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“But the keys are the spotlight,” Bobby said, looking to me. “That your doing?”
I shrugged. “Campbell wanted keys. I delivered.”
“Yeah. I wanted it to be keys heavy. I needed something that felt like it pulled you forward.”
But I was still looking at Bobby. He’d been wary of me since I’d helped put the album together. As if at any moment, I was going to demand my fair share of the profits. The studio and I had worked out a payment schedule, as if I were recording as a backup. They wanted to cover their ass so that I didn’t sue. Even though I had no intention of doing any of that. I’d get paid for what I deserved, but I wasn’t a member of the band. And I didn’t need their manager to glare at me to try to make me remember. I felt that every day of my life.
“Maybe we could talk to Michael to get him in on this one,” Bobby suggested.
“No,” Campbell barked at once. Michael was their old keyboardist, but he’d ditched the band right before this album to spend more time with his family. “West will do it.”
“Yeah, Bobby,” Viv said with a wink. “We have West.”
“I do miss Michael sometimes though,” Santi said with a sigh.
“Before he turned into a wet blanket,” Yorke said.
Everyone burst into laughter at that and agreed. The tension dissolved as only Yorke could pull off.
We were all rushed into the studio. I sat down at the keys. My mind was blissfully blank as the notes rushed up at me. Campbell’s smooth voice took up the first verse. Then, it was a frenzy as I blew through the intricate melody I’d come up with. It was a sweeping song, and while maybe not my favorite on the new album, it was the best keys track.
We spent the next couple hours working on everyone else’s pieces. It was grueling work but also my favorite part of the process. It was when the song went from an idea to reality.
We stumbled out of the studio late and drifted into the nearest nightclub. We’d been regulars here the last six months. I’d been schooled on all the things that I’d taught Nora Abbey about flirting and dating. I had no interest in any of that tonight.
“Fuck, that was satisfying,” Santi said once we were escorted to a VIP booth.
“Definitely,” Viv agreed.
Viv’s girlfriend, Kris, nodded. “I’m glad that I got to hear it. I can’t believe you put it together like that in a few hours.”
“Oh, it’s still shit,” Campbell said. “We have hours more to hammer it out.”
Kris huffed. “You could release exactly what you have now, and it’d be a hit.”
“Yeah, but not up to his high standards, love.” Viv kissed her on the cheek. “We’ve learned to let him be a perfectionist. It is what it is.”
“But your part is killer,” Santi cheered, slapping me on the chest. “Jealous.”
I laughed. “Uh, thanks.”
“Speaking of…who are you taking home tonight?”
He scanned the bar, but I shook my head.
“Nah. I’m good. I’m exhausted.”
Campbell laughed. “From what? A few hours in the studio?”
“We flew here today,” I said in my defense. When the real reason was that I wasn’t interested in some easy ass. Not when the girl I couldn’t stop thinking about was waiting two rooms over at home.
“Got a sweetheart back in Lubbock?” Santi teased.
“And how would I have done that in two weeks?”
“You move fast, hombre!”
“The only person he’s seen since he’s been in Lubbock is my little sister,” Campbell said.
Santi crowed, “Ooh, you into his sister?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. I didn’t say that,” I said quickly.
“You’re not an idiot,” Viv said.
Yorke just nodded. “Suicidal.”
“That’s fucking right,” Campbell said with a sharp grin. “Nora has been through enough.”
“Nora’s hot though,” Santi said.
Campbell glared at him. “Take her name out of your mouth.”
