise,” I said when I answered.

“Hi, Charlie. I hope this isn’t a bad time.”

“Nope. Just sitting in the airport waiting for my flight to board.”

“Ohh, good. I just wanted to tell you I saw they pulled that article off of SpilledTea after our interview, so it looks like your plan worked.”

“Partially. The article’s gone, but I don’t know if you’ve seen all the gossip about us dating, now.”

“Yeah, but that happens anytime I’m seen with anyone. Last month, apparently, I was sleeping with an actor twenty years older than me because we happened to show up at a red carpet at the same time.”

“Ohh.”

“Don’t worry about it, these things blow over quickly. They’ll find someone else to gossip about soon enough.”

“That’s what my manager said too. Guess I’m still getting used to all this public eye stuff.”

“Yeah,” she said, a little awkwardly, and then paused. “So that’s not actually the real reason I called. I’ve been thinking about what you said after the interview, about being there if I needed someone to talk to.”

“Of course. I meant it. What’s on your mind?”

“It’s just ... I’ve realized I don’t have many people around me who care about me for me, you know? Everyone always wants something.”

“Yeah, that can be rough. That’s kind of what I was saying, that everyone needs someone who doesn’t care about their career, but just about them.”

It wasn’t an unusual sentiment, especially for people with money or fame. Hell, they made movies and wrote books about it all the time. It was a reminder of how lucky I was with the people around me.

“I’m starting to see that. So, I was wondering if I could take you up on that offer. To talk, I mean.”

“I’d be happy to. My plane is about to board, but I should land in Chicago in about three hours, and could talk then, if you want to do it tonight, or any other time when I’m not actually on stage.”

“Really? I’m in Chicago now for some shoots tonight and Sunday. Maybe we could meet up?”

I went through my schedule in my head for a second and said, “Yeah, I think I can make that work. How about Saturday before noon, if you have time?”

“I’ll make time,” she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice.

“Great. Since you’re there already, figure out where you want to meet, text the address to me and I’ll be there.”

Perfect. Have a safe flight, Charlie. And ... thanks. For everything.”

“Anytime, Alina. See you soon.”

By the time I got off the plane, Alina had already texted me the address of a vegan restaurant not far from where the concert was being held. While I wasn’t thrilled about that and would have preferred real food, that wasn’t what this was about. Besides, I shouldn’t be surprised that someone whose job it was to look good would be on some constant diet or eating regime.

She’d been kind enough to find out where we were performing and pick a spot near where I was instead of having me travel to where she was, so the least I could do was eat a salad and not complain about it. Besides, I was certain that doing what she did, reaching out to talk, was hard for her, living the life she must have, with handlers always telling her what to do and where to be.

The show itself was going to be easy. We hadn’t had a crisis on stage for at least a month, and we’d hit a really solid groove where everyone knew what they needed to do and where they needed to be.

Not that it was drama-free.

I’d just breezed through my sound check and was headed back to my small dressing room to relax for a little bit when I passed Vince, who couldn’t seem to help himself.

“Well, if it isn’t the big man,” Vince said in a mocking tone. “How’s the new girlfriend?”

I stopped and turned to see him smirking at me, looking at a few of the people around us as if to say ‘I got him.’ He only lost the smirk when I started to walk toward him, pulling himself back a bit like he thought I was going to swing at him.