If he couldn’t get through the entire set, how was he going to do this five times a week?
Fingers snapped in front of me. “Earth to Cami,” Iris said. “Come in, Cameron Harris.”
I slapped her hand away.
“What’s up with you today? I thought you’d be excited.” Miranda stirred her yogurt and stared at me.
“Yeah, she’s right.” Iris wrinkled her nose at Miranda’s lunch. “Is that all your eating?”
“Yes, bikini season’s here. Stay on topic. What’s going on, Cam?” Miranda’s gaze darted to Iris’s steak fries before returning to me.
“I don’t know,” I said. Miranda was the last person I could tell about Hank’s voice. She would tell her dad who would confront Hank and it would all blow up in my face. I loved her to death, but Miranda Reynolds could not keep a secret to save her life. “Nervous I guess. And tired. I didn’t get home until two.”
“Two? Party animal.” Iris grinned. She tapped a fry against her burger, drawing Miranda’s gaze to the food. “Staying out late with Dylan Walker perhaps?”
Miranda snatched a fry and popped it in her mouth. Iris glared at her, but Miranda only shrugged. “Just one fry,” she said. “And Cami wouldn’t hang out with Dylan Walker. He’s too bad boy for her.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I leaned back in my chair as if she’d slapped me.
“Just that he’s not your type.” Miranda reached for another fry, but Iris moved her plate.
“What’s my type?” I asked. This conversation had taken a turn I hadn’t expected.
“You date nice guys,” Iris said. She squirted ketchup over her fries to stave off Miranda. “None of them have that bad boy vibe.”
“None of them have a bad bone in their body,” Miranda said.
“So?” I had no idea what they were getting at, but I didn’t really like it. “I’m not dating anyone right now. And I don’t plan on it. Why are you even bringing it up?”
“The fantasy of it,” Iris said. She put her elbow on the table and leaned against her fist with a dreamlike state covering her face. “Hot rocker, lonely small town girl, bad boy, innocent girl—”
Miranda snorted. “She’s not that innocent.”
“Hey,” I snapped, slightly offended. It was true, but she didn’t need to say it out loud. “I’m as innocent as you.”
“Ha, you’re innocent compared to me,” Miranda said with a grin.
“That’s true,” Iris said. She’d lost the fake dreamlike state and gone back to munching on her fries. “None of us are innocent virgins.”
“Why are we even talking about this?” The exasperation in my voice was clearer than white soda.
“Because I’m going to have a boring summer working at Golf-A-Round.” Iris pointed a limp fry at me. “And Miranda’s going to have a boring summer working at the resort.”
Miranda grimaced.
“You, my friend, are the only one who is going to have a chance at some excitement.” Iris bite off the end of the fry. “We’re living vicariously through you.”
“And you’ll be gone once the show ends Labor Day weekend.” Miranda shook her head. “Both of you will be.”
It was my turn to grimace. “I wish you were graduating too.”
Miranda shrugged.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Iris said as if just catching up to the conversation. “For the millionth time, I’m going to Southern Community, not New York. I’m not even leaving town.”
“But you won’t around.” Miranda stole a handful of fries. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll survive. It’s what I do.”
Iris and I exchanged glances. Miranda had been through hell the last year. She’d been in love with Eddie Blake since they were kids. They’d been best friends throughout grade school and middle school. Then freshman year, Eddie got a girlfriend. Miranda didn’t take it well, but she stayed friends with him. Sophomore year things went back to normal for them, until Eddie started dating someone else. Then Miranda lost it. She went out with Jeff Fisher, Eddie’s least favorite person. It tore them apart until prom night when Jeff dumped her after she put out. She showed up at Eddie’s and they talked it out. Last summer, she got drunk with him during a party. They took a boat out on the lake. After that, everything changed. Eddie stopped talking to her. She never told us what happened. She didn’t have to.
Her actions spoke louder than any words.
“What happened to Tony?” Iris asked her. Tony had been Miranda’s prom date a few weeks ago.
“Meh,” was all Miranda said.
Iris rolled her eyes. “Anyway,” she said, dragging the word out, “What time does the show start tonight? I forgot.”
“Seven.”
Miranda secured them tickets. I’d gotten Dad and Mom front row seats. I only hoped they could make it. Mom said she might have to work. And Dad couldn’t drive.
“I can’t wait to hear you sing,” Iris said. She finished off her fries, oblivious to my mood shift. “You’re going to rock.”
Miranda smiled and touched my hand. It’ll be okay, she mouthed.
I hoped Dad would be there.
I hoped Mom would.
And I hoped like hell I wasn’t about to suck.
Crystal did my makeup. Our wardrobe felt like an 80s hair metal Halloween costume. My hair had enough mousse and hair spray in it to put a new hole in the ozone layer. My eyes were lined thickly with black kohl. She’d put fake eyelashes on me too. I didn’t look like me. The makeup added five years to my face. It didn’t feel right. In the back of my mind, I wondered if I’d get in a bar looking like this.
“You ready, kid?” Crystal asked. She pulled on her black fingerless leather gloves.
“Yeah.” I put on the cheap silver bangle bracelets.
