Chapter 53
Tears sprang to my eyes as I set the guitars down, ran across the parking lot, and wrapped my arms around her. I pulled her to my chest and sobbed into her long, blonde hair, unable to speak.
"Hey, now!" she said, stroking the back of my hair. "It can't be all that bad!"
Beside me, Craig set my guitars down. "I thought that having your sister here might cheer you up."
I nodded as I pulled back and held Greer at arms' length. "How long can you stay?"
She shrugged. "I'm leaving after your bus pulls out."
"And Dad let you come?"
She laughed. "The only way that he'd let me go was if I promised to come straight back after you leave."
I smiled. "Too bad you can't stay on the tour with me for the summer. I can send you back before school starts."
The familiar mischievous gleam appeared in her eyes. "I was hoping that you'd say that!"
I laughed as I opened the hood of my car. "Come on. We'll call Dad when we get home."
Greer shrugged. "Or I can just go. What's he going to do? Come after me?"
I laughed as I shook my head. "No, but he can ground you from ever touring with me again."
"True," she said, cocking her head to the side as she opened the passenger side door. "But you have to admit that it'd be more fun!"
I laughed as I dabbed at the tears in the corner of my eyes. I didn't realize how much I'd missed her until now. "Thanks for bringing her in, Craig. I'll see you Monday."
He laughed. "The bus leaves at six o'clock. Bright and early. Don't be late."
I smiled. "Yes, sir," I teased. I wasn't sure if Craig had anything to do with the Bryant Hall incident or not, but this was a step in the
right direction of getting into my good graces again.
He smiled as he started to walk away. "Now, you girls don't get into too much trouble!"
Greer and I both laughed at the same time. "Who, us?" I asked, and then gave him one last wave. "See you Monday."
Greer and I giggled as we slid into the car and I pulled out of the parking lot, feeling carefree for the first time in a long time.
"So, I hear you have an apartment?" Greer asked.
Pain gripped at my chest at the memories of Logan sharing it with me, even though it was only for a short time. But I forced a smile and turned to Greer as I pulled down another street, headed toward my apartment. Since Logan left, it no longer was home.
"Wait 'til you see it!" I said, determined to enjoy my time with Greer. "It's really cute. Speaking of which, I need to pay the rent. If you don't mind, let me stop in at the office and then we'll have the rest of the night to do whatever."
Greer gave me an evil smile. "Sounds great!"
I laughed as I pulled in front of the office and threw the car into park. "Come on in! I want you to meet Richard."
"Richard, huh?" Greer asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Greer, you're incorrigible."
She laughed as she slid out of the car. "I try."
"I'm sure you do," I said, laughing as I headed into the office and she followed.
"Good afternoon!" Richard said, greeting me warmly as I entered the room. "I was wondering when I'd see you around here again!"
Greer suppressed a smile.
"This is my sister, Greer. She's staying with me for a few days until I go. Do you mind?"
Richard laughed. "Honey, it's your apartment! You can have any guest you'd like."
I smiled. "Speaking of which, I'd like to pay my rent."
He looked at me, confused. "But you're leaving Monday."
I nodded. "Yes, but I owe you for this month, and for the storage building, too." Somerset Apartments had small storage buildings for their musician tenants where they kept their things while on the road.
"No. The young man already paid it." Richard's eyebrows pulled together in concern.
"Who?" I asked, feeling the color drain from my face.
"Logan Ambrose. He paid it last month." He looked at me, confused. "Didn't he tell you?"
I shook my head. "No, he didn't, but thank you. Do I owe you for anything else?"
The familiar smile spread across his face. "No. Not unless you'd like to pay for an apartment that you won't be using!" It was his version of a joke.
I forced a smile. "No. I'll see what happens after the tour." I extended my hand, and he shook it. "Thanks for everything. Are you sure my things'll be okay in storage here?"
He gave me a pat on the shoulder. "Now, don't you worry about a thing, little lady! Your things will be here when you get back."
"When is the next payment due?"
He shook his head. "Logan paid it in advance for six months."
I nodded as a lump formed in my throat. "Okay. I'll be in touch."
"Will do! Have a good tour!" Richard said a bit too cheerfully.
Greer followed me out the door as a crease formed between her eyes. "Are you okay?"
I nodded. "Come on. Let's go home."
She smiled. "I like the sound of that."
"Who's this Logan, by the way?" she teased once inside the car.
I just shook my head. "I'll tell you later."
She nodded and, thankfully, didn't push it. I didn't know if I was ready to talk about him yet. The wound was still too fresh. I couldn't believe that he'd paid my rent, though. He'd had to have done it before the whole Bryant Hall incident. But I pushed the thought aside as I pulled into a parking space in front of my apartment.
"Come on," I said as I turned off the engine, already opening my door. "I can't wait for you to see it."
"See what?" Greer asked innocently. "You have a guy hiding in there or something?"
I laughed as I headed up the stairs and she followed. "No. Not now, anyway."
