I walked around the corner to the row of sinks, a long mirror stretched above them. For a moment I simply stood staring at myself. I looked good. Amazing even. Which was interesting considering how physically awful I felt. I’d become good at it though. Grinning for the camera regardless of whether I wanted to or not, laughing at jokes that weren’t remotely funny because I knew it was expected of me, making idle chitchat and appearing engaged even though I was dying of boredom. It was all part of the job. Part of being Nova. Someday I’d be able to make my own rules. Someday, singing, not media buzz, would once again be my focus. But for now, I had to play the game. And I would because I’d worked my entire life for this moment.

I heard the restroom door open and close and pulled myself straight, adopting a casual expression as I leaned toward the mirror and pretended to touch up my makeup.

From my peripheral vision, I saw a swath of emerald green, my eyes moving to my right as I met Layne Beckett’s gaze in the mirror. Oh no. I gave her a thin smile and went back to adjusting my makeup. I’d act casual, aloof, and then I’d stroll slowly out of here as if this was the dress I’d planned on all along, and whatever conniving she’d done to show me up had been a total fail.

For several beats, the bathroom was utterly quiet, tension filling the space. “I’m sorry, you probably came in here to escape all the fangirls, and now I’m going to act like one,” Layne said, turning my way, “but oh my God, I love your music. Seriously, if you knew how often I listen to ‘Find You in the Dark’ on repeat, you’d be totally embarrassed for me.”

I turned slowly toward her, narrowing my eyes slightly. What game was this? Before I had devised what to say, Layne tipped her head back and started singing a few bars. She put her hands over her mouth as though she had to physically stop herself from belting out the song, and then grinned. “Obviously it sounds ten times better when you sing it, but wow, what an emotional, heartfelt piece. You wrote it yourself, right?”

“Uh…yes.”

“True depth like that doesn’t come along very often in the music business.”

I tipped my head, completely taken off guard. “I… Thank you, Layne.”

She brought her hand to her chest and stepped back, eyes widening. “You know my name.”