Page 69 of When the Stars Rise

I heard it’s good for hangovers. But I don’t mention that.

Even though I sobered up pretty quickly after that fight last night, I woke up with a pounding headache and a queasy stomach.

As luck would have it, hangover sex with Noah fixed me right up, and now I feel good, just a bit tired.

“Must be those Cajun roots,” Shay says with a smile. I return the smile without commenting. Sometimes, I forget that the entire world knows my complicated family history.

“Can you tell our listeners the inspiration behind ‘Seeing Stars at the Drive-Thru?’” Shay asks.

“It was quite literal,” I say with a laugh. “One night, Bastian Cox and I were working on new music for the album. I had a riff playing on repeat in my head, but the lyrics weren’t coming to me. So Bastian said, ‘Let’s go for a drive.’ We drove around the Hills and then up and down Sunset Boulevard.”

“By now, it was one in the morning, and I was looking up at the sky, thinking that for a city filled with so many Hollywood stars, it was hard to see the actual stars in the sky. Anyway, Bastian was hungry,” I say with a laugh,” so we pulled into the In-N-Out drive-thru, and the guy working the window told us we were too late. They’d already turned off the fryer. Bastian said he’d give the guy a hundred bucks to turn it back on. Long story short, when we pulled up to the window, the guy couldn’t believe it was Bastian—”

“He must have been excited to see you, too,” Danny says. Shay nods in agreement.

I shake my head. “I was just along for the ride,” I say. “This guy was a huge Bastian Cox fan. He thrust a stack of napkins and a Sharpie into Bastian’s hand and asked for autographs for everyone he knew. It was funny, and the guy was really sweet. After that, the lyrics came to me all at once, and I couldn’t write them fast enough. The song started as one thing, but it took a turn and evolved into something bigger… or just different, I guess.”

I pause and take a sip of water before continuing. “My music isn’t overly political. I typically write about my own experiences, but on some level, what happens in the world around us affects everyone. And I was thinking about the American experience.There had been two mass shootings earlier that day, and I’d spent the day crying with my friends about it, you know? Like, why is this happening? When will it end? And later that night, I’m driving past the Château on Sunset Boulevard and pulling into a drive-thru with a rock star in Hollywood.”

Bastian was dressed in a purple velvet robe. He said he felt like a caged animal in the zoo. “All I wanted was a fucking burger and fries,” he’d grumbled.

What a crazy world we live in.

“So I just wrote what I was feeling and juxtaposed it with this funny incident at the drive-thru. I wrote that whole song with a Sharpie on In-N-Out napkins,” I say, laughing at myself.

“I hope you framed them,” Shay comments. “Because that song is topping the charts. It’s currently sitting at number three in the US, so you’ve obviously tapped into the emotions of a lot of people.”

“Wow. That’s amazing. I’m so grateful to all my fans and listeners and everyone who has supported me on this journey. I’m so incredibly fortunate to be in this position. To be able to have a voice when so many people don’t. That’s why it feels so important to give back.”

“Tell us where the proceeds from this song are going,” Danny prompts.

I’ve been all over the country promoting this song and this album, so I repeat the words I’ve said before.

“I’m donating all the proceeds of this song to a charity that is very near and dear to my heart. Team Phoenix was founded by two marines trying to find their place in the world after returning home from their final tour of duty. The not-for-profit organization provides relief and boots on the ground for victims of natural disasters. In recent years, they’ve expanded operations to include a Relief Fund for the victims of mass shootings and their families.”

“I believe you have a close relationship with one of the founders?” Danny says.

I nod. “Yes. Jude McCallister. I’ve known Jude for most of my life. He’s my best friend’s stepdad.”

“And one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People.”

I smile. “He is. And it’s so well-deserved. He’s doing amazing things at Team Phoenix.”

“It sounds as if all the McCallisters are heroes,” Shay says. “Am I correct in assuming that Noah McCallister is the best friend you’re referring to?”

“Yes. We’ve been friends forever.”

“And he rescued you from a car accident at sixteen,” she adds.

“Yes, he did. I owe him my life,” I say. “As Noah’s grandmother always says, the McCallisters are an ordinary family who do extraordinary things.”

Although there is nothing ordinary about them— they’re all special in their own unique ways.

Shay leans in closer, her tone conspiratorial. “Just friends? Or something more?”

I laugh and shake my head. “We’re just friends.” I’m not willing to give the listeners any more than that.

Shay pouts like she’s disappointed, but I keep my smile firmly in place and give her nothing more.