Page 34 of Love on the Main Stage
All of us stopped, unable to speak.
“We’re playing Miragelite on the main stage in the evening?” I needed confirmation. “In front of all those people?”
“I mean, you are musicians. I’m trying to sell a stadium tour. And the documentary crew is desperate to follow,” AJ said. “Is this a problem? I thought you’d be over the moon!”
I looked at the band, needing a redundant confirmation.
“It’s fucking amazing!” Alicia said. “Get out of your funk, Mary. Isn’t it the home of American elder gays? You’ll probably fit right in.”
Her humor cut through my astonishment. “Oh my god! Stop being a bitch!” I laughed. “Obviously, I will do it, but I hate the heat.”
I had no idea what I got myself into.
Chapter 13
Ghosted
BETTY
“Why the long face?” My brother Keir teased.
I slumped on the couch by my brother. A very sleepy five-month-old, Alexandra, named after Ingrid’s queenly older sister, lay on his chest.
“Nothing,” I said.
“I’m not buying it.”
I shot him daggers and crossed my arms. Itwasn’tnothing, but it also wasn’t like my horse died or I’d been kicked off the squad. Professionally, I was having the season I waited years for. Internally, I was melting down after radio silence from a woman I thought adored me. Why had I let her get to me? Why did I hold her to a higher standard than any other one-night stand?
“What happened? C’mon, Bets, you can tell me.”
“You know I hate that, right? I’m not even a full two years younger than your wife.”
He rolled his eyes. “Betty, you will always be my baby sister, so just shut up. I’m serious. You’ve looked down for like three days. And you’re not the one who fell off thehorse.”
Ingrid came off in the water on a green horse two days ago. Keir acted like her very life was at risk.
“She’s going to fall, Keir,” I said. “It’s part of the job. And you never care when Cici and I fall.”
“You and Cici aren’t the mother of my children,” Keir said. “I love you both, too, but it hits totally different.”
“Fair,” I agreed, “But she’s fine, bro. Nah. It’s not from a lack of confidence on horseback. It’s just… I… nah. I amnotdoing this with you.”
He laughed. “Oh, does this have to do with whatever clandestine hookup you had that made you appear at our door minutes before you were already supposed to be at the showgrounds?”
I glared.
“I do realize you have a life, sister. It’s okay. I mean, it makes me want to punt the guy who hurt you, but it’s fine.”
It’s not a guy.
“I’m not getting into it,” I said. “I just really trusted this person even if I had no reason to. I’ve been ghosted, I guess.”
“How long has it been?”
“You act like you understand how this works, mister I’ve been love drunk for a decade withmybest friend.”
“If after a decade you haven’t moved on?—”
