Page 92 of No Funny Business

Nick tilts his head and I breathe him in, gently closing my eyes.

Ding-a-ling-a-ling!

Ding-a-ling-a-ling!

The annoying ringtone from my phone is enough to take us out of the moment. Dammit! I glance down at the screen. It’s Imani. “Hey, I should get this,” I say.

“Yeah, I should get to bed anyway.” He climbs off my mattress, snatching his shoes from the floor. “Good night, Olivia.”

“Night.”

I watch him leave my room and answer the phone. “Hey, I’m so glad you called.”

“Are you okay? I haven’t heard from you since I told you about Germany.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” I smack my forehead. “When you told me, I actually had a bit of a meltdown. I haven’t been handling all of this very well, have I?”

“No, you haven’t. But I’m glad you’re finally seeing it.”

I walk over to the window and look out at the shimmering lights of the Vegas Strip. “Imani, I’m seeing so much more clearly these days.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’re not wrong to be worried about me. I haven’t exactly been facing reality. It’s just that... reality isn’t always fun. So I figure if I lift my chin and act as if everything is the way I want it, then everything will fall into place—work itself out without me having to do the work.”

“I know, I’m a little jealous of that.”

“It’s a blessing and a curse, I guess. But I’m sorry for being difficult and I’m really sorry if I seem unsupportive of your move. I mean, I’m not crazy about losing you to Europe but I’m so happy for you. I love that things are falling into place for at least one of us.”

“Thanks. I really needed to hear that,” she says. “And things are falling into place for both of us, as long as one of us doesn’t go bankrupt.”

“God, if bankruptcy could get me out of these student loans, I’d blow all my money at the casino,” I say, and she giggles. Hearing even the smallest laugh from Imani makes me realize how much I’m going to miss her when she leaves.

“Your audition’s in a couple days. How are you feeling about it?”

“I feel good. Really good. I’m learning a lot on this tour. Like you wouldn’t even believe,” I say.

“I’m all ears.”

I settle in, ready to share it all with my penguin. “Oh, girl, I have to tell you what happened. I went to Midland...”