Page 55 of Down Beat

“Forgiven.” I’m still seriously swooning that he’d do something like that just for me.

Calm down, Tab. He probably did it out of boredom. Or not.…

“How do you feel about rehab, though?”

“Bummed.” He frowns, seeming to search for the right words. “I don’t think I have a problem that serious, but it’s not as though I’m always right, is it?”

“You did smash up some cars.”

“A car,” he corrects with a raised eyebrow. “And I did that on my way to see you.”

Wait. What? “To see me?”

He nods, lips twisted.

“Why?”

“Why not? You’re way more fun than these clowns.”

“Fun isn’t a word I’d associate with me,” I level.

He inclines his head in agreement. “Genuine, then.”

“Sounds better.” I give him a small smile. “I could have used the pick-me-up today.”

“Because of the money thing?”

“Because of this.” I spin the phone to show my milk river.

His laughter echoes from the device as I turn it back around. The loud twang of a guitar sounds in the background. “What the hell is that, Tabby-cat?”

“My milk for the week. Let’s just say Kendall will be pissed when she can’t have cereal in the morning, or her cocoa at night.”

“Chin up, babe. You’ve got seven hundred coming your way.”

The deafening notes of their music crackle through my speakers. Rey frowns to the left of the screen, presumably at the stage. “I better go.” He hollers to be heard over the noise. “Talk later, kitty.”

My stomach ties itself in knots when he blows me a cheeky kiss before ending the call.

Rey Thomas just blew me a goddamn kiss.

I may as well have French kissed the guy on the red carpet for how I feel in this moment.