“What the hell did that mean?” Luke asked.
“It’ll all work itself out.” Jace laughed.
“Why didn’t he just say that?”
“Probably to see the look on your face.” He pointed. “That look.”
Luke scowled. “Whatever. In the morning, we need to talk strategy. We should be looking at lining up some projects for just you on the way back to Austin. Once you get there, you’ll be in the studio getting the album done.”
Just when he thought he was getting a feel for things, Luke had found some new opportunity to shake things up. Better to remember the album was the original deal. Wheelhouse Records had signed him for one year and one contract. Everything else? That was up to him—and Luke.
“Oh shit, I forgot.” Luke smiled. “You wear cologne?”
Jace frowned. “Not normally.”
Luke’s smile grew. “You might be. We’ll talk.”
Two hours later, Jace was in his dressing room downing a bottle of water when his phone started vibrating.
Heather. Not a text like normal.
“What’s wrong?” Jace asked.
“Nothing. Why does something have to be wrong?” She paused. “Breathe, Jace.”
“I’m breathing. You’re calling, so something has to be up.”
“Well, it’s just…don’t get mad, okay?”
He sat on the small sofa in his dressing room. “Okay?”
“These reporters showed up today.” She sighed. “I didn’t talk to them, much. But my roommate, the one I thought was my friend, she might have talked to them.”
He sat back, pressing the cold water bottle to his head. “What might she have said?”
“Probably a whole bunch of stuff that I said—when I thought she was, you know, actually my friend.” Her voice broke. “Jace, I’m sorry. I am such an idiot. I don’t even belong here—”
“Hold on now.” He sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You know I can’t handle it when you cry, Heather. Especially when you’re this far away.”
She took several long, shuddering breaths.
He stood and paced the dressing room. “Talk to me.”
“I don’t know. I’m used to having you to talk to. I thought Brenna was someone I could talk to. And it was more stuff that I hoped would happen, you know? You and Krystal and how I wanted you two to get together. I told her that. I’m so stupid. Trusting people.”
“Trusting people isn’t stupid.” He sighed. “It’s knowing who you can and can’t trust.”
“I guess.” She sniffed. “I went to see about getting a new roommate and Brenna started crying because she was sorry—”
“Heather, if she’s sorry, maybe you can work this thing out?” He turned to see Krystal in his dressing room, leaning against the door, an odd look on her face.
“Why would I want to?” Heather sniffed again. “How would I ever learn to trust her again?”
“Trust takes time.” He tore his gaze from Krystal. “People mess up, you know that. If you don’t think there’s a way to work this out, then I’ll see about getting you moved to another room. If you do, you should give it a try.”
She sighed.
“You remember what Gramma said?” He was smiling. “Nothing worth a thing will come—”