Chapter Thirty-One
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Quinn: Glam day tomorrow! Are you in?
Amanda: Same spot?
Quinn: Absolutely.
Amanda: Say less. I’m in!
Despite her precautions, Quinn’s hair was stiff with sand and her nails were a mess. She could not show up for her happy hour set looking like a mermaid ejected from the seas. So she had recruited Amanda, her partner in all things glam, and booked the appointments.
The next morning, Amanda was waiting on the pavement outside Ivy’s building. She raised an arm, as if hailing a taxi. Quinn pulled up to the kerb and slipped into the passenger seat.
‘You’re alone! Where’s Kya?’
‘Networking. Power lunch.’
‘How very serious of her.’
Kya had scheduled the meeting at the very last minute. She said nothing would come of it, but a girl could hope.
‘It’s just you and me today. Is that all right with you?’
‘Perfect.’
They drove to a modest salon in Miami’s lower east side, the same one they’d discovered together all those years ago. Quinn was loyal, and if she liked a business, no matter how small, no matter what picky reviewers had to say online, they had in her a customer for life.
Their hair washed and faces slathered with a conditioning mask, they sat side by side for pedicures.
‘You killed it on Tuesday,’ Amanda said. ‘The weather was horrible. The whole event could have gone bust, but you showed those people what you can do.’
‘Thanks, babe!’
Quinn no longer felt the pressure to show anyone anything except a good time. People had come out in spite of the weather and she owed it to them to make the night memorable. Although she was happy her friend liked her performance, she’d be even happier if she liked her girl. She wanted Kya to feel supported and welcomed in her world.
‘Kya says you two got along okay,’ she said tentatively. Why was she so nervous?
‘Once she loosened up, we had a blast.’
‘What do you mean?’
Kya was serious. It didn’t mean she was uptight.
‘She was having a mini–mental health crisis. We talked through it.’
‘Don’t exaggerate!’
‘It’s the truth! You know what else is true? I think she’s caught feelings for you. Like, for real feelings. She’s down bad.’
‘I’m not sure we’re talking about the same person. Kya keeps her emotions locked in a vault.’
‘Well now she’s let them all out. She was convinced you were cross with her over something or another, I don’t even know. She fell to pieces.’
To pieces?!
The salon owner approached them. ‘Ladies? Bottled water?’
‘Yes, thanks,’ they replied in unison.
Quinn sipped her water, trying to make sense of what she’d learned. She couldn’t imagine Kya falling apart in front of anyone let alone someone she’d just met. Then again, her words echoed in Quinn’s head. You dragged me through hell. She hadn’t taken that accusation seriously. Perhaps she should have.
‘I met Victor’s friend Nick,’ Amanda said. ‘He was flirty in a dark, unappealing way.’
‘I don’t know about him,’ Quinn said.
‘Seems like no one does.’
‘We’ll find you someone better.’
‘Please do, and soon. Remember, I don’t have much time. I fly home on Monday.’
‘Don’t worry. I got you.’
A good guy was hard to find, but surely Amanda could do better.
‘On second thought, forget it,’ Amanda said. ‘Don’t trouble yourself.’
‘No trouble,’ Quinn assured her. ‘I’ll check my roster.’
‘I’ve changed my mind. I don’t need a man to have fun.’
‘True! You’re a vibe unto yourself.’
‘Plus, I’ve got you lot.’
‘We’re way more fun than any guy.’
‘It’s settled. This holiday is for the girls.’
While Amanda’s nail technician showed her an array of nude colours, all the same shade of ballet slipper pink, Quinn took a call. It was Jenna, the event coordinator at BLU.
‘Calling to tell you how pleased we were with your performance at Splash.’
‘My pleasure.’
‘You handled the setbacks professionally. That’s exactly what we’re looking for on team BLU. I’m calling to extend an invitation for you to return later this summer.’
‘I’d love that. Get in touch with my booking agent and we’ll set a date.’
‘We’re looking for more than just one booking. That’s why I’m calling, to see how you might feel about a residency.’
‘Pardon?’
Had she heard right? Headlining at BLU would be a dream! The venue attracted the biggest talent from all over the world. Quinn had avoided all long-term commitments since wrapping her Nikki Beach residency. The gig had dragged on far too long. She had turned down several since then, preferring short-term commitments that allowed her to work as much or as little as she wanted. But the right residency would do two things: 1) put her squarely on the map; 2) provide stable income. She could quit a myriad of other gigs. She wouldn’t have to play for lawyers, accountants, and bankers at their annual reunions. She could test her new music to live audiences in real time. A residency would offer stability until she figured out her next move. She was keen on making music of her own and the extra income would make that transition a lot smoother. In a matter of seconds, Quinn saw her future clearly. A pristine sky, not one cloud, not a single blemish. This was it! The missing element that would fuse everything together.
Of course, she could not let Jenna in on this.
‘A residency is quite a commitment,’ Quinn said coolly. ‘How long did you have in mind?’
‘One year,’ she replied. ‘I realize you’re very much in demand. My goal is to get the conversation started. Talk to your people, and when you’re ready for a discussion, please get in touch.’
That sounded reasonable.
‘Will do.’
‘I’m glad you’re open to it. Talk soon.’
When she got off the phone, Amanda asked, ‘What was that about?’
