“And you,” he says, grinning so much I feel like Santa Claus on Christmas morning.
“Sure, I guess.”
“Henry!” the woman calls. “Come on.”
His smile doesn’t fade. “Gotta go. Thanks again, man. I really appreciate it.”
“Good luck, dude,” I say, bumping my fist against his before he scurries off.
“Wow,” Daisy says. “That was interesting.”
I turn to her. She’s smiling broadly, all remnants of her reaction in the van gone. “Are you still surprised I have actual fans?”
She shakes her head. “No, I’m surprised by how much you clearly enjoyed that. You’re grinning about as big as that kid was.”
“I am not.” Self-consciously, I reach up to my face to feel my smile.
She snorts. “Sure you’re not. Don’t be embarrassed. It’s sweet.”
I shrug. “I just like it when kids come up to me to talk about music, you know? Instead of just screaming about me being hot or something.”
“Yeah, I bet you just hate it when people scream that you’re hot.”
I push her shoulder. “Shut it, you. I’m being serious.”
Her eyes soften. “I know you are. And I meant it when I said it’s sweet.”
Dan comes around to pass out our keys, and we can finally head up to our rooms.
Daisy falls into step next to me on the way to the elevator. “You never know, though. That kid could have thought you were hot. He didn’t spare a glance at Karen, and her boobs are practically popping out of that top.”
I laugh. “It wouldn’t matter if he liked Karen or not. My hotness transcends sexual orientation.”
I love the sound of her laughter, love being the one to cause it. I’m grinning like an idiot as we step onto the elevator with Daisy’s friends, Levi, Dan, and my dad.
“Where should we go?” Levi asks the girls. “Or are we just going to wander and see what we see?”
“Let’s wander,” I suggest. “Be spontaneous.”
“What are you talking about?” Dad asks. “Are you going out?”
I turn to him. “We’re just going to take a walk.”
He frowns. “I cancelled the meeting because I wanted you boys to rest. We have to get up early to be at the station.”
I struggle to keep my temper. “We’re not going partying or anything, Dad. We’re taking a walk. It’s not a big deal.”
He looks as though he’s going to argue, but luckily, the doors open on our floor. I quickly grab Daisy’s hand and make my escape.
Dad calls after us, “Don’t be out too late! I mean it.”
I give a thumbs-up over my head before turning the corner with Daisy, the girls, and Levi.
“Wow,” Daisy whispers. “That was a little tense. Are you guys not getting along?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I say, hoping I don’t sound too short. It’s not that I don’t trust that Daisy would be a good listener. I just don’t want anything else to spoil one of the few chances we have for fun.
“So let’s get settled and meet in the lobby in fifteen. Sound good?” Levi asks.
We all agree and head to our respective rooms.
Daisy stops at my door, touching my elbow as I move to open it. “I’m glad I’m here,” she says, looking down at the floor. “I’m sorry if I got weird in the van. I just want you to know…” She swallows before looking up and smiling slightly. “I’m glad I’m here.”
My chest constricts. “I’m happy you’re here too.”
She gives me one last grin before jogging down the hall to catch up with her friends, leaving me to wonder when in the hell I am going to get up the courage to tell her how I feel.
I wash my face and head down to the lobby. I’m surprised to see Lennon there. He usually spends hotel nights shut up in his room watching movies. Lennon is a sci-fi geek and loves nothing better than being by himself and watching whatever show qualifies as his new obsession.
“Mind if I tag along?” he asks. “It occurs to me that for all the times we’ve been here in the past year, I’ve never actually seen the city.”
I laugh. “Funny how that seems to happen everywhere we go, huh? ’Course you can come.”
“Is it okay for you guys to just go out like this?” Karen asks. “On your own?”
Lennon laughs. “Yeah, we’re big boys now, you know.”
She scowls at him, which I find hilarious, considering how star-struck she was just a few short weeks ago. “I just meant, you don’t need security or anything for all the crazed fans and paparazzi?”