Ransom Read online

“Daisy, how could you have kept this from me? I understand you not wanting to distract me from the tour, but once it got to the point that it was affecting you so bad, you should have told me. You’re my best friend.”

  “I wanted to,” I say. “A lot of times. But once you started to get famous, I just couldn’t, Dalt. I couldn’t do that to you. And I couldn’t do it to me, either.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, look at this life of yours.” I gesture at the closed door and the noises of party behind it. “A few months ago, there was no way I could handle this. All these people. All those eyes. I would have lost it. Jesus, Dalt, I failed a class because I was supposed to give a presentation. I couldn’t even handle having my classmates look at me for ten minutes. How could I have been around you, been around all this?”

  He shakes his head. “I would have figured out a way to help you without getting you involved in all this.”

  I smile, rubbing the hand I still hold between my own. “But I figured out how to get through it on my own. And I’m probably stronger for it.” I don’t know if that’s true, but I can’t stand the idea that he feels guilty because of my weakness.

  He releases a huge breath. “Fine. I guess I can accept that. But you need to promise me that the next time something shitty happens, you tell me about it. You can’t be keeping stuff like this from me, Daisy. Look at what happens. We completely stopped being friends. That’s not okay with me.”

  “You’re right.” I feel terrible now, knowing that there are still things I’m not telling him. But how can I bear to mention Justin or the pictures or the reasons I ended up at Horizons? He watches my face closely, and I wonder if maybe he suspects that there might be more to my story.

  “So are we…” He pauses. “We’re okay now, right?”

  I grin, pushing my guilty thoughts away. “Yeah, Daltrey. We’re okay.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Daltrey

  It takes everything I have not to try to figure out who put Daisy through such hell while I was away. From what she said about not being able to go online, I’m assuming they attacked her through social media. I’ve never gotten into any of that stuff, though the band does have accounts on all the major sites. Still, it would probably be easy to do a little sleuthing and discover who the culprit was.

  But Daisy asked me to drop it, and we are supposed to trust each other. I know she’ll be mad if I go behind her back. But how am I supposed to just sit around and do nothing? She was in therapy, for fuck’s sake. I have a feeling things were even worse than she described. I’m pretty certain she was holding something back last night.

  I shake my head, trying to dispel the doubts and anger. The important thing is that she’s here now. I haven’t lost her. In fact, she’s going to follow the tour with her friends for the next three weeks. And I plan to make sure she sticks around even longer than that.

  I’m whistling when I meet Dad and my brothers in the hotel restaurant for breakfast. We’re staying on in Boston for another show tonight, and I’m grateful for the chance to be in one place for more than twelve hours.

  “Oh, God,” Cash mutters as I pull out my chair. “Look at you. Yesterday you were being a giant, whining bee-otch. Then Daisy shows up, and you’re all sunshine and roses. Pathetic.”

  I give him my sweetest smile while flipping him off.

  “Her friends are pretty hot, though,” he goes on. “Especially that Karen girl. Remind me to thank Daisy later.”

  “I’m sure she’ll appreciate that,” Lennon says.

  “Okay, enough,” Dad says. “We need to go over your schedule.”

  We eat bacon and eggs while Dad briefs us on the upcoming essentials. I can’t even manage to be annoyed by our packed afternoon of radio promos. We’re scheduled to have a few free hours once we get to the venue. I plan to challenge Daisy to a Halo death match on the bus.

  After breakfast, my brothers and I run into Levi waiting for an elevator. “You guys going up to pack?” he asks.

  “Yeah,” I tell him. We’re checking out today. After our last Boston performance, we’ll be driving through the night to reach New Hampshire for our next show.

  “Me too.”

  The elevator arrives, depositing a trio of blond, scantily clad women. They all giggle, clearly recognizing us.

  “Excuse us, ladies,” Cash says, grinning in that way that tends to send women overboard. To add to the effect, he gently guides the closest woman away from the elevator with his hand on her back. He can’t just go around her like a normal person. The girls’ giggling continues until the elevator doors finally shut between us.

