A Chance Encounter

Once I’ve met with the final fan, I head over to Greg and Nicole. We usually have a meeting after the show to discuss how it went, but tonight it’s going to have to wait.

“I already know what you’re going to say,” Nicole says. “Have fun. I’ll see you Monday for the show. You have a flight scheduled out of LAX and I emailed you all the details.”

“Thanks, sis.” I pull her into a side hug and kiss her cheek. “See ya, Greg!” I yell back as I sprint down the hall.

When I get back to the dressing room, Kendall and Sophia are sitting on the couch watching something on Sophia’s phone, each with one earbud in their ear. When they see me, they remove them.

“Sorry it took me so long. I hate leaving without greeting everyone.”

“We’re fine,” Sophia says. “We were watching the videos Kendall took of you.”

I walk over to the table with the gift basket of shit the venue provides. It has all the merchandise that’s being sold, plus extras. I grab it and bring it over to Kendall, whose face lights up. “For me?”

“For my favorite VIP.” I snag the VIP lanyard out of the basket and put it around her neck. “I’m so glad you guys are here.” It’s been a long as hell month without them. I now get why when my dad went on tour when we were little, my mom, Nicole, and I went along. I can’t imagine not seeing them for months.

“Thank you,” Kendall says, scouring through the basket.

“You ready to get going?” I ask them, excited to show them where I live.

“Yes,” Sophia groans. “I’m exhausted. But we do have a hotel…”

“Is that where you want to stay?”

“Well, no, but I did pay for the hotel and—”

This woman. She just doesn’t get it. “Whatever the hotel cost, I’ll pay you back.”

“No. I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that I hate for it to go to waste when it’s paid for…” She looks at me nervously and I know something else is going on.

“Can I talk to you over there for a second?” I nod toward the table, not wanting to talk in front of Kendall.

“Okay.”

“Listen,” I say once we’re out of earshot. “I know everything between us is new, but in order for us to have a chance at working, you’re going to have to let me in.” Her face falls. “Whatever is going through your head, just tell me. I can’t do anything about it if you keep it to yourself.”

She releases a soft sigh. “I’m sorry. I’m used to it being me against the world and it’s going to take some time to realize someone else is in my corner.”

“You let Naomi in,” I point out.

“Naomi’s my cousin, and even she hasn’t been let in completely,” she mutters, her lips forming a slight frown. “I’m worried your house won’t be child friendly and Kendall might mess something up or break something. I love my daughter, and she’s a good kid, but she’s still six.”

“Everything in that house is replaceable. There won’t be much for her to do there since I don’t have any toys, but we’re just going to sleep. How long are you staying?”

“Our flight leaves Monday morning when yours does.”

Fuck yes. I have the entire weekend with them. “Cool. How about we go back to my place and get her to bed since she’s already half-asleep.” Kendall’s eyes are drooping and her head is lulling to the side. “And tomorrow morning we can talk and figure out what to do this weekend.”

“Okay,” she says, suddenly looking nervous. She gnaws on her bottom lip, and I know something is wrong. We can’t continue like this. One way or another, we have to figure this out, which means she’s going to have to talk to me.

An hour later, we’re back at my house and Kendall is fast asleep in one of my guest beds. Sophia is in my guest shower, rinsing off, and I’m taking a shower in my bathroom. Once I’m clean, I throw on a pair of basketball shorts and a T-shirt and head out to the living room to wait for Sophia to finish up.

While I wait, I go through some email reminders Nicole sent me for this week. After we do the two shows that were canceled, the tour will be over and I’ll be on break until further notice—when I say break, I mean I’ll be working on my next album, but I won’t be going anywhere.

The sound of feet padding across my marble floor comes, and a second later, Sophia appears, dressed in tiny pajamas shorts and a tank top that has an image of a pregnancy test across her chest and under it, reads: Sh*t just got real! Her blond hair is up in a messy wet bun, and her gorgeous green eyes are staring at me with a bit of shyness.