“Maybe he’s just busy?”

“I don’t give a shit if he’s busy,” Daphne said, her nostrils flaring with rage. She leaned forward and stubbed her “cigarette” out on the leather seat in front of her, careless of the damage she caused. “I’m doing my best to stay clean and he doesn’t even have the decency to tell me if he’s got a fuckpiece on the side?”

Kylie stared wordlessly at the blunt Daphne dropped to the ground and then back at Daphne.

“Oh, grow up,” Daphne said with a sneer. “When I say clean, I mean the really hard shit. Weed is just weed. That’s like saying you’re an alcoholic if all you drink is beer.”

Kylie didn’t correct her.

Daphne gave a huge sigh. “I’m sorry to drag you in on my troubles, Fat Marilyn. I’m sure you’ve got issues of your own.”

“No, it’s okay,” Kylie said, hugging her purse in her lap even as it buzzed with another text from Cade. “I understand if you’re . . . upset.”

“I shouldn’t be, should I?” Daphne mused, brightening. “He’ll probably dump whoever he’s fucking as soon as I let him know I’m interested.”

“Probably,” Kylie whispered, her stomach clenching again. But then she remembered the ring on her finger, and Cade’s sweetness and ignored Daphne’s hurtful words.

“Well, I’m not doing my next show until Cade shows up and apologizes to me,” Daphne said. “My fans can just fuck off until my personal life is all straightened out.” She picked up her phone and began to angrily punch a text in, her twitchy foot motoring a mile a minute.

Kylie stared at her in horror. “You shouldn’t do that. Daphne, think of your fans. The money it’d cost if you canceled—”

Daphne pressed her hands to her forehead. “I can’t go on if I’m upset, though. I need my headache meds.” She got up from the seat, kicking aside Kylie’s potted violet as she did. “Snoopy! Where’s my pills?”

“You just had some an hour ago,” came Snoopy’s quiet voice.

“Oh, I’m sorry, did I ask you to argue with me?” Daphne asked, her voice growing louder. “Or did I say hand me my goddamn pills?” She stormed to the back of the long bus.

Kylie leaned over her seat and scooped the dirt back into the tiny plastic flowerpot. This poor violet was never going to survive two months on tour. Good thing it wasn’t a kitten.

“You need to shape the fuck up,” a voice hissed at Kylie. She looked up at Ginger across the aisle. The older woman had her mending out and was shaking her head at Kylie as she fixed a button on a glittering costume. “I like you, Kylie, but that woman is becoming unbearable, and I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to hold your secret.”

“Ginger, please,” Kylie said. “Daphne’s just being a spoiled brat.”

“Yes, but that spoiled brat is also my boss,” Ginger said. “And if she finds out you’ve been fucking her man on the sly, she’s going to be worse than ever to work with. And here’s the thing. If it comes down to you or me, I’m going to pick me.” Ginger shot her a narrow-eyed look. “So don’t make me choose, got it?”

Kylie nodded, clutching her plant. “I broke it off with him, you know,” she lied. “Last night. After the show.”

Ginger gave her a quick thumbs-up. “Atta girl. Once she starts hearing from him again, she’ll calm back down.”

“Yeah,” Kylie said. She wanted to text Cade, let him know what was going on, but Ginger was watching her. It seemed she was always watching. Kylie glanced around and then got up to head for the tour bus bathroom, purse in hand.

The bathroom itself was a tiny cubby smaller than most airport bathrooms, and it currently stank of weed thanks to its close proximity to the back of the bus. It was also the only place she could have a moment’s privacy. She sat down on the travel toilet and pulled out her cell phone and texted Cade.

Daphne’s in a rage. She thinks you’re dating someone and doesn’t want to do her next show until she hears from you. Please please calm her down and let her know you’re out of town? Maybe that’ll soothe her. I have to go for now. People are watching.

She stared at her text, and wondered what he’d think of it. Would he think she was brushing him off again? Impulsively, she added:

Will send hot pictures later tho. XOXO

Then, she stuffed her phone back into her bag, turned the ringer off, and doused her hands liberally with hand sanitizer before leaving the bathroom.