“Nothing that came with auditions. We can look at those, if you like, but I preferred that they sent the tracks.”
“One audition, out of a week of having the ad up.” Holland took a hard sip on his beer. “I guess we can be thankful we got only people who were really interested.”
“Set it up?” I asked.
Everyone nodded, and I opened my email. “Taylor, can we hold it here? I’ll bring Hailey.”
“Which means Bryce will be here,” he answered. “Do you want to overwhelm the guy with all of Robot Servant and UDLR?”
The guys and I looked at each other and laughed.
Taylor sighed. “Fine. I’ll bring everyone.”
To:DrumReaction
From:Doxxsings321
Aaron—thanks for the audio samples! Very helpful, and very enlightening. And so, we’d like to meet in person, for an interview and a live audition. We have a drum kit at the location to follow. We need a time that will work for you—we have a flexible schedule. Sooner is better though, as we have a mini tour coming up and studio time booked. Looking forward to meeting you in person, and hearing those beats live.
Rock on,
Doxx
“You aren’t going to tell him who you are?” Holland asked from directly behind me.
“Dude! No!” I said, slamming the computer lid shut. “How do you know I didn’t have porn up on this thing?”
“You currently have a girlfriend and don’t need it,” he answered. “You only watch porn when you’re not seeing someone.”
“Why do you know so much about my porn habits?”
“Tour bus,” Rand, Holland, and Ora chorused.
I gave them the middle finger. “So, as soon as this Aaron guy replies, we’ll reconvene, scare the shit out of him, and see if he’s any good at the drums. And while you assholes are on the subject of my porn or girlfriend habits, I have a date.”
Ora flopped back on the couch. “Essentia?”
I lifted an eyebrow. “That…would be my girlfriend…”
Rand looked at the others and sighed. “Doxx, man…she’s a star fucker, you know that. If she can’t set up her life with you as rock star, she’s willing to find anyone to foot her bill. Me, Taylor, hell…she’d probably move onto sports if she had to. Nothing like a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract to keep a girl dripping with diamonds and Louis Vuitton.”
I should have bristled at his accusation, but I didn’t. “Essie is a really nice person—”
“I didn’t say she wasn’t nice.” Rand cut into my words smoothly. “Hell, she may love you for all I know. But she’snothere to struggle and help you find your way to being a superstar. She wants to be catered to. Trust me. If anything happens to her source of cash, she’ll be gone like Donkey Kong.”
Holland twisted toward Rand. “Who even says that anymore?”
“Him apparently.” Taylor laughed.
“Look, Essie and I are happy with what we have. I don’t want more right now, and she’s plenty happy with our arrangement.” Standing from the couch, I tucked my laptop into the bag and headed for the door. “I’ll catch you guys later. Let you know what Aaron says.”
The door clicked closed behind me and I headed for the elevators. I stood and stared at my reflection in the doors, muddled and fuzzy. I wasn’t mad at them, not even close. I just didn’t want to talk about me and Essie.
Mostly because I knew they were right. I really liked Essie, but if I got her a gift, it had to be the best of the best or I could tell she was disappointed. I got her a pair of Jimmy Choos for her birthday, and she quickly made it clear that they were last year’s release and they might go well with her throw-back outfit.
How was I supposed to know there were seasons on clothes and shoes. I thought the importance of years only applied to cars and wine.
She loved to rib me about my tastes, too. I liked a nice glass of wine. I preferred a gamay. They were simple wines and the most I ever spent on one was probably $80 off a restaurant menu. Essie asked for the $300 bottle the last time we went out, and it was a nebbolio—almost exactly opposite of everything I liked about the gamay.