‘A potential residency at BLU for one full year.’
‘Is that, like, a residency in Vegas? Would that make you the Céline Dion of house music?’
‘I think so!’
‘Brilliant! Things are looking good for us.’
Quinn leaned back in the padded recliner and closed her eyes.
Quinn returned home to find Kya on her back on the sitting room floor, feet propped up on the sofa, braids fanned out on the rug. Don’t you look comfortable, she was tempted to say, only Kya didn’t look all that comfortable. She clutched her phone with a tight grip. Her brows were drawn tight as her gaze skimmed the screen.
‘Hey, babe,’ she said.
‘Hi,’ Kya replied thinly.
Something was wrong.
Quinn kicked off her shoes and sank down on the floor next to her. Kya smiled and clutched her phone tighter, angling the screen away.
‘I’m not an insecure person,’ Quinn said. ‘If I were, I’d say you’re acting shady, maybe texting an ex.’
‘My ex is blocked,’ Kya said. ‘I block them all.’
‘Ruthless,’ Quinn said. ‘You’d block me?’
‘Never,’ Kya replied. ‘While you’re on tour, taking over the world, I’ll be curled in bed, watching your performances on YouTube.’
‘Will you cry yourself to sleep?’ Quinn asked, just to complete the picture.
‘I’ll put together a sad girl playlist and everything.’
‘Could you add some Bonnie Tyler to the mix, for good measure?’
‘Anything you like.’
‘For the moment, we’re still very much together.’ Quinn joined her on the floor. ‘Maybe hit pause on those plans?’
‘Maybe.’ Kya’s gaze fanned her face. ‘You look pretty.’
‘I was going for stunning.’
‘You’re always stunning.’
‘Please tell me what’s going on,’ Quinn whispered. ‘You looked so stressed just now. Was it lunch? Was it terrible?’
‘Lunch was great. I got an idea for a new series for Girl Decoded.’
‘Sounds exciting.’ Quinn leaned close and touched the tip of her nose to hers then pulled away. ‘Why aren’t you excited?’
‘Because I logged into my account just now and it’s a dumpster fire.’
‘Is it?’
‘The comments, the DMs … Everyone wants to know why I was let go and what my plans are. I don’t have an answer to either of those questions.’
‘You don’t owe them any answers,’ Quinn said.
‘It’s not that simple,’ Kya said. ‘I created this community. I owe them transparency.’
‘You told them the truth. You don’t owe them any more than that,’ Quinn said hotly. ‘If they truly cared about you, they’d give you time. They wouldn’t pressure you like this.’
She was sceptical of this so-called community. Hadn’t one of them turned on Kya? Gone out of their way to humiliate her? Hadn’t they readily believed the lies?
‘Want my advice?’
‘I want you. Not sure about the advice.’
Kya was already more relaxed than when Quinn had found her a moment ago. The phone tossed aside, abandoned, she sat upright. ‘You’re getting it anyway,’ she said. ‘Post your blog, the whole bloody series. If anyone has anything negative to say, activate your inner bitch and block them .’
Kya reached up and cupped Quinn’s face. ‘Say that again.’
‘You flirt.’
Quinn was laughing when it struck her. She owed Kya transparency.
‘Jenna called today with an offer.’
‘I’m not a confident woman, so I’ll just say it: this makes me nervous.’
‘It’s a job offer, babe,’ Quinn said. ‘A year-long residency at BLU.’
‘That’s amazing! Does it come with the suite?’ Kya asked.
‘Hmm … I don’t think so.’
‘Still amazing!’
‘She was impressed by the way I handled the rain and all the setbacks,’ Quinn explained.
‘Did you tell her you were also handling a personal crisis at the time?’ Kya asked.
‘Right … I’ll call her back, tell her my girlfriend was driving me mad. She’ll be properly impressed.’
Kya stared up at her blankly and then turned away, her cheeks flaming red.
‘What is it?’ Quinn asked.
‘Nothing,’ she said quickly.
It was not ‘nothing’. Quinn played back the track and found the glitch. GIRLFRIEND. Now she was as perplexed as Kya looked. What was she thinking? That word was loaded. You couldn’t toss it out like that mid-conversation!
‘I’m proud of you,’ Kya said, breaking the awkward silence. ‘Congrats, Quinn.’
‘Thanks.’ She sensed there was something more, but didn’t press it. ‘We should celebrate. I’ve got just the thing. Prawn cocktail crisps straight from home.’
Kya sat up and crossed her legs. ‘Prawn what?’
‘Crisps!’ Quinn hollered from the kitchen. She reached into the cupboard for the familiar pink bag.
‘I had shrimp salad with lunch!’ Kya hollered back.
‘Forget your salad!’ Quinn balked. ‘You claim to be a snack connoisseur. Well, you haven’t lived until you’ve tried these.’
‘I doubt that very much.’
Quinn returned to the sitting room and sat on the rug, facing Kya. She ripped open the package. ‘Open your mouth and close your eyes.’
Kya did as she was told. Quinn slowly lowered the bag to the floor, quickly losing interest. This woman … so trusting, so open. The idea that she could someday be blocked from her life made Quinn queasy.
‘Open your eyes,’ Quinn whispered.
Kya blinked her eyes open, uncertain as to why the rules had changed. Quinn crushed away her confusion with a kiss.