  “What’s wrong, Cash?” Reed asks, giving him a sideways glance as he pushes the button for our floor.

  Cash’s cocky smile was replaced with a confused, thoughtful expression behind his Ray-Bans. “Those girls reminded me… I’m trying to remember if I left a blonde in my bed when I came downstairs this morning.”

  “Maybe it was one of them,” Reed says, and the two of them laugh.

  “What about you, little brother?” Cash asks, turning to me. “You’ve pretty much been a monk for the past six months. Now that Daisy’s back, think you might actually get some? Start acting like the rock star you are?”

  I feel Levi stiffen next to me, but I just roll my eyes. My brothers have been teasing me about getting together with Daisy since we were kids. Reed and Lennon backed off in recent years; I always got the feeling that they eventually realized I really did have feelings for her and considered their casual teasing to be off limits. Cash, of course, was not nearly as decent; nothing was off limits for him.

  “You better not tease Daisy like that,” Lennon tells him. “She seemed a little off last night.”

  “And there’s the fact that none of us has heard from her for months,” Reed adds. “Did something happen to her?”

  They’re all watching me, and I’m relieved when the elevator doors open on our floor. I don’t think Daisy would want me blabbing about what she told me last night. Besides, my brothers would want to go kick some ass at home if they knew someone messed with her.

  “I don’t really know,” I say as we step out into the hall. “She said some people were acting like dicks to her after we left. Teasing her and stuff. I think it messed with her head a little.”

  Reed’s face clouds up. “That’s fucked up. Is she okay?”

  “I think so.” I’ve reached my room, and I slide my card into the key slot, happy for an end to the conversation. “See you guys downstairs.”

  “I’m just about done packing. Can I come in for a minute?” Levi asks as my brothers head toward their own rooms.

  “Sure.”

  Levi follows me in and plops down on the couch across from my bed. “So what’s going on with Daisy? I got the feeling you were being intentionally vague out there.”

  I start shoving my discarded clothes into a duffle bag. “I just figure it’s her business if she wants to tell people.”

  “Did she tell you anything?”

  “She pretty much told me what I said. I didn’t tell them how bad it was, but I figure that’s her call if she wants people to know.”

  He watches my face closely, as if trying to figure something out. Finally, he relaxes back into the cushions. “Yeah, you’re right. So, what do you think? She gonna stick around for a while?”

  I zip my bag. “I hope so. We always planned for her to work on the tour with us last summer, you know?”

  He nods. “And you’re feeling good about this?”

  I look down at him, exasperated. “What the hell, man? I didn’t realize I signed up for therapy sessions with Dr. Bullshit.”

  He laughs. That’s the thing about Levi. I can never really insult him because everything just rolls off his back. He’s the most easygoing person I’ve ever met.

  “I’m just curious,” he says. “I wasn’t sure if you were pissed she dropped off the face of the earth without a warning or if you were happ
y to see her—or if it was some combination of both.”

  I collapse onto the couch next to him, throwing my feet up on the coffee table. “I don’t know. I mean, I’m totally glad she’s here. When we talked last night, it was like nothing had changed, you know? Like she’d never even left. But at the same time…”

  “She did leave.”

  “Yeah.” I sigh, reaching for my beanie and pulling it onto my head. “I just want to have fun with her and pretend like nothing ever happened. But I also want to shake her and make her tell me exactly what did happen.”

  “I would definitely avoid shaking her if the goal is to get her to stick around.”

  “Thanks,” I say drily.

  “Look, man, maybe just try to keep it light. Have fun with her and keep it casual. The resolution of the serious stuff will come when it comes.”

  “You know what, Levi? That’s actually pretty good advice.”

  “I’m as shocked as you are.”

  He leaves then to go grab his own bags. I sit on the couch for a minute, thinking about what he said, before I pull out my phone.

  Halo death match, I text. You and me. Tour bus. Four p.m.

  She responds almost instantly, and I wonder if maybe she was waiting to hear from me. Halo, huh?

  If you’re not too scared.

  You’re a dead man.

