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shake my head. “Apparently not.”
    Meagan is the girl with the plan. She already knows the end of her story. By the time she turns thirty, she’s going to be married to a doctor from Gamma Phi Gamma’s brother fraternity, Chi Kappa Psi, be mother of two kids, and own a four-bedroom house and a little dog.
    Sometimes I envy her a little bit. It seems like the only thing that I’m sure of right now is that I’m going to finish college and keep pushing forward with my music. As for love . . . that has temporarily eluded me.
    And I think that if it comes again, it certainly won’t be planned. It’s almost one-hundred-percent sure to catch me by surprise.

4
    â€œI ’m so not surprised by this,” I say as Mystique pushes her tablet across the table at me to show me a YouTube video from inside her wedding. “You think Dreya did this?”
    I take a long sip of my fresh-squeezed orange juice as I wait for Mystique to respond. We’re at Zac’s house, in the sun room, having breakfast the Wednesday after Mystique and Zac’s wedding. Why can’t I enjoy this gourmet prepared French toast and hash browns?
    â€œWho else would post a video of Zac’s crazy baby’s mother? I swear your cousin is out to destroy me.”
    I consider this accusation. I wouldn’t put it past Dreya to try and destroy Mystique’s career, but in my opinion, it wouldn’t really be a good idea. Dreya is trying to reform her image, and stay in good with the record label. Starting a little controversy is one thing, but I don’t think Dreya is really trying to ruin Mystique.
    â€œDestroying your career doesn’t help her one bit. Your record sales provide revenue for the company. It’s the only way Reign Records can exist.”
    â€œI know this and you know it, but does your cousin ever think before she acts? She’s a one-chick catastrophe. A category-five hurricane waiting to tear up the coast.”
    I can’t disagree, so I simply give a quick nod. “Don’t worry about it, Mystique. The girl looks crazy and Zac married you. When are y’all going on your honeymoon?”
    â€œNo time soon. I’ve got to get to work on my new album, and I’m working with a whole new team of writers and producers.”
    I’m a little shocked at this news. I was sure she’d ask me to contribute some music to her next effort. The last song I gave her went straight to the top of the Billboard charts the week it was released.
    â€œI want a different sound this time. Something to set me completely apart from what Evan is doing,” Mystique explains as if she’s got the ability to spy on my brain waves.
    â€œIt’s all good. I’ve got more than I can handle right now anyway. I’ve got Dreya’s second album to do, and we’re planning my second release. With school too, I might need to clone myself to finish all of these projects.”
    â€œBethany’s record is going to solidify you in the game as a songwriter. You won’t have to tour and do all the extra stuff to make money, because you’ll have enough songwriting gigs to keep you busy.”
    â€œI hope so, because I can’t really do a good tour right now. Not unless it’s over the summer months.”
    â€œSpeaking of a summer tour, I think I want you to open for me at some of my European shows this summer. I’m talking Paris, Monaco, London, Madrid, and maybe even Lisbon.”
    Even though my life has been on warp speed since my senior year of high school, summer seems so far away. It’s only January now, and I’ve got a whole other semester in college to worry about.
    â€œIt sounds like a great opportunity,” I say.
    â€œBut . . .”
    â€œBut nothing! Why do you think there’s a but?” I ask.
    â€œBecause your body language tells me you’re not feeling it.”
    â€œI’m just stressed out right now,