He has to call the missed number twice before anyone bothers to answer. When the line finally stops ringing, he grins at Brett, but his warm greeting dies on his lips at the clipped, “Yes?” he hears on the other end. Maybe Lou’s wrong. Maybe this wasn’t Roxy calling.
Stammering, he searches for something to say. “Um, hi. Roxy?”
He can tell by the voice it isn’t. It’s an older woman, obviously angry at being disturbed. “Who is this?”
“Johnny. Johnny Thomas.” He hurries to explain. “My manager said I missed Roxy’s call and this was the only number on my cell—”
The sudden change in tone surprises him. “Johnny!” the woman gushes, as if she’s been waiting by the phone hoping he’ll call. “I hope I didn’t scare you off. This is Becky, Roxy’s mom—I mean, her manager. We met yesterday? I have t
