AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I never thought I could or would look at another man and feel anything like what I felt when I was with Josh. My heart belonged to him alone, but he’s gone. My head knows this, but my heart wants to stay hidden. Locked up where it's safe.
Sitting on my couch, looking like a complete mess and giving Sean a hard time, was nice. It was easy and comfortable. Somehow, he seems to understand me in a way most don’t.
It felt strangely natural to make dinner, feed Ax a bottle, and eat together, given how this all started and who I thought Sean was. After he left, I thought about what he said about getting caught up in all the pretension that constantly surrounds him. The fact that he was aware is one thing, but his taking action to change it tells me a lot about who he is and who he wants to be.
The thing is…even if I was ready to open myself up to someone again, when the event is over, Sean and I will go our separate ways. We live in two different worlds. He lives in the spotlight, and that’s not a place I want to be.
I think sometimes people come into your life to simply help you get to the next phase. Maybe that’s who Sean is for me. Someone who’s helping me see that I don’t have to be so afraid of the world that’s waiting for me.
I run my finger down the setlist. “He was gracious. I owed him dinner after she treated him like he was part of a substandard species.”
“He’s an NFL star. What does she want? A foreign prince,” Jonesy sneers.
“No, she wants Andie to marry a slimy surgeon of the worst kind, who can’t keep his ding-a-ling from ding-donging more than one woman at a time.” Nora just can’t help herself. “Plus, he looks like he belongs in one of those ads for protein powder, although without any sort of muscles. So, like a really skinny weasel.”
Jonesy chuckles and then turns more serious. “You know you deserve to be happy again, right? If Sean is a good guy, maybe you should consider giving him a chance.”
“She’s going to a party with him on Wednesday.”
“Nora,” I warn, but look at Jonesy's handsome, sweet face. “It's just…hard and scary. I have no idea how I’m supposed to know when I'm ready to think about it again.”
“Maybe you should trynotthinking about it.” I wish I had his confidence. “No pressure. When you meet someone you want to spend time with, do it. When you’re ready, it will happen naturally.”
“Listen to you, Dr. Love,” I tease. “You should start your own podcast. Nora can be your first guest sinceshehasn’t had a date in at least three months,” I say like it’s a scandal. “She’s so busy daydreaming about my love life she has no time for her own.”
“It’s not my fault I completely suck at dating. I meet a guy, instantly fall in love, and he never calls me again. I’m taking a break.”
We laugh as we work through the setlist, making sure things are in order for our one and only rehearsal before the event.
When Jonesy has to leave, I walk him to the door, but he stops.
“I haven’t been sure if I should bring this up, but we’re partners, and you should know. I got a call from Mega. I know you met with Dirk to showcase some songs a couple of weeks ago, but he was pushing for information on you and Sean and wanted to know if I thought you’d be interested in signing with them.”
“Why didn’t he ask me himself when I was there?” I’ve known Dirk a long time, and he shouldn’t be asking Jonesy when he can just ask me himself.
“Probably because he knew you’d say no. I didn’t like how he was going about it, especially when I got the impression your tabloid debut is spurring his interest.” Jonesy scratches his goateed chin. “My guess is he’s trying to jump on the publicity and thinks if he can get you to sign, he’s getting a bonus with what Sean can bring to the table.”
I rub my forehead, feeling my agitation grow. “So now labels only want to work with me because they think Sean and I are a couple, and they can exploit that?”
He shrugs, his own irritation apparent. “All I know is this stuff with Sean has created a firestorm among our business contacts. Some are hesitant to work with you because of the cheating rumors, and it seems others think your current popularity is the perfect platform for sending you to the top. Sean is a bonus. You two could be the next ‘it’ couple.”
“This makes me want to puke.” My stomach rolls up in disgust. “This is what all my hard work has come to. They want to use a bunch of lies as a stepping stone to the stardom I’ve never wanted so they can make money.” I push out a breath, needing a second. “I’ve worked with these guys for years. Mysongs are personal. They’re a part of me, and I hand them over, letting someone else sing them because I don’t want that life. It would kill me.”
“I know,” Jonesy says, and I know he understands.
“How am I supposed to sell my songs, our songs, to them when they only want to work with me because of who I might be sleeping with and what it will gain them? It’s…gross. All of these jokers have known me long enough not to buy into it or at least respect me enough not to reduce me to a bunch of dollar signs.”
“Then don’t let them.” Nora jumps in from the couch. “I wasn’t eavesdropping. Or yeah, maybe I was, but I’ve been getting emails and phone calls. Certain labels want you, but I’ve been telling them no.”
She scratches her head with her pen. “You two realize you don’t need them, right? Stop selling your babies to these dirtbags and sell them yourself. Produce your own record and dictate your own tour schedule. Just a few shows. Ooooorrrr, start working with artists on your own. People know what you can do. You guys don’t need them to act as your intermediary.”
We stare at her, and she holds her hand up. “Ok, I’m out now. Just my two cents.”
“It’s not a bad idea,” Jonesy shrugs.
“Yeah, but what about the royalties? We both need that.”
“Not if we can sell enough on our own and prove that to other artists. It would be a risk but a start.”
