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“Lily, I’m serious. I have no idea.” She twirls in her chair, giving me a skeptical glare. All I can do is lift my shoulders at her, smiling.
“He hurries down here when the security guy said he wasn’t coming in to make sure you’re okay? And now he’s buying you food? Jade?” She elongates my name, pinching her lips together.
“Lily?”
“He must have a crush on you or something.” She starts laughing, aimlessly tapping the mixing board, as she tilts her chair back and forth.
I hold a finger up, narrowing my eyes. “Or he’s just a super nice guy. And since he works here, he knows how to take care of his clients, or whatever people are to him around here. He did help me record a snippet the other day, so he knows his way around a mixing board.”
Bringing her hand up to her face, she eyes me carefully and taps her chin. I’m sure she’s deciding if she wants to keep prodding. “So, what are you going to do about Bret? You know that problem isn’t going to go away. How does his provisional deal work again?”
I roll my eyes, feeling the frustration of Bret’s little stunt today all over again. “I have no idea. Something like I agree to use the studio here, and his band gets a contract for an EP. I think.”
“Did you read the contract?”
“Not really.”
“Jade!” she shouts, slapping my arm. “How could you sign something and not read the contract?”
“Because it’s Bret. Look, I know I get frustrated with him, and he does try to work every angle when it comes to his band, but he’d never do anything to screw me over. He’s just anxious to finally get a record deal for his band.”
“Skum Bucket,” she hisses, then laughs. “Why on earth did he name his band that? What? Was Crusty Trash Cans taken?”
For a second, I stare at her, confused and a little disturbed. Then we both unleash a gaggle of laughs. “Maybe it was, who knows. They’re a punk band, so—”
“Oh, no. You are so not defending that name still. How many times have we gone over this? The Clash. Ramones. Hell, even The Sex Pistols. Punk bands with iconic names. You don’t get a pass over a horrible name simply because you’re a punk band.”
I can only nod in agreement. “True. I can’t argue that. Whatever, it’s his band. And like I always say, if I can help him without acting like a prostitute, then I will.”
She eyes me carefully. “Close enough.”
My jaw drops. “Hey! That’s rude.”
“Sorry.” She drops her head, picking at her cuticles. For a moment, she’s silent, then glances up at me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. I just wish he knew how good he has it with you. You help him a lot, Jade. Like, a lot. Too much sometimes, if you ask me.”
“Yes, yes. I don’t ask you anymore, and you still find a way to tell me.”
“Okay, okay.” She raises her hands. “Enough about all of that. I won’t bring it up again.” I eye her carefully. “Today.” We both giggle at her addendum. “When are you gonna start recording the next Kings’ album with the guys?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe in a couple of months. They’ve been completely cool with letting me take the time to get this stuff out. I love them. Derrik offered to sing some hooks for me if I want, and Maddox is going to lay down some drum tracks for me next week.”
She chuckles, rolling her eyes. “Oh, Maddox. How was he in Vegas? I read all about EJ, but Maddox seemed to take a backseat. No more party boy?”
“Ha!” I throw my head back, letting out the over-exaggerated laugh. “Maddox? That boy is probably going to be clubbing until he’s eighty. I think you didn’t read about him much because of EJ. Everyone was so caught off guard by EJ’s breakout moment during Rocket and Moon.”
“I see the pictures he posts with Skye. They look adorable together.”
I nod, a smile crossing my face. I love that EJ is finally happy with himself and not fretting so much of his nickname. “Yeah, they are.”
Picking at my thumbnail, my mind wanders. Zoey and Derrik never cross my mind so much, mostly because it’s Zoey and Derrik. I didn’t know they’d end up together, but I was not surprised by that. But my mind has been crawling with my relationship with Bret ever since EJ and Skye got together. They’re cute, both involved in the music industry, and they seem happy.
It makes me sometimes wonder why I don’t have that with Bret. Granted, he’s focused on his band, but I’m focused on the Kings. Skye focuses on her group. Tons of other artists focus on their career and still make a relationship work. Somehow, I thought no matter what happens, Bret and I would find common ground and make this thing between us work. But it feels like a struggle most of the time.
“Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I force a smile, shaking her off.
“What is it?”
