The Girl in the Love Song (Lost Boys 1)

A short silence. “Violet?”

“Yes.” I frowned. “Did you mean to call someone else?”

“I’m calling Miller. Isn’t this his phone?”

“What? No…” I examined the phone I held and realized she was right. “Oh, sorry. I was half asleep.”

“Is he there?”

“He is,” I said tightly. “Sleeping.”

If it shocked or upset Evelyn to know Miller and I were in bed together, she didn’t show it. “Okay, don’t wake him. Just pass on the message that I’m ready to go whenever he is. Oh, and tell him, thanks again! Ciao!”

The phone went quiet, and I stared at it for a few moments. The screen reverted back to its locked position, but a text notification was there, the start of the message visible. From Evelyn, sent last night.

You did it, baby!! xoxoxoxo…

I set the phone on the nightstand and lay on my back.

Ready to go…where?

Miller slept for another few minutes then slowly came awake. He glanced around confused, sleep still clinging to him, and his gaze landed on me. The smile that came over him to see me was so beautiful and soft…and short-lived.

“What is it? Was last night…? Was it too much?”

“Last night was perfect.”

He looked almost shy. “I thought so too. But what’s wrong?”

“Evelyn called you,” I said, sitting up against the headboard and tucking the sheet around me. “I answered your phone by mistake. She said to tell you she’s ready to go whenever you are.”

Miller’s head fell back, and he rolled his eyes at the ceiling. “Goddamn her.”

“What is she talking about?”

He sat up beside me, covering himself to the waist, and ran a hand through his tousled hair. “She’s talking about Los Angeles. I promised her that if I signed a contract, I’d take her with me to record the album. As my personal assistant.”

My skin went cold all over, while my cheeks burned as if I’d been slapped.

“Why…why would you do that? Do you need a personal assistant?”

“I don’t need anything,” he said. “It’s for her. To get her foot in the door. To make her own connections and then she’s gone. I wouldn’t have even entertained the idea except she needs…help. I can’t tell you more. I promised her I wouldn’t.” He bit off a curse. “I know how it looks—”

“How does it look, Miller?” I asked, my voice cracking. “Are you going to be living with her?”

“No. I don’t know where I’m going to live, but… no. There’s nothing between us, I swear. And yes, I can hear myself. I sound like a fucking jackass. I was going to tell you first and explain everything.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before you left? How long have you and she been planning this?”

“Nothing’s planned. She made me promise before I left. Literally, on the way to the airport. It sounded crazy and impossible, but, then again, so did getting a record deal in the first place.”

I shook my head and climbed out of bed, feeling more naked than I was. I quickly pulled on a T-shirt and my shorts.

“Talk to me, Vi,” Miller said. He cleared his throat. “I thought you trusted me.”

“I don’t trust her. She plays the long game, Miller. It took her the entire school year to get back at me for being Homecoming Queen, but she did it. And somehow arranged for you to be Prom King.”

He made a face, then snorted. “No way. That’s fucking ridiculous.”