Chapter 36

I toss and turn, trying hard not to wake Elisa, the sleeping beauty who looks like she might be dead, and end up on my back. Exhaling heavily and flattening the sheets over my body while staring at the ceiling, I know closing my eyes is futile. By now, it has to be the early AMs, and I have not managed to stay asleep for more than short periods. I keep waking and feeling restless, with a million thoughts swarming me. I can’t stop the ongoing onslaught of mindless worries and woes, and of course, Dane is at the top of that list.

Elisa mumbles something incoherent in her sleep, and I realize I might be disturbing her by moving around so much, so I shift to my side and stare at my desk by my balcony window instead. The clock there shines back at three am, and I deflate further. The night is ticking away, and I am wide awake.

My mom and Bryan texted before midnight, saying they had decided to drink and stay at the hotel where the show was tonight. They’ll probably head straight