The picture pings in thirty seconds later. A wild rock-and-roll-looking Siri stands in the center of it, wearing my expression. Penn’s face is red, and he’s looking at his bubbly fiancée who’s clearly amused. I can’t wait to show Dawn. I tap out and dial Siri before she has a heart attack.

69. Angst and Storytime

SIRI

September 6, Sunday Night

California

“JAMIE?! What the hell is going on over there?” I yelp, closing the bedroom door, running into the closet, and closing that door as well. It’s been two hours since my phone call with Dawn.

“What’s wrong?” Jamie asks on the other end of the line.

“What’s wrong?” I whisper-yell. “Your phone has been off for more than twenty-four hours! That’s what’s wrong! We haven’t exchanged an update in like two days! We’re supposed to be keeping in contact. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just needed some time away from this thing.”

“This thing being all means of communication?” I ask frantically.

“How did the gig go?” she says carefully.

I’m speechless for a moment. I can’t believe she’s going to blatantly brush this off. “Are you mad at me or something?”

“No. Tell me how it went,” Jamie says quietly. It almost doesn’t even sound like her.

I heave in a great breath, because I’ve been dying to tell Jamie how the gig went since the second I got off the stage.

I exhale, concentrating on letting go of my built-up frustration so I can fill her in with the enthusiasm yesterday deserves.