Page 50 of C*cky Best Friend

Lexi wags a finger at him. He snatches it like he’s going to pull it off. She bends it like he was successful. And they both say at the same time, “Oh!”

They’ve been doing that since we were kids.

I turn toward the pink roses Mom sent, thinking about this strange advice. “I don’t see them face-to-face that often. Maybe once every couple weeks.”

In unison, my siblings say, “Exactly.”

Tugging out the card, I read it again. To the biggest star in Atlanta. Love, Mom.

Do I want to just be the biggest star in Atlanta—which I’m not—or do I want a chance to shine even brighter with audiences three times the size? Maybe four, five, six!

I’ve never been to New York.

What is it like?

There’s a sneaky smile in Lexi’s voice behind me. “She’s thinking about it. See that?”

“I am.”

“What could it hurt? You go. You check it out. If you like it, then you tell them!” I meet her eyes as she shrugs away any implications that this is a terrible idea. “And if you don’t, then you just come back here as if it never happened. Zoe and I will save your room. You have enough money to keep paying rent, right?”

“Yes.”

Three knocks sound on my door. “Places, Samantha!”

"Coming!” I turn to the mirror to check my makeup, running my finger along the edge of my lips for a clean line of pale pink lipstick. I’m supposed to look like I sprung from his dreams, a cloud he can’t catch hold of.

Hunter says, “You’re too tied to the family, Sam. Live a little.”

I roll my eyes and stand up, locking eyes with him in the reflection. “If Max and Caden knew what we were talking about right now, we would be in such trouble.”

Their laughs are so mischievous that a smile cracks through my concern. I spin around, the decision made.

She hugs me, “Have a fantastic last show in Georgia, Broadway star!”

“Knock ‘em dead, Sam,” Hunter smirks, skipping the hug to vanish out of my dressing room door.

Lexi whispers to me, “He has lived outside of the city, hasn’t he?!”

“It’s so weird!”

“I bet if I look outside he will be gone.” She snaps, jumps over, peeks out, looks over her shoulder and hisses, “I knew it!”

I flip the switch, sending shadows flying in. “How did he get to be so cool?”