Girl in Love(78)

Everything she thought she knew, the clearly defined details of the situation and the images of him and Gretchen in her head, began to blur and fade. Because if Mike was telling the truth, her whole world had just become a strange and unfamiliar place. An alternate universe where everything was suddenly the exact opposite of the way it had once been. She was jaded and closed off and Trace was admitting his feelings and sober.

Hand to God, if I can keep from hurting you or keep anyone else from hurting you, I will move mountains and hell itself if I have to.

“Lu?”

Her friend appeared relieved that Kylie hadn’t gone completely mute or into shock. “Yeah?”

Kylie began to stand but the Earth lurched beneath her feet at the same time. She tried to get her eyes to focus, but it wasn’t happening.

“I don’t feel so good.”





“SHE WAS fine one minute—we were just talking normally—and then she stood up and said she didn’t feel so good and wham. Down she went.”

Trace listened as Kylie’s friend Olivia told the paramedics and Hannah what had happened.

“I’m fine,” Kylie mumbled as she reached for Hannah. Her face was half hidden behind the oxygen mask they’d strapped on her. “Seriously, Han. Tell them I’m fine.”

Her assistant nodded. “I will. I promise. They’re just checking to make sure you’ll be able to perform tonight.”

“Like hell she will,” he said, finally speaking up. “She just passed out. We have an extra day. We can postpone the show till tomorrow.”

Her friend mumbled something to Mike that he couldn’t hear.

“It’s kind of late for that,” Hannah informed him with a shrug. “She’s probably suffering from mild exhaustion and dehydration. Some Gatorade and some rest and she’ll be good as new.”

“I’m sorry, did I miss the part about you being a doctor?” Trace felt his anger rising to an unstable level. He’d been through this with management professionals. All the ones he’d had early in his career had cared about was pushing him as hard as they could so they got paid. He’d be damn if he’d sit by and watch that happen to Kylie.

“I didn’t mean to imply that—”

“Hey, you know what? We’re gonna give these guys some space so they can check her out.” Mike clamped down hard on Trace’s shoulder and tugged him away from where the small group had gathered around the back of the ambulance.

“What the hell, man?” He glared at his bass player.

“You her manager, agent, doctor, or next of kin? No. No you’re not. You needed to back up and let the people do their jobs, Tray. Period.”

He took a few deep breaths. “Yeah, okay. But when they’re done, I’m talking to her. And if she’s not up for this tonight, we’re postponing. Period.”

Mike shrugged. “Fine by me. You might want to call Cora and whoever Kylie’s working with before this gets out. Some of the VIP fans were recording that little scene on their phones. And uh, before you go postponing anything, someone might want to check in with Davies and let him know the situation. You know he’ll use this to activate that No fucking up allowed clause in your contract.”

Trace nodded as Mike’s advice sank in. A slight tinge of guilt hung around the edge of his concern. He knew he shouldn’t have snapped at Hannah. Girl seemed nice enough. And not like a money-hungry leech like some of the ones he’d worked with. Part of it was his own selfish fear that he was to blame because he’d kept her up late last night.

Just as he pulled out his phone to call his PR lady, he saw Pauly Garrett headed his way.

“I called Kylie’s management company. Chaz Michaelson said he’d take care of talking to her publicist and the label.”

Trace thanked him and watched her talking with the medics. He couldn’t ignore the fact that she looked awfully frail. Seeing her like that, weak and tired, brought his every protective instinct to the surface.

“She okay?” Pauly asked, jerking his head in her direction.

“They think it’s just dehydration and maybe exhaustion,” Mike answered before he could.

“No. Her manager thinks that. The medics are still checking her out.”

Pauly raised his eyebrows.

Mike’s hands came up in a defensive gesture. “Yeah, and Trace thinks the entire world should shut down so we can lock the two of them on the bus and he can play doctor with her.” Mike smirked at him. “To be honest, she does look kind of pale. I don’t think she’s up for the kind of treatment you probably have in mind.”

Trace’s fist twitched in anticipation of connecting with his bass player’s jaw.