Chapter 6 #3
I shot off a text to let JJ know I’d arrived, along with my room number in case he wanted to hang out after the show.
He’d offered me a backstage pass, but I’d already booked my flight, which got in too late for me to attend.
A quick glance at the alarm clock on the nightstand told me they were probably halfway through their set.
That gave me plenty of time to hop in the shower and finalize my plans for tomorrow.
It was nearly midnight when I finally heard a soft knock. I hurried across the room to open the door for JJ, only it wasn’t him.
Oliver stood in the hall with his hands tucked into the front pockets of his jeans.
He was wearing a sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, as if that would stop a fan from recognizing him.
When his gaze met mine, the corners of his mouth curled into a grin.
That was all it took—one smooth upward motion of his lips, and my heart was a fluttery mess.
“Hey, Cara. What’s up?”
“Not much. I was about to go to bed.” My voice came out squeaky, so I cleared my throat before asking, “What are you doing here?”
Oliver arched a single brow. “I’d ask you the same question, but there’s something I want to talk to you about. Is it okay if I come in?”
Because my mind always jumped to the worst possible conclusions, I immediately wondered if JJ had told Oliver about my crush. That stopped my heart’s wild pounding in its tracks, and icy dread started to inch its way through my veins.
“This will be quick, I promise,” he added when I hesitated.
“Um. Okay, sure.” Even though I didn’t want to, I fully opened the door and stepped aside.
Oliver brushed past me, wandered over to the small sitting area, and sank onto one of the armchairs. “So,” he said, aiming a swoon-worthy smile in my direction, “any chance you’ll tell me what you’re doing in Miami? JJ was surprisingly tight-lipped.”
Thank the Lord for that. “That’s kind of private.”
His brow popped up again. “Something private that JJ knows about?”
I nodded.
“Interesting.” He cocked his head and assessed me. “You must have really hit it off at the party. Are you two—”
“It’s not like that,” I said in a rush, my cheeks heating at the mere suggestion. “He’s just helping me out with something.”
This made Oliver frown. “Does Stella know about this?”
“No.” My response came out sharp. Sharper than I’d ever spoken to Oliver before, and he looked taken aback. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you. Things have been kind of…tense between us, so I haven’t reached out to her in a while.”
“That’s actually what I want to discuss,” Oliver segued. “Stella’s been upset since January. What happened between you two? She hasn’t given me very many details.”
I pressed my lips together in a slight grimace. “I don’t want to be rude, Oliver, but that’s between me and my sister.”
Clearly this wasn’t the answer he was expecting, because he drummed his fingers against the armrest of the chair and tried not to frown. “I get that, and I swear I’m not trying to pry. I hate seeing her like this though. She misses talking with you. You’re her best friend.”
My heart melted at the worry in his voice.
“I miss her too, but…” I trailed off and sighed.
Would it really be so bad if I gave Oliver the highlights?
His concern for Stella was obvious, and it wasn’t like I had to get into all the gory details.
“When I was diagnosed, Stella decided to put my needs above her own. Everything she’s done for me—it means the world to me, but it’s also altered our relationship in a negative way. ”
“How so?”
“She doesn’t treat me like a sister or a friend. She acts like I’m a child she needs to take care of,” I explained. “I understand she’s worried about me, but it’s stifling.”
“Well, have you talked to her about it?”
Not really, I thought, averting my gaze. At least not since my bone marrow transplant. “You know how hardheaded she can be…”
He grunted in agreement at that.
“I know you’re concerned about her,” I added, “but I promise it won’t be like this forever.”
Oliver looked glum, but he ran a hand through his hair and nodded. “Yeah, okay.”
“Can you do me a favor?” I asked, leaning forward. “Please don’t tell her I was here. She should hear it from me, but the two of us need to have a long conversation, and I need some time.”
Another nod. “All right.”
“Thanks, Oliver.”
“Well, I should probably get going,” he said, pushing himself up. “I have an early flight back to Portland tomorrow morning. JJ said he’d meet you in the lobby at nine.”
I frowned, wondering why he was telling me this instead of JJ himself. He hadn’t responded to my text, but he must have seen it if he’d given Oliver my room number. “Is everything okay with him?”
Oliver rubbed his jaw, then shrugged. “I think so? He had to visit our tour physician. It was something to do with his wrist, but he seemed fine.”
“Okay, well, have a safe flight home.”
“Thanks. I hope whatever secret thing you two have planned for tomorrow goes well.”
“Me too. Oh, and can you tell JJ to meet me in the lobby at six instead of nine?”
His eyes widened. “A.m.?”
“Yup.”
“Oh man,” he said, his lips slowly curling into a grin. “He’s going to love that.”
I returned his smile. “He can deal with it.”