The Loneliest Tour (12 page)

“
What
do you think, Masie?
”
Ana
asked.

“
Yeah,
they
’
re something,
”
Masie said.
“
Hey, are we practicing privately
at all or what?
”

“
No,
”
Josie said.
“
We know the moves. It
’
s done. It
’
s not like we
’
re ballerinas or something. This
is a rock tour. They
’
re
paying us to be on stage and look sexy. And I
’
m
sure they figure we
’
ll
eventually crack and sleep with them.
”

“
You
will,
”
Ana said with a
laugh.

“
Me?
”
Josie asked.
“
Never.
”

“
Masie
will,
”
Gabby said.

“
Not
a chance,
”
Masie said.

“
Like
hell,
”
Gabby said.
“
Colin handpicked you. You better
play by the rules.
”

“
What
rules?
”
Masie asked.

“
Come
on, you know the rules. Everyone has to sleep with someone to get ahead.
”

Masie kept her mouth shut. She
walked away, grabbing her bag.

She hated when people like Gabby
said things like that.

Once off the stage, Masie went to
the side door. All she wanted now was a hot shower and then something to eat.
The day had been mostly productive. It was better than having a terrible day.

Outside, Masie rushed to her car.
Before she could open it, someone was calling her name. She looked back and saw
Jett racing toward her, waving his arms.

No, Jett, please. Just not right
now.

He got to her car.
“
What are you doing, sweetheart?
”

“
I
’
m leaving.
”

“
Why?
Something wrong?
”

“
Just
tired. Long day so far. I guess we
’
re
all ready for the tour. Which is good.
”

“
Hey,
wait a second. I came all the way here to see you.
”

“
And
you
’
re seeing me now, Jett.
”

Jett stepped back.
“
Whoa. What
’
s wrong?
”

“
Nothing,
”
Masie said.
“
I
’
m
just
…”
She looked at the
practice stage building. She shook her head.

“
Hey,
what is it?
”
Jett asked. He
touched her arm.
“
Did
something happen in there?
”

“
No,
”
Masie said.
“
I
’
m
grumpy. That
’
s all. Maybe a
little mad at myself for leaving last night. I should have stayed. Hung out
with you and the band. Mingled.
”
Masie looked into Jett
’
s
eyes.
“
Maybe it would have
helped me. Right? Sleep with someone to get ahead.
”

“
Who
said anything about sleeping together?
”
Jett asked.

“
Exactly.
”

Masie opened the door and Jett
backed up. He folded his arms.
“
Did
you hear something about me?
”

“
What?
No. Why?
”

“
You
seem way different today, Masie. I spent my entire day waiting to see you.
”

“
Like
I said, you saw me.
”

She started her car.

But Jett wasn
’
t accepting that answer. He put
his hands to the open window and leaned down.

“
Let
’
s forget about all this stuff
then tonight. Just you and me. I
’
m
going to take you out to dinner.
”

“
No
thanks. I don
’
t need
…”

“
Yes,
you do,
”
Jett said.

He touched her chin and smiled. It
made Masie
’
s toes curl in
her shoes. Her body was heating up more now than when she was dancing on stage.

“
Jett,
you don
’
t know me,
”
Masie whispered.

“
I
’
m going to fix that. Starting
tonight. I
’
ll be there
around seven to pick you up. Just you and me. We
’
ll
do something fun and low key.
”

“
You
don
’
t know where I live.
”

“
I
’
m a rockstar. I can find things
out. Unless, of course, you just tell me. Whatever you
’
d prefer though.
”

Masie smirked.
“
Come find me. Then we
’
ll talk.
”

Masie crept forward and Jett moved
from the car. As she drove away, she didn
’
t
believe for a second that Jett would actually find her and take her out. And
when she thought that, she instantly regretted leaving.

He was right there. Right now.
Waiting for her.

But Masie
’
s heart hung with weight.

She really wanted her opportunity
to come forward with her personal career. Not to repeat the same mistakes from
before. Because the last time it all got messed up, it cost her damn near
everything.

(8)

Masie showered, dressed, and stood
at the window like a kid waiting for the first flake of snow. She smiled the
entire time, living out the fantasy of Jett actually showing up. It was almost
seven and there was no sign of Jett. It wasn't like Masie had gotten into some
kind of ballroom gown or anything. She was in what she thought to be regular
clothes. After all, Jett did say something fun and low key, right?

Masie
’
s
cell started to ring.

It was Ann Marie calling.

That was one call Masie could never
ignore.

“
Hey
there,
”
Masie said.

