Tone Deaf(36)
Okay, that’s not exactly helpful. But I just shrug, like I really don’t care about his cryptic explanation, and turn to Killer.
“Are you going to stick around until the next rest stop?” I try to keep my tone neutral, and not at all pleading. But if Killer stays, then I’d have someone to talk to and help fend off my boredom. I’ve given up on engaging Jace in a conversation that’s not awkward and stunted.
“We’re not heading to the next rest stop until tomorrow,” Jace says. “We’re done driving for the day.”
“What?” Killer says. “But I thought Tony wanted us to get to Albuquerque by tonight.”
Jace shakes his head. “Check your phone. He just texted. One of the trucks is having engine troubles, so we’re stopped until that gets fixed.”
Killer curses at this news, and then says to me, “Sorry, sweetie, but you’re on your own with Jace for the evening. I promised I’d spend some time with Arrow.” He offers me an apologetic smile and adds, “We’ll catch up tomorrow, okay?”
I have no idea what we need to catch up on, but I nod anyway, even though I don’t plan on doing any hanging out tomorrow. By the time we get to Albuquerque—hopefully in the late morning—I’ll have hundreds of miles between me and Los Angeles. It should be far enough away to make it safe to find an airport and travel the rest of the way by plane. No one is going to know to look for me at an airport in New Mexico, and if I have Jace buy the ticket under his name, it should be completely safe.
Killer says a quick good-bye and leaves, and I sigh as I feel the rattle of the front door closing. Jace strides away from the desk area and collapses on the couch. With Killer gone, I guess we’re back to normal: Jace awkwardly avoiding conversation with me, and me pretending I don’t notice.
I glance back at the desktop screen one more time, trying to find meaning in the words. Googling the phrase would get me an easy answer, but I don’t want to give Jace the satisfaction of knowing I care enough to bother researching it.
Jace waves at me to get my attention, and then scowls at the computer as he signs, “I’m going to need to use that for a bit.”
“Are you going to write?” I ask. After reading most of his lyrics, I’m curious about his process for creating them.
He shakes his head. “I only write lyrics freehand. I never type them until they’re finished.” He grimaces at the computer. “I’m just going to be working on marketing. My manager set me up with a bunch of social media accounts, so now I’m supposed to spend a few hours every week charming fans with my delightful personality.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You’re sure you shouldn’t hire a new manager? Because you are neither charming or delightful.”
He shrugs, but doesn’t bother protesting. “I just respond to the messages about my music, and try to ignore all the other ones.”
“Ignoring people is also not charming or delightful,” I sign, giving him a pointed look. I’m not exactly sure why he’s been avoiding me the last couple days, but if he gets the hint that I’m annoyed, he doesn’t show it. Instead, his eyes suddenly widen, like he’s been struck with an idea.
He points to me. “But you are.”
“I’m what?”
“Charming. Delightful.” He raises his eyebrows. “And hopefully merciful enough to take over my social media duties.”
I shoot him a skeptical look. “You want me to post on your accounts?”
“Yes,” he signs. “It’ll be easy for you, I promise. Just reply to messages from fans and pretend to love everyone and be super excited.”
As I consider this, my stomach lets out a growl. I haven’t eaten in a while, but I don’t even want to go into the kitchen and grab food. All Jace has to eat are things like sesame seed crackers and seaweed sticks and carob chips. In other words, disgusting stuff I’d never touch in a million years.
“I’ll make you a deal,” I say out loud. “I’ll do your social media stuff if you get me a bowl of mac and cheese. And not some gross healthy version. I mean the good stuff with ten thousand carbs and chemical cheese.”
He cringes at the thought. “I’m not going to let you poison yourself as part of our deal.”
“Too bad. Either get me mac and cheese, or do your social media on your own.”
Jace lets out a relenting sigh and signs, “Jon always keeps like ten boxes of that stuff around.”
“So do we have a deal?” I ask.
He smiles a little, and it makes me remember why I decided to trust him in the first place. His smile makes him seem real and genuine, not to mention extremely handsome. I realize I’m staring at him, and glance away, my cheeks flushing with heat.
He chuckles and signs, “I’ll get you your mac and cheese. It’s a deal.”
17
JACE
ALI TURNS OUT to be a natural at social media. Her responses to fans sound personalized and thoughtful, and to keep things interesting, she throws in quite a bit of self-deprecating humor. Or, at least, it would be self-deprecating if I was the one actually writing the messages. Coming from Ali, I think it’s subtle payback for flipping her off when I first met her, but it’s not like I have any right to complain.