44. Waking Up
Waking Up
MARY
“You raged,” Barry laughed as we left the stage. “The crowd ate that shit up.”
It was true. I wasn’t sure I should have been proud for nailing my raunchiest song yet-to-date all to raise money for a children’s music charity, but those were the breaks. We killed it. I hoped to channel that feeling into a strong performance tomorrow.
“It really felt good to play it with the piano,” I said. “Could we add that to the setlist. Pair it down sometimes?”
“Sure,” Barry said. “Whatever you want, champ.”
“Uh… hello,” Alicia tutted. “You’re not going to say anything else?”
“About what?” I asked.
“Was it worth it?” Alicia asked.
“Worth what?” I wondered, confused.
“Well, you just played a song about going down on a woman as she sat there with her entire family watching you perform,” Clarice said.
“What?” I stopped dead, praying that I misheard.
“Your girl was up there.”
“Up… where?” My throat tightened.
“The fucking balcony, bitch!” Alicia said.
“Did you miss that bit? They wished Betty a happy birthday,” Clarice said. “You know, as we were getting here?”
“She missed it,” Barry said. “She was on the phone with her dad.”
The airline stranded my father in Oslo without anyone to travel with him to Trondheim.
He didn’t want to fly alone when his arthritis was at its absolute worst, so I asked him to wait for his younger sister to help him on the last leg.
I’d been talking him off the ledge. He was terrified he would miss my big moment.
I couldn’t stay focused on that. I had to deal with our song’s immediate aftermath.
“You’re… serious?” I asked.
“Serious as a fucking heart attack, yeah,” Clarice said. “Shit… your dad isn’t having a heart attack, right?”
“No. Thank God.” I shook my head, wanting to vomit “Look, we cannot play this song again.”
“You have to,” AJ chimed. “It’s on the LP and it’s in the Euro Top Ten.”
I wanted to crawl out of my skin. He was right.
I had no choice but play it. I wasn’t ashamed of the song.
I was more worried about how Betty’s family might judge me.
Not only was the song bawdy, but it also seemed rather cruel.
It cast them in a bad light—unintentionally.
I no longer believed they were there to judge her, but now the song was out in the world. It couldn’t be covered up any longer.
Alicia patted my back, “Babes, the kids love it.”
I pulled my hair. “The kids shouldn’t even be listening to it! Where is my phone?”
“Addison has it,” AJ said. “Remember?”
We settled in and found our new assistant, a slightly-too-perky girl named Addison. I’d been yelled at for being on my phone with my dad, and had practically thrown it at her just to get her off my back.
“Can I… have my phone?” I asked nervously.
She handed it back, confused. “You know we have to go back out if we win this for the dog charity?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I took my mobile and turned it on.
As it rebooted, I spotted the text.
?LSKLING
So, I got dragged to this charity thing. I’m up in the stands. Plz ignore me.
I panicked, waking from my stupor. Feverishly, I texted.
ME
I swear I didn’t know you were here. I am so sorry you had to sit through that with your family.
?LSKLING
Well, I think Keir never wants to look at me again and Ingrid thinks it’s the most romantic, badass thing ever. Nate is oblivious, as are my parents.
I sighed in relief. It meant her older brother wouldn’t dare talk about it and her parents remained in the dark.
?LSKLING
You killed it, by the way.
ME
I am only hoping I didn’t kill any chance with you.
?LSKLING
Well, I was going to tell them about us tomorrow, but I definitely need that memory to subside a bit.
I snickered and breathed relief. She had a plan to tell them and wasn’t about to do it when my words were still so close. We’d get there.
ME
Yeah, perhaps?
?LSKLING
I am so fucking proud of you, baby.
Her words caught me by surprise. She wasn’t angry. She just loved me. Her parents didn’t hate me, either. If she was concerned, she wouldn’t have joked about it or shifted to praising me. We were okay.
ME
Thanks. I am trying not to worry too much about your family hating me now. Why did they drag you here?
?LSKLING
It’s my birthday tomorrow. I suspect Ingrid planned this as a way to have fun. She can never just stay out of things.
I panicked for another reason and turned to Alicia.
“What the fuck do I buy her for her birthday? It’s her fucking birthday. Oh my God, I need a present!”
“Calm down. There’s no way you can get her anything truly special that she doesn’t already have,” Clarice said. “That could take the pressure off?”
“Not helpful,” Barry said. “Who pissed in your bloody Cheerios?”
“Life.” Clarice shrugged.
“We will figure it out,” Alicia said. “Promise.”
I wanted to trust her, but what did you get the girl who had literally everything?
“I have an idea,” Clarice offered. “And it’s kinda corny, but… I think your girl likes corny.”
“I am all ears,” I said. For Betty, I’d get sappy in a heartbeat.
“With Bea’s penmanship and your words, you could make that new song of ours work. Write it out pretty, do some of the doodles you do, and sign it with some sweet nothings. We could grab a journal at the stationary store around the corner from the hotel.”
It was a sweet idea. I knew she’d find it thoughtful and the song was a proper love song. A journal was very me, but something I suspected Betty would want to cherish and could cherish.
“Would we have time?” I winced.
“Bitch, we will make time!” Alicia declared.