“So, what happened? How did they find you? Did they call you? I mean, I gave them my business card, but I never got a call.” Her sister sounded dejected.

“They called The Night Owl. This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t brought Lizzy into the ward,” Annie said.

“Talk about fate that you sang a Bristol Baines’s song when her manager was there,” Sarah said.

“It’s serendipitous,” Annie said. She believed things happened for a reason and those reasons were mostly good.

“I’m so proud of you. Maybe this will be your big break,” Sarah said.

“I’ll just be happy to live in the moment,” Annie said. She respected Bristol’s success. It was the ultimate goal—all the fortune and fame at her fingertips. Annie didn’t struggle financially like most musicians, but she dreamed of top-tier success. How would she do in front of thirty thousand people? Would she do her best or freeze onstage? “Okay. I’m at the salon. I’ll text you later with the details.”

“I’m so proud of you.”

Annie disconnected the call and burst through the door of the salon.

Jazz was ready at her station with a hair straightener in hand. “Over here.” She waved her to a chair in the back of the salon. “Have a seat. Tinks is going to help.” She spun the chair around and pointed for Annie to sit.

“Thank you so much for getting me in. I’m so nervous.” Annie bit her bottom lip and rubbed her hands on her pants out of nervous habit.

“I’m so excited for you. Let’s get you ready for center stage,” Jazz said.

Annie put her hand to her stomach and took a deep breath. “When you put it like that, I feel sick.”

Jazz turned her chair so they were facing one another. “You’ll rock the stage. You’ve been training for this for years.”

“That’s just me and a phone. And the coffee shop has maybe fifty people on a good night. This is a stadium. Playing in front of my city is exciting but also frightening,” Annie said. She looked at herself in the mirror when Jazz turned the chair back around. Her brow was furrowed with determination. “Okay, Jazz. Make me look like a star.”

* * *

“I’m supposed to check in here, I think.”

Annie handed the security guard the pass Lizzy had given her. He inspected the front, the back, and finally pressed his lips against his shoulder walkie to read off the number on the tag to somebody who was probably in Bristol’s security.

“Okay. You’re clear to go in. Just turn left. Someone will meet you there to escort you where you need to be.”