“What’s going on?” she asks me. “You keep saying you’re fine, that you’re tired, but I know you’re not. You say you’re happy for Adam, but I’m pretty sure that’s not true. So… what is it?”

“I’ve just… been feeling weird lately.”

“Because of what happened at the audition?” she says. “If that’s what it is, it’s okay. You’re allowed to be upset, and I know that the last thing you needed was to watch Adam get the role when you didn’t, but I think you should just talk to him. Tell him what you’re actually thinking.”

When I don’t answer, Darryl leans forward on the table, staring deep into my eyes. “I don’t know you guys very well,” he says. “But if you’re mad at Adam for some reason, just tell him. That’s the way we do it in the band. If something’s not working, we fix it.”

I bite into my cheeseburger, just to have an excuse not to say anything. I don’t disagree with any of what they’re saying, but I don’t feel like dealing with this right now. I don’t have the energy to worry about Adam’s hurt feelings, or the time to focus on anything other than my family.

“So?” Kimmie says. “Will you talk to him?”

I swallow hard. “There’s nothing to talk about.” What would I say to Adam, anyway? No matter how much I try to tell him that I’m happy for him, he’s not gonna believe me at this point. And maybe Kimmie is right—maybe I am allowed to be a little upset, because Adam and I have never been on a level playing field when it comes to our Broadway dreams.

Kimmie nods once, staring down at her food. “I’m gonna go get more fries,” she says. As she picks up her tray, a part of me wants to say something else, to stop her, but I don’t. I just sit there, watching her walk away.

Darryl clears his throat. “Kimmie’s worried about you,” he says.

I don’t reply. As she joins the line for food, something starts hurting deep inside of me. I get this urge to get up from my chair, go up to Kimmie, and just wrap my arms around her, but I stay put.

“And if she’s worried, I’m worried, you know?”

I meet Darryl’s eyes. He’s still leaning slightly toward me, his arms crossed over the table and his smile bright.

Somehow, I manage to find my voice. “You really like her, don’t you?”

“I do,” he says, nodding once. “I really do. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about her, it’s that there are two things she loves most: music and you.”

“Me?”

“Well, you and Adam. But mostly you.”