Ransom(78)

Or maybe it is. As soon as we step onto the bus, he turns to face me. The anger and suspicion are clear in his eyes.

“I’d like to know what exactly happened between you and Daltrey yesterday.”

I clear my throat. I’m having trouble meeting his eyes, all my insecurities flooding back at the first indication of anger. “Um… we spent the day sightseeing in New York.”

He waves a hand. “I know that. I mean, what happened when you went running away from him in the parking garage?”

My eyes widen with surprise. Daltrey told him that?

“I talked to Benny this morning,” he says, and I feel slightly better. “He told me the two of you appeared to have some kind of fight, and you took off running. Is that true?”

In spite of my growing anxiousness, I feel a slight flare of annoyance. “I don’t really see how that’s your business.”

His face hardens further. “Really? I think the reasons behind my son’s disappearance are very much my business.”

“He didn’t leave because of that,” I say, though I’m not entirely sure myself. “We talked. We’re fine. I saw him this morning before the meeting, and he wasn’t upset at all.”

“Did you sleep with him last night?”

I take a step back, shocked by his rudeness. “That is definitely none of your business.”

“Listen to me, Daisy. I always had my concerns where you and Daltrey were concerned. I never thought it was a good idea that he spent so much time with you. When you completely cut him off last year, I knew I was right.”

My cheeks flame. I can’t believe he’s actually talking to me like this.

But he goes on. “He was a mess after that. It really affected his playing. You nearly ruined all of this for him, Daisy. Do you realize that?”

I swallow, tears coming to my eyes. I’m determined not to let him see me cry, so I dip my head and focus on the sleeves of my shirt. I pull them down a little out of habit, before I look up at him again. His eyes, too, are on my sleeves. When he meets my gaze again, I have the strangest thought: he knows.

“I’m sorry for upsetting Daltrey,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “It was a hard time for me, too. But he and I have worked through it, so I really don’t think it’s right for you to throw it back at me right now. It’s between me and him.”

He’s quiet for a moment, and it takes all of my strength to hold his gaze. “Let me just say this, then. If you have any idea, any idea at all, of where he might be, I highly suggest you tell me right now.”

“If I had any idea of where he might be, I would go out and find him. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” I stumble from the bus and out into the sunshine. It’s another gorgeous summer day, but that does nothing to ease the chill in my veins.

“Are you okay?” Levi asks as I approach the trailer.

I wonder if I look as freaked out as I feel. I nod and immediately set to work, not wanting to talk about my conversation with Daltrey’s dad.

It’s hard not to think about it, though. It’s clear to me that Mr. Ransome no longer just tolerates me; he actively dislikes me. He thinks I’m bad for his son and bad for the band.

You nearly ruined all of this for him. I suck in a deep breath as my eyes begin to sting. The problem is, he’s right. I know what I put Daltrey through when I stopped talking to him. And I know what I put him through last night. I can’t even be sure that I’m not the reason he took off today.

He promised me he’d be back. For the rest of the afternoon I repeat his words over and over in my head, holding onto the memory like a lifeline as I work. He promised me he’d be back.

***



Daltrey does come back, but not for many hours. Shortly after my conversation with Mr. Ransome, word starts to get around to the rest of the crew and the venue staff about what’s going on. There are rumors that the show will need to be cancelled. In fact, about an hour before the doors are supposed to be open, everyone is kicked out of the dressing room so the band can decide what to do.

As I follow the rest of the crew into the hallway, Reed takes my arm. “You really don’t know where he is?” he asks, his eyes searching mine.

“You think I wouldn’t tell you if I did?” I ask, stung. It’s one thing for his dad to doubt me, but Reed is my friend, practically family.

His face softens. “If he asked you not to, you wouldn’t. The two of you would have each other’s back until the end of the world.”

I smile a little. “I’m scared, Reed. I don’t know where he is, I promise you. I’m going out of my head here.”