Page 174 of Next to Everything We Wanted

I laughed. “Loveis a strong word.”

He rolled his eyes. “So, what state did you used to live in? Given that you drove here, I’m assuming it’s either Arizona or Nevada. Or did you stay in California?”

Would it be bad if I said Arizona? It didn’t make sense to lie to him, but if he knew I lived in Nevada, he’d assume the rumors about me and my band with Forrest were true.

“I bounce around all over the West Coast,” I said with a shrug. It was technically true, since I visited my family often, even if it was reaching.

Justin nodded, not suspecting my lie. “Have you been working or anything?”

“Not really. I still get a lot of money from our royalties.” My parents had me clean some of the houses they rented to get extra money before I moved to Nevada, but the royalties helped me stay in a nicer apartment.

He nodded again, scanning my room full of music posters and record collections. “Looks like music is still a big part of your life.”

I rubbed my arm. “It’s a part of me I’ve struggled to get rid of.”

“I’d assume.” His expression drifted into what looked like nostalgia. “You were so excited about music when we were onA Search from Stars. Even during our first few years of fame. When you hated being at Mercury Heights, you wanted to fight for your freedom so you could enjoy music again. It runs through your veins.”

I sighed, an ache growing behind my ribs. “You promise to never tell anyone this? Not even Emberlynn or your mom?”

He mock-gasped. “You want me to hide something from the two most important women in my life?”

I rolled my eyes.

He let out a soft chuckle. “Kidding, I won’t. Promise.”

Gripping my comforter, I drew in a breath. “I started a new band and met a girl through it, who happened to be Ruby Estrella’s daughter.”

Justin’s jaw dropped as his eyes bulged out of his skull. “Youwhat?”

“Yeah.” I rolled my neck. “I broke up with the bandandthe girl over it. She knew and didn’t tell me.”

“Wait a minute. You dated someone who knew about your past? From the start?”

I bit my lip. “Not from the start.”

His face fell, but his shock didn’t waver. “Oh, gosh, how’d she find out?”

“One of Emberlynn’s stupid magazines. Apparently, Ruby’s daughter likes her fashion and grabbed one which happened to mention the rumors about my disappearance.”

He cursed in surprise. “That sounds like something straight from a movie.”

“I give the movie zero stars. Especially the part where I got so physically sick, I ended up in the hospital.” I still felt sick, my stomach bunching into too many knots to be untied.

“You what?” Justin sucked in a breath. “Gosh, anything else?”

I decided to not tell him about who my bandmates actually were. “That’s it.”

He gave me a look I couldn’t discern. “Can I give some advice?” When I raised an eyebrow, remembering all the stupid advice he’d given me before, he added, “I promise it’s not terrible.”

I sighed again and waved a hand. “Advise at your own risk.”

“What you did was incredibly stupid.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“I’m not saying dating her or starting a new band was stupid.” Justin straightened himself on the bed. “But letting Ruby My-Hair-Is-As-Big-As-My-Ego Estrella ruin your band and your relationship with the girl you loved? That’s a big mistake.”

Pain twisted in my chest. “I never said I loved her.”