Page 91 of Lance

“God-awful record sales,” Dylanadds.

“It’s funny,” Layla says. “All it took was one real opportunity for us to turn thingsaround.”

It’s true. Ransom signed us to open for them in Europe and just like that, everythingchanged.

“Maybe life is a little like that,” Layla says, in that same serious voice. I swear if she doesn’t crack a joke soon I’m going to worry that she’s sick or something. “We can fail over and over again. But one good opportunity can turn it allaround.”

A sudden lump comes to my throat and I duck my head, not wanting her to see how those words hit me. For some reason all I can think of is my piano—not the fancy new Steinway in my house, but the old upright at my mom’s. She never gave up on me through all those problems I had in school, always searching for something that would help me. Sitting down at my first piano lesson had felt like all the weight of the world suddenly fell from my shoulders. The notes made sense in a way words never did for me. It was something I could justdo.

“This is the last sappy thing I’m going to say,” Layla says, leaning forward, “before I go up there and get that bartender’s number.” I look up, grinning in spite of myself, and find her eyes steady on mine. “Maybe that’s what Simon and Willa are for you. An opportunity to turn shitaround.”

She holds my gaze for a moment before straightening, flipping her hair behind her shoulders. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think it’s high time I went and made some bad choices of myown.”

Dylan and I both laugh, watching her go. “That’s better,” he says. “She was freaking me out a little bit. Being thatnice.”

“Seriously.”

“So,” Dylan says, shooting me a searching glance. “You feelingbetter?”

“You know what, man?” I say, my smile not fading one bit. “I actuallyam.”

* * *

Layla strikesout with the bartender (“He was a vegan,” she tells us with a shudder. “What am I supposed to do withthat?”) so we head back to the hotel after only a fewdrinks.

“This is probably better,” Dylan says as we walk into the lobby, throwing me a sideways glance. “You probably want to call Willa,huh?”

My stomach churns at the thought. “I don’t think you can make the kind of apology that I need to make over thephone.”

“Yeah,” Layla agrees. “You need to pull out the big guns. Flowers.Jewelry.”

“I don’t think Willa really goes for flowers and jewelry,” I say, biting back a laugh. More like comic books. Or maybe one of those lightsabers that she and Simon were obsessing over in theStar Warsstore at Disneyland. “But it’s going to take some majorgroveling.”

“And why are you groveling for mysister?”

Layla’s eyes go wide as she looks over myshoulder.

Shit.

I turn, feeling my stomach drop. James is standing right behind us, his foreheadfurrowed.

“Uh, what?” I ask, praying that some kind of inspiration will strikeme.

“You said you need to grovel for Willa.” His eyebrows come even closer together. “What’d youdo?”

“Just, uh, you know. Normalstuff?”

Dylan stomps on my foot. Apparently I’m not doing very well here. James’s expression is turning from suspicious to annoyed. “She was going to come to San Diego,” I blurt out. It’s not even a total lie. “But I didn’t want to take Simon out ofschool.”

He frowns. “You could encourage her to apply a little of that attitude to her own school,” hemutters.

I laugh, shooting for casual, but it comes out shrill. Dylan stomps on my foot again. James is giving me a strange look. I need to get out of here before I give itaway.

“Have you talked to her today?” he asks. “She’s not answering herphone.”

A little tremor of worry goes through me. “She texted me this afternoon when they got home from school.” I pull out my phone. There’s not another text from Willa, but there are three unanswered calls. All from a number I don’t recognize. “I must have left it on silent after the shoot,” I mutter. I should have called her earlier. Should have checkedin.

“Well, if you talk to her, tell her to call me,” he says. Over his shoulder I see Haylee walking toward us from the elevators. She frowns as we make eye contact and I wonder if I look as nervous as I suddenly feel. “And make sure you apologize for whatever you did,” he adds, his smile giving away his stern tones. “I don’t want you upsetting my littlesister.”