“
Masie.
It
’
s good to hear your
voice.
”

“
You
too. Did you get my pictures?
”

“
Yeah,
I love them. I just love them. That show looked really great.
”

“
It
was fun,
”
Masie said.

“
Masie?
”

“
What?
”

“
It
was fun
,
”
Ann Marie
said.
“
That
’
s a total lie.
”

“
How
’
s the dance school?
”

“
That
’
s what you want to ask me?
”

“
Yes,
”
Masie said.
“
Please. Just tell me.
”

“
The
school is great. The girls miss you, of course. I show them the pictures. They
’
re so excited that you
’
re famous now.
”

“
Famous?
Not even close.
”

“
To
them, Masie, you are. Remember that. I
’
m
sure this isn
’
t your dream,
but it
’
s something.
”

“
I
know. It is something.
”

“
The
girls are amazed by it. You have to stop by. When you get a break from touring.
Oh, I can
’
t believe I get
to say that. Touring.
”

“
It
’
s a small tour,
”
Masie said.

“
It
’
s a tour.
”

“
I
know.
”

Masie bit her lip, feeling selfish
and foolish. A lot of people would give anything to be in Masie
’
s position. It was work. It was
dancing.

“
Tell
me about it,
”
Ann Marie
said.
“
Tell me what
’
s so bad.
”

“
I
had a different vision,
”
Masie said.
“
I know I
’
m lucky. It
’
s just
…
the band
…
the guys
…”

“
Sweetie,
that
’
s all men,
”
Ann Marie said and laughed. She
had been divorced twice.
“
They
’
re all the same. Whether you
’
re dealing with rockstars or
someone who is a professional.
”

Masie shut her eyes and nodded. She
knew it. Oh, she knew it.

“
I
hope it leads to something else for me,
”
Masie said.

“
It
will. I promise. Even if you get off tour and nothing comes right away, just
know this is huge. You never know who you
’
ll
get to meet.
”

Masie glanced at the clock. It was
just a couple minutes from seven.

“
You
know they
’
re touring with
Willow Son, right?
”
Masie
asked.

“
That
’
s amazing,
”
Ann Marie said.
“
Have you met them?
”

“
Yes,
I have. I got to go to the VIP lounge last night.
”

“
Were
you a good girl?
”
Ann Marie
laughed and giggled.

“
Of
course I was,
”
Masie
yelled.
“
My goodness, Ann
Marie.
”

Ann Marie laughed again.
“
Hey, it
’
s all good and fun. If I was your age. And I had
that opportunity. My goodness.
”

“
Oh,
stop, you
’
re going to make
me blush.
”

“
Don
’
t blush. You
’
re a beautiful young woman.
”

“
Thanks,
”
Masie said.
“
Do you have plans for the next
recital?
”

“
Yeah.
I
’
m working on something. I
was hoping you could offer some of the fancy rockstar moves. The girls would
love that.
”

“
I
’
ll see what I can do,
”
Masie said.
“
I can
’
t wait to get back there.
”

“
No,
”
Ann Marie said.
“
No. You
’
re not coming back here. You
’
re going to be on tour for the rest of your life.
”

Masie had to laugh. She loved Ann
Marie
’
s spirit. The woman
always knew how to make her smile.

“
I
miss you,
”
Masie said.
“
I know we
’
re only an hour away, but it feels like so much
more.
”

“
Yeah,
it does,
”
Ann Marie said.
“
I promise, we
’
ll see each other soon. Maybe I
’
ll get some tickets to a show.
So I can see what everyone else does.
”

“
That
would be amazing. To see you in the crowd of a rock concert.
”

“
Hey,
I used to party,
”
said Ann
Marie.
“
I can get wild.
”

“
I
’
m sure you can.
”

Masie looked at the clock again.

It was after seven.

Jett wasn
’
t coming.

A little pain rolled through Masie
’
s heart. She couldn
’
t believe she actually felt let
down right now. She was the one who drove away from Jett. He had made it clear
he had come to see her. And yet one stupid comment from one of the dancers and
it got to Masie.

“
Hey,
are you there?
”

Masie blinked.
“
Yeah. Sorry.
”

“
Did
you hear me about Mrs. Lawley?
”

“
No.
What?
”

“
She
got busted for stealing the newspaper.
”

“
I
told you she was taking it,
”
Masie said.
“
Did she get
arrested?
”

“
No,
”
Ann Marie said.
“
She
’
s seventy. The police came and yelled at her. She
gave me the newspaper and walked away.
”