Page 96 of Doc Rock
Even though she had spent so many years trying to separate herself from the girl she’d once been, she needed to reclaim that girl, not hide away from her.
People weren’t stupid. She wasn’t Hannah Montana. The wig wasn’t going to fool them for more than twenty minutes. In fact, in this day and age, she was pretty sure by now, the masses on the internet would be putting everything together, and soon, someone would come up with the correct theory that Sie Harrington was Dr Maisie Jones.
She lifted her chin and let her hair fall back so it no longer covered her face, and stepped out from behind Ford.
“No discount. I’m paying full price. I’ll come in on Friday and pick them up.”
“Sure.”Ray sounded bewildered. He stared at her, his eyes narrowed and drifted down, taking in her black clothes. The same clothes that Sie had worn to play.
Mai thrust her hand out, which wasn’t holding Ford’s.“My name’s Maisie. I go by Mai now, but in a previous life I wasknownas Sie.”
“Iknowyou. You come to the pub quiz. You’re with the hospital team.”Ray shook her hand.
“I am. I’m a doctor in the hospital,”she confirmed.
Ray’s eyes widened in surprise.“And you play guitar in a band.”
Mai shook her head.“Not anymore. Once upon a time, I was a member of Midnight Thunder. But I haven’t been for a long time.”
Ford stiffened in shock as she spoke, and she squeezed his hand. Sheknewthe world was coming for her. Maybe she’dknownfrom the first moment she set foot in that dressing room the night Midnight Thunder came to Burra Creek.
“I’ll nip in on Friday. It’ll give you a chance to sort the tickets out.”Mai glanced at herwatch. She wanted to pop back into work and check on Hayes before she went home for the night.
“No problem. I can’t believe this. You’re sure this is okay?”Ray still sounded baffled that this was happening.
“Of course. It’ll be fun to play in the pub. Oh, actually, I do want payment,”Ford said, which made Mai stiffen, before he continued,“We both want a burger when we come in!”
She sagged with relief, even as Ray barked with laughter.
“Done, mate.”
“Donnie’s my manager. I’ll ask him to call you in the morning and arrange everything.”
“Thanks. I can’t believe this. The staff are going to go insane. Oh shit, I need togetmore staff in. Thanks again, Ford. This is amazing,”Ray said.
“Sounds like you’ve got work to do,”Ford said with a grin.
“I do.”Ray shook both of their hands one last time and rushed back towards the pub, shouting over his shoulder.“Thank you so much!”
When the landlord was safely inside, Ford turned to Mai, his expression unreadable.“You told him.”
“I did.” Mai nodded.
“I thought you wanted to hide?”
Again, she wished his face gave something of what he wasfeelingaway, butit wasa mask.
“I’ve been hiding for sixteen years. I’m done hiding.”
He tugged her hand, pulling her closer to him.“You only wanted to hide from us. From me.”Despite his gentle touch, his words cut her, pushing shards of glass into her heart.
She couldn’t deny anything he said though. She had hidden from them, from him.
“I was a foolish child. Running away from my feelings because that seemed easier.”
“And now?”The bitterness still tinged his voice, but his hand was gentle when it reached out and tucked one of her curls behind her ear.
Mai stared at him. She wanted to kiss him.She needed to, like she needed to breathe.And for a long moment as their eyes locked, she willed herself to close the gap between them. To touch her lips to his and forget about everything.
