* * *
Around an hour after Emily is admitted for observation, I spot Cormack knocking on her hospital room door. I signal for Marcus and Slater to look at the door. They smile, feeling the shift in the air just like I do.
With Noah’s focus on Emily, we sneak out of the room without him noticing. Our conversation with Cormack doesn’t get off to a great start. He’s pretty stern while expressing his disappointment about the band running off stage during our performance, but considering the circumstances, he also understood why we did it.
When he says his record company wants to offer us a contract, the excitement is so overwhelming, even Slater slaps me on the back in euphoria. Eager to share our news with Noah, Slater and Marcus shake Cormack’s hand before making their way back to Emily’s room.
I stop watching Emily’s room door swing when Cormack says, “Congratulations, you have a great group, and I think this is the beginning of a very successful collaboration.”
With excitement lacing my veins, I accept the hand he’s holding out before using it to pull him in for a hug. He’s shocked, but not as much as Jenni is when I call her to share our news. It’s been one of those nights: wild and crazy, with more emotions than I know what to do with.
After promising to call Jenni the instant Emily wakes, I call Isaac. I don’t mean to brag when I tell him our band gained a lucrative record deal without his help, but that’s kind of what I do.
“I had no doubt you'd do it, Nick. You’ll treasure it even more now that you achieved it by yourself.”
I guess what he’s saying is true. The fact Rise Up earned this on our own makes it even more worthwhile. During our chat, I inform him about my run-in with Megan. He reprimands me for not using protection, but when I blatantly insist that Ialwaysuse protection, he suggests I look further into Megan’s claims, even more so since we’re being signed to a label.
“Some women will do anything for a free ride,” he warned.
That’s when I decide not to call Megan tomorrow morning.
Instead, I call a lawyer.
Chapter Eighteen
Jenni
My first two months of college have been a confusing time, a jumbled mess of conflicting class schedules and adapting to new surroundings. But, if I’m being honest, most of my bewilderment at the beginning centered around Nick. His lack of contact my first few days in New York was an obvious sign that he was no longer thinking about me. His texts were short and infrequent. So, imagine my shock when he called me out of the blue on the very night Rise Up was scheduled to perform in front of the music executives from Destiny Records. I was stunned but immensely pleased.
I hadn’t considered what his reaction would be when I told him I missed him. It was a thing I said in the heat of the moment, but my heart did crack when he didn’t respond. Feeling like an idiot, and a little heartbroken, I disconnected the call. I nearly didn’t answer when he called to inform me Emily was roofied at Mavericks. If his message hadn’t flashed up on the screen seconds before his call, I probably wouldn’t have.
When he said Emily had been drugged, I wanted to catch the first flight home. She’s been my best friend for over half my life, so I wanted to be there for her.
I don’t know how he did it, but Nick convinced me that the best thing I could do for Emily was to stay put. I didn’t sleep a wink that night while waiting for updates. Half my stomach was twisted up in knots because of Emily’s condition, whereas the other half was filled with excitement. Even with the band missing three-quarters of their performance, they secured a record deal. I wasn’t surprised because they’re extremely talented, but I was shocked I was the first person Nick shared his news with.
After our call ended, I messaged Slater. Our texts from that night still make me smile.
Me:Congrats xx
Slater:Thanks! How do you already know?
Me:I have my sources. . .
Slater:Ha, well thanks. I’m fucking stoked.
Me:You should be! You deserve it!
Slater:I’ll see you in a few weeks, city slicker?
Me:Can’t wait, bye.
Slater:Bye.
Now, after two long months, I’m finally traveling home to spend the long weekend with my family and friends. After his dismal efforts my first two weeks in New York, Nick upped his game the past two months. He maintained regular contact, and not just via text messages. He calls me often, usually once or twice a day, and we’ve also FaceTimed a bit.
I stop reminiscing when my taxi pulls to the curb at the front of my parents’ law firm. My flight home wasn’t supposed to arrive until late Friday afternoon, but I managed to get an earlier one. I was a little homesick, and I couldn’t wait to see Emily, my parents, and, of course, Nick for a moment longer.
Hoping to surprise my parents, I didn’t update them on my change of plans. I’m the one left stunned when I enter their firm to discover Nick striding out of my mom’s office. When he spots me, his pupils widen, and his mouth becomes ajar. He stares at me like he can’t comprehend how I'm standing in front of him.