  I’m grinning like a fool as I text her to meet Levi in the same place as last night and assure her it’s fine if her friends come, too.

  Hey, so you have any smelling salts? she asks.

  I frown at my phone. I don’t even know what that is.

  They give them to fainting ladies. I think I’m going to need some for Karen and Paige.

  LOL

  You can laugh, buddy, but I’m not kidding. These girls have far too high of an opinion of you and your brothers. Think it’s time I break out the pictures I have of you in braces?

  Only if you show them the ones of Cash’s headgear first.

  Okay, I’m seriously cracking up now. I’m going to go tell the girls. See you at four.

  See you then. Prepare to be destroyed.

  You wish.

  I laugh, slipping my phone back into my pocket. There’s a knock on my door.

  “Let’s go, son. We have a lot of work today.”

  Even that doesn’t break my mood. I do, however, make sure to wipe the totally whipped grin off my face before I go out to meet my family.

  ***

  We’re late getting back to the bus. Of course. First the radio appearance ran over, making us late for our next interview. By the time we’re dropped off at the venue, it’s already five, which means I only have an hour with Daisy before sound check.

  Trying not to show my irritation, I stomp onto the bus, only to hear giggling coming from the back lounge. “Hello?”

  “Hey!” Levi calls. “We’re back here.”

  I make my way through the kitchen and bunk section to see Levi, Paige, Karen, and Daisy gathered on the couches in the back. All four hold XBox remotes. I asked Levi to keep the girls company until I got here. So why does the sight of his hands on Daisy’s fingers, helping her pick up some move combination, cause my vision to be tinged with red?

  “Hey!” Daisy says, looking away from the screen for a moment. “How’d it go?”

  “Got you!” Paige yells, standing up and jumping up and down. “Ha! You picked the wrong time to look away.”

  “No fair,” Levi mutters. “You can’t distract your opponent with famous rock stars.”

  “I didn’t distract her!” Paige cries. “It’s not my fault he walked in.” She looks over at me, and something in her face changes, almost as if she’s just realized who I am. “I… uh… I mean, um…”

  Daisy laughs. “You can say hello, Paige. You’ve met him already, you know. He’s just a normal person.”

  “Normal?” I ask, putting my hands on my hips. “How dare you!”

  The girls all giggle, and I decide I don’t really care that Levi was touching Daisy. But I do make sure to slide right between them when I take a seat on the couch. “So, what have you guys been up to? Sorry I’m so late. The interviews ran over.”

  “It’s okay,” Daisy says. “Levi took good care of us.”

  There’s that shot of jealousy again, but I try to ignore it. I realize that Karen and Paige are both starting at me, their mouths slightly open.

  Daisy picks up on it too and rolls her eyes. “Seriously, you guys. He’s not really all that special.”

  “I’m not,” I assure them. “You should see how gross my feet are.”

  Daisy snorts. “He does have the grossest feet.”

  “And backne,” Levi adds helpfully. “Dude has a wicked case of the backne.”

  That makes Karen laugh, though Paige is still looking distinctly star-struck.

  “I also can’t do long division,” I say. “Or scramble eggs.”

  Daisy nods wisely. “True. He burns his eggs. And his toast.”

  “Every time,” Levi says. “And he pours way too much milk in his cereal so that it spills when he puts his spoon in. Doesn’t matter how many times you tell him he doesn’t need so much, he does it anyway.”

  Daisy is clearly trying not to laugh. “And he thinks… he thinks… that Canada is a U.S. colony.”

  Okay, maybe this has gone a bit too far. “I do not!”

  “You used to,” she says, laughing. “You totally did.”

  “When we were kids.”

  “Or sixteen,” Levi mutters.

  Paige starts giggling.

  “I change my mind,” I say sullenly. “I liked it better when you were all impressed by me. Let’s go back to thinking I’m an awesome rock star.”

  “Nice try,” Karen says. “We’ll never be able to see you the same way again.”

  “Yeah,” Paige adds, though she still seems a bit shy. “The illusion is totally shattered now.”

  “You should hear him snore,” Levi says.

