I grinned so wide that I had to lower my head. I didn’t want anyone seeing that grin. But I was going to see The Baxters. No one could take that ticket from me. I’d protect it with my life.
Of course, I’d have to make up some story for Jackson. I couldn’t stand to see the laughter in his eyes if I told him the truth. He’d despise me. I’d heard him rip people to shreds for their shit music taste. He really judged people for that.
I knew The Baxters were a boy band and not the best singers ever. They lip-synced to some of their songs and did shows, not “gigs” but I could never explain how much I loved them. I’d just make sure he never found out. Things were too fragile between us.
Chapter 19 Jackson
I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING to make it up to Gina. She’d put up with my shit and hadn’t bitch slapped me to hell. Her forgiveness meant the world to me and I wanted to prove that to her.
But how?
Flowers? That’d be too obvious. I remembered how ridiculous Razer and Alex looked coming into the club with bunches of flowers for Violet. I didn’t want to be like that.
Chocolates? That might work but still too obvious and not special enough.
Jewelry? Nope. Candlelit dinner? Nope. Anyone could do that. I wanted something amazing. Something Gina-specific. A way of showing her she meant something to me. That I didn’t just think she was a silly girl.
Everyone had something they want. Something they wouldn’t buy for themselves but they’d love. I just needed to find out. Maybe I should talk to Carlie. Carlie would know that kind of thing. Or I could talk to Drew.
No, I could never ask Drew.
While I thought about it, I got a message from Gina saying she wouldn’t be around on Friday night. Not that we had any plans but lately we emailed each other about stuff. Funnily enough, she didn’t mention what she was doing. If she wasn’t going to be around, she’d always tell me why, like she had to work late or she something else on. This time she said nothing.
I asked Carlie about it.
“So, what is she doing? Something special.”
“Dunno.”
But her face betrayed her. She knew, she just wasn’t talking. I got a note out of my wallet - a hundred - and slipped in across the bar.
“This might help you remember.”
“Jeez, is this some cheesy cop show?” But she took the note. “If I tell you, she’ll kill me, so this is top secret. She said she’d die if you found out. Do not say anything to her and most of all, do not laugh at her about it.”
My mind raced with all the possibilities. What the hell would Gina be doing that she was so secretive about? She wouldn’t be seeing some other guy or Carlie would never tell me in a million years. I couldn’t think of anything she could be doing that I’d laugh about.
“I promise.”
“I’m serious. I only know because she was bursting to tell someone. Even then, I had to pry it out of her. It’s her secret shame.”
Now I really had to know.
“She’s going to see a band.”
I wasn’t sure why that was so secret.
“So?”
“Have you heard of The Baxters?”
Of course, I’d heard of them. A bunch of little boys, auto-tuned to hell, dancing around in fancy outfits. They’d been the biggest thing ever for about a month, then they’d faded back into obscurity. Why was Carlie asking me this?
Then it clicked.
“No way!”
They weren’t a band. They were a BOY band. Carlie laughed at the look on my face.