Chapter Twenty One

I don't get fired.The label tries. Calls an emergency meeting. Demands my immediate termination.Lennon refuses.According to Claire, who fills me in later, he told them if I go, he goes. Cancels the rest of the tour. Voids his contract.They backed down.But there are consequences.New rules. No private meetings. No traveling alone together. Everything documented. Everything supervised.Basically I'm being treated like a teenager who can't be trusted."How long does this last?" I ask Claire."Until the Natalie story dies down. Could be weeks. Could be months.""Great.""Look at it this way. At least you still have a job."She's right. But it doesn't feel like a victory.The tour continues. Seattle. Portland again. Vancouver.Every city blurs together.Lennon and I barely speak. When we do it's always with witnesses. Always professional. Always painful.I catch him looking at me sometimes. During shows. During sound checks. When he thinks I'm not paying attention.But he never approa

Chapter Twenty Two

Three days pass.Lennon doesn't approach me. Doesn't text. Doesn't look at me during shows.He's giving me space. Like I asked.It should feel like a relief.It feels like abandonment.We're in Portland for the second time this tour. Bigger venue. Twenty thousand capacity.Sound check is smooth. The show that night is flawless.I shoot everything. Professional. Distant.After the show I'm packing up when Claire finds me."Lennon wants to see you.""Why?""He didn't say. Just asked me to send you to his dressing room."My heart races. "Tell him I'm busy.""Sloane. Whatever is happening between you two, you still work for him. So go."She walks away.I stand there debating. Then grab my camera and head to his dressing room.I knock."Come in."He's sitting on the couch. Changed out of his stage clothes. Hair still damp from the shower.There's someone else in the room.A woman. Older. Professional looking."Sloane, this is Dr. Miranda Ellis. She's a therapist."I freeze. "What?""You sa

Chapter Twenty Three

Two weeks later we're back in Los Angeles.Third show here this tour. But this one is different.Lennon is debuting five new songs from the album tonight. Songs no one's heard yet.The past two weeks have been strange. He keeps his distance. Professional. Respectful.But I catch him watching me. Always watching.He goes to therapy twice a week. Never misses a session. Even when it means rescheduling interviews or appearances.Claire tells me the label is furious about the therapy. They think it makes him look weak.But he doesn't care."He's different," she says one afternoon. "More present. Less destructive.""Or he's just performing again.""Maybe. But it feels real this time."I want to believe her.Sound check runs long today. The band is nervous about the new material.But Lennon is calm. Focused. More centered than I've seen him in weeks."You ready for tonight?" I ask during a break.He looks surprised that I'm talking to him. We haven't had a real conversation in two weeks."A

Chapter Twenty Four

The joint therapy session is on a Tuesday.I almost cancel three times.But I show up.Dr. Ellis's office is calm. Neutral. Two couches facing each other. Plants everywhere.Lennon is already there when I arrive.He stands when I walk in. Like I'm someone important. Someone worth standing for."Thank you for coming," he says."Don't thank me yet."Dr. Ellis smiles. "Sit wherever you're comfortable."I sit on the couch opposite Lennon. Distance. Space.She notices but doesn't comment."So," she says. "Let's start simply. Lennon, why did you want Sloane here today?""Because I needed her to hear things I can't say alone. Things I need a witness for.""What kind of things?"He looks at me. "That I know I've hurt people. Not just Natalie. Not just Jessica. But probably others I don't even remember clearly. And I'm not going to stand here and make excuses for that.""Okay," I say carefully."And I need you to know that what I feel for you is different. Not because I'm special or because yo

Chapter Twenty Five

The small gestures become a thing.Every morning there's coffee outside my hotel room door. Black. Two sugars.No note. No explanation. Just there.I never mention it. Neither does he.But every morning I smile when I open the door.Three days into it Maya calls."You're smiling," she says."I'm not.""You're literally smiling right now. I can hear it.""Shut up.""What happened?""Nothing. Small gestures. Like the therapist suggested.""What kind of small gestures?""Coffee. Every morning."She's quiet. "That's actually really sweet.""Don't make it weird.""I'm not making it weird. I'm saying coffee every morning is thoughtful. He remembered how you take it.""It's just coffee.""It's never just coffee."She's right. It's never just coffee.The tour moves on. Chicago. Detroit. Nashville.Every city a new hotel. Every morning coffee outside my door.And slowly other things.A playlist sent to my phone with no explanation. Just songs that somehow match exactly what I'm feeling that da

Chapter Twenty Six

The next city is Atlanta.Three nights. Three shows. The biggest venue yet.We're at the hotel when Claire calls an emergency meeting."Conference room. Ten minutes. Everyone."I grab my phone and head down.The room is full. The band. The crew. Label executives on video call.Lennon is sitting at the head of the table. Face blank.Something's wrong.Claire stands up. "There's a situation. The label received a letter this morning. From someone threatening to release information about Lennon's personal life unless we pay them."My stomach drops."What kind of information?" someone asks."They claim to have photos. Videos. Messages. Documenting inappropriate relationships with staff members over the years."Everyone looks at me."This isn't about Sloane," Claire says quickly. "This is old material. From years ago. But they're threatening to release everything. Make it look like a pattern.""It is a pattern," Lennon says quietly.The room goes silent."What?" one of the label executives