Page 58 of Grown

“Damn, man, that’s cold,” his friend laughs.

Amber twirls around, smirking at me. Vomit builds in my throat.

I stumble, catching a glimpse of myself in the vanity mirror. Not myself, but someone who used to be me. Tears brimming, I pour myself another glass of vodka.

“That better not be your only cup!” Korey says to me from... somewhere. I can’t tell. Everything is a blur.

I check my phone one last time. Still nothing. Anger rises with bile. Some damn best friend I got. We have one fight and she cuts me off like some dead ends she needed to trim. She wouldn’t even try to be happy for me. This is all I’ve ever wanted. Does she even know what she wants besides Jay?

I drift toward the door.

“Tony, has anyone come... looking for me?”

“Nah.”

My knees clash together.

“You need to sit on down,” he says.

I do, flopping back on the sofa, letting my eyes close on one last thought—Gab and I are done.

Chapter 40

Friction

My throat is lined with sandpaper. Hangovers and a moving tour bus don’t mix. But the show must go on. Except tonight, my performance was stagnant. Fake. Forced. Voice cracking at the end of my solo.

Korey noticed. And he’s not happy about it.

“What the fuck was that?” he screams. “This isn’t karaoke.”

“I know. I’m sorry,” I cry.

“You made me look like an idiot out there! Damn, can’t you do anything right?”

“I’m just t-tired,” I stutter. “I need some sleep... alone.”

There’s a knock on the door. Before Korey can respond,Jessica enters the greenroom, eyes toggling between us.

“We have a problem,” she states.

“Yeah I know,” he snarls. “Someone ain’t got her shit together!”

“Not that. Well, not that exactly. It’s her parents. They’ve been calling. They want to arrange a visit.”

“Well, tell them she’s busy,” he says, arm motioning to the stage. “It’s not like we’re just kicking it on the beach. We working!”

“I know, but I can’t hold them off forever.”

Korey shoots me an angry look. “When do you turn eighteen again?”

I gulp. “Two months.”

He exhales. “Good! Then we can finally be fucking rid of them.” He plops down on the sofa, pouring himself a drink. “You know they’ve been breathing down my neck ever since you came into my life.”

I blink. “But... they’ve been nothing but nice to you.”

Korey snickers, shaking his head.