Page 95 of Dangerous Encore

"Did you tell her?"Iask.

"No." Bella clears her throat. "But I think youjustdid."

"It's okay, sweetheart, no one thinks you married Joel for his brains. Not with the way you two go at it like rabbits." Alessandra winks at me then turns to Bella. "It's all overyourface."

"Is it?" Bella presses her palm to her cheek like she's trying to feel the inch of skin that's givingheraway.

"You have the glow. And the smile. And I know it's not over that fucking asshole Winters bumping the second headliner for Dangerous Noise,"Alessandrasays.

"But they're due to be in Ohio the day before,"Bellasays.

I have no fucking idea if that's right. I really don't keep track of that shit. When you tour, everything blurs together. Another path of highway, another crowded club, another averagehotel.

Alessandra shrugsoops, but she's smiling too. She tries to pretend like she does this shit to annoy me. Okay, she probably does. But it's more that she's looking out for Bella. She makes a point of arranging things so we get all these chances to betogether.

"You know, Jayce mostly focused on international tours. Liv has the international contacts. You have the ones in the U.S." Alessandra's eyes spark with that mix of delight and mischief. "You could take over the Dangerous Noise tourschedule."

"I could." Bella looks at me and blinks twice. "I could be in charge of making sure you're home when Ineedyou."

"I'll always be home when you need me,"Isay.

"Yes, you're adorable and in love. It's great. But that won't pay the kid's private school tuition." Alessandra straightens her black blazer. "It's completely fucked, you being in charge of Joel's tour, but that's normal in thisindustry."

"Technically, that makes him my boss,"Bellasays.

"He already is your boss, honey. But everyone knows Malcolm is the one in charge." Alessandra lets out another hearty laugh. Okay, maybe she does do a lot of this to fuckwithme.

"I… I don't know what to say." Bella plays with the hem of her dress. She looks to me and raises abrow.Okay?

I nod.Wayokay.

She turns back to Alessandra. "I've been thinking a lot. I love my job. I don't want to give it up. But I don't want to be like my mothereither—"

"Sweetie, I don't need your life story," Alessandra teases. "Tell me where and when you need to cut back and we'll make ithappen."

"I want to be part-time. Well, as part-time as I can be with this job. Starting in April. And I want Joel to be around for the first three or four months. Then he can go back to touring. I checked the schedule. We don't have to cancel any shows if we find someone who can fill in for him in July,"Bellasays.

"You'll give up that outdoor summer tour?" Alessandra looks to me and raisesabrow.

"Let someone else melt in the hundred-degree sun and stage lights? How the fuck will I deal with that?" I keep my voice light, even though nobody is buying it. I love performing. Even when it's a hundred degrees and humid. Even when it's raining. Even during a full on summer storm when the tech guy is screamingget the fuck off the stage; it's basically alightningrod.

It will be tough, giving up a chunk of that. Working less. Losing thatfreedom.

But there isn't a doubt in my head that it's whatIwant.

And, fuck, the way Bella is smiling. She knows I'm full of shit, but she knows that this is whatIwant.

And it's what shewants.

Alessandra shoots me a knowing look. "Have you toldMalcolm?"

"Why do I have to fucking tell Mal everything?"Iask.

"He's the one in charge, sweetheart. You know it. I know it. Bella knows it,"shesays.

"Actually. I'm the one in charge now." Bella smiles. "I… I couldn't sleep last night. I worked up a schedule for the next two years. For Dangerous Noise. It assumes your next album will be as big a hit as this one, but I think even if it flops, I can get you into bigvenues."

"I like you confident, angel," I say. "But that casual mention of our album flopping wasbrutal."