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‘Again, stopping you right there. You need to get back out there before people forget who you are. Show your face and smile. That’s it. Oh, and wear a suit. It’s not black-tie but you’ll need to look the part.’
He closes his eyes and rubs his forehead. An award ceremony is the last fucking thing he wants to face, but she has a point. He can’t keep harping on about finishing this new album if he’s just going to hide in the studio for the rest of his life. That’s not how it works. He can’t do his job and not go to things like this. It’s also not fair on the guys. He needs to show his face.
‘Hello? Tate? You still there?’
‘Yeah. Okay, I’ll go.’
Ellen pauses for a few seconds. ‘Wow. That was relatively painless for a change. I was all prepped for a battle. So, will you be going alone or bringing a plus one?’
‘I’ll let you know tomorrow.’
‘Great. Talk to you in the morning.’ She ends the call and Tate buries his head in his hands.
‘Is everything okay?’
‘No. Well, yes, it is. I’m just being...’ He takes a deep breath and smiles at her. ‘Right, so I have a favour to ask, but I don’t want you to feel like you have to say yes. Believe me, I want to refuse but I’m kind of stuck.’
‘Okay, you’re going to have to back up a little. What do you want to ask?’
‘We’ve been nominated for an award. Actually I think it’s two. I need to check.’
‘Oh my God! That’s amazing, Tate. Congratulations!’
‘I wouldn’t get too excited. We were nominated a few weeks before I went off the rails. I seriously doubt we’ll get it now. But Ellen, she’s our manager, she really wants me to go. As in I’m going and that’s it. I just thought you might fancy a night out. Well, it’ll be two nights. The dinner is in London so it would mean flying out on the Friday and back on Sunday. Like I said, you don’t have to come.’
‘Are you finished?’
Tate grins. ‘Sorry. I’ll shut up.’
‘Are you sure you want me to come? It’ll be the first time we’re... you know, out together.’
‘Why the hell do you think I’m all iffy about it? I don’t want you to feel pressured to be seen with me.’
‘I was thinking about you being seen with me,’ Chloe replies with a smile.
‘You can knock that off for starters. It’s you I’m worried about.’
‘I’d love to come with you.’
‘You sure?’
‘Of course. When exactly is it? Do you have any details?’
He pulls up his email on his phone, grimacing when he sees quite a few from Ellen about the event. ‘Fuck, bit short notice. It’s in two weeks. Probably should have read the emails before. The band are up for Best Rock Album and I’m nominated in the Song of the Year group for a song I wrote.’
Until Ellen’s phone call he had completely forgotten about the two nominations. Being nominated is such a big deal for the band. Having the lead singer all over the media alongside the words heroin, addict, and rehab, probably would have ruined any chance they had at winning. Years of hard work gone to waste all thanks to him. He’s managed to destroy not only his career but that of his three closest friends.
Chloe takes his hand in hers and he looks down. He was scratching his arm again.
‘Are you okay?’
He smiles and nods although okay is far from how he feels. ‘Yeah. All good.’ He focuses on the email again, trying to sound at least a little excited about the event for her sake. ‘Ellen suggests flying to London on Friday evening. The dinner is on Saturday night, so we’ll have the day to ourselves. The car will pick us up from the hotel at six. There’ll be some photos, then a dinner. After that they’ll announce the awards. Might go on till the early hours. Ellen will get us back home sometime on Sunday afternoon.’
‘Will there be loads of famous people there?’
Tate looks up from his phone and laughs. ‘Yeah. There usually are a few at these things.’
She slaps his arm. ‘Stop laughing at me. This is all new to me. I’ve never met anyone famous before.’