  “Hey, buddy, don’t you have work to do?” I ask, elbowing him in the side.

  “Not until sound check.” He gives me his biggest grin.

  “Are we playing Halo or what?” Daisy asks.

  We break into teams, me and Daisy against Levi, Karen, and Paige. Daisy and I win handily, having played countless hours of Halo with each other over the years.

  When the game is over, Karen stands and stretches. “Huh. I thought the life of a rock star was supposed to be all glamorous. This didn’t feel too different from hanging out with just about any geek back at school.”

  I laugh. “After the show tonight, we’ll show you how rock stars really party.”

  Daisy shakes her head. “We have to drive to New Hampshire tonight, remember? Some of us don’t have the luxury of a tour bus to bring the party with us.”

  I frown. I would much rather Daisy rode with us on the bus. I’m going to have to figure out a way to make that happen. “After the show tomorrow then,” I say. “Promise.”

  “Daltrey?” Reed calls from the front of the bus. “You back there? We have sound check.”

  I groan, totally not ready for the responsibilities of my real life to intrude. This has been the best hour I’ve had in weeks.

  “On our way,” Levi calls.

  “We should go get in line anyhow,” Daisy says. “We’re already going to be in the back of the venue.”

  “No way,” I say. “Why don’t you come watch sound check? I won’t be able to hang out after, but you guys could go back up to the seats you had yesterday if you want.”

  “Yeah?” Karen asks, her face hopeful. She glances quickly at Daisy, who nods. “That would be great. Thanks.”

  “Yeah, thanks!” Paige says. “We had the best view last night.”

  “No problem.”

  We make our way out of the bus and across the lot to the venue. I really don’t like the idea of saying goodbye to Daisy right now. I know it’s only a night, that I only have to trust her to get from here
to New Hampshire, but after the year I’ve had, I don’t like the idea. What’s to stop her from disappearing all over again?

  I reach for her arm. “You’ll stop by after the show?” I ask, my voice soft so that only she can hear me. “Before you guys leave?”

  She looks up at me, her green eyes wide and maybe a little surprised. I feel an ache deep in my chest. I want to smooth the hair out of her face, run my finger along her cheek, all the things I’ve always dreamt of having the freedom to do. Instead, I simply tell her Levi will come fetch them later and continue on to the building.

  But I hold her elbow for just a few moments longer, savoring the connection for as long as I can.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Daisy

  “I’m still not one hundred percent sure why we’re doing this,” Karen says, adjusting the sleeves of her pale-blue cashmere sweater.

  Paige bends down to tie her shoelaces. “Because we want the full fan experience!”

  “And that includes freezing our asses off outside?”

  Paige turns to me in exasperation. “Tell her, Daisy.”

  “Don’t you want to experience the show the way all the other fans do?” I ask Karen. “When we drove by the venue the other day, you said it looked like everyone was having fun. This is our chance to have fun, too.”

  “You know what I think is fun now?” she asks, crossing her arms. “Getting to sit in VIP seats and hang out with the band backstage.”

  “Karen!” Paige hisses, shooting me a concerned look.

  Karen rolls her eyes. “Daisy knows I’m not using her, for God’s sake. I’m just saying, if Daltrey offered us passes again, why in the hell are we turning them down?”

  “Because,” Paige says, it’s important to me that we have the—”

  “Full fan experience,” Karen interrupts. “I know, you’ve said it like five times. Fine. Let’s just go so we can get in line. If I have to sit on the concrete all day, I at least better get a good spot.”

  Paige picks up the musty quilt she took from her car and folds it over her arm. “Everyone have everything?”

  We leave our room and make our way down the dark, twisty hallway toward the front door. Our hotel in Hampton Beach came as an unpleasant surprise when we arrived late last night. The ceilings were low, the wallpaper peeling, and the mattresses poked me with their loose springs every time I so much as breathed. It was everything I could do to not call Daltrey and beg him to let us take him up on his offer to sleep on the tour bus. I was glad I hadn’t told the girls about that conversation. I’m pretty sure Karen would have committed several minor crimes in her willingness to get out of that hotel.