AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Right…
“He’s the one who does most of the songwriting and selection anyway. Nothing has changed. Except we’ll work on pieces together from scratch. We’ll create a list, and when everyone is back in January, we’ll review them, and the band can decide as a group. Same as always.”
“I’ll be very curious to see what you and Brodie can create together. If ‘Sideline’ is any indication, we’ll have another best-selling album on our hands. Just make sure you keep your collaboration under the radar. That song has given fans a taste of what’s to come, but we want to keep them guessing, keep them hungry. Are we clear?”
Greg was not talking about the next album. But at least he was giving me leeway.
“Yes.”
“Good. Send me weekly updates.”
“I wi—”
He hung up before I could finish talking, but I didn’t give a shit. I was relieved. The call had gone better than I expected.
The concert was a success, I still had my job, and I was about to embark on a month-long trip with Brodie.
A trifecta win in my book.
BRODIE
I knocked on Holls’s door and waited.
I was excited to tell the guys about me and Van, but also kinda terrified.
Holls’s comments from last night hadn’t changed my mind, but still, I knew there would be questions and concerns.
But it was Ronin who opened the door. “You finally surfaced! Where did you go last night? You were MIA at the party. The fuck?”
“I was there for almost two hours, Ro, chill. And can I come in? I don’t want to have this conversation in the hallway.”
Ronin stepped aside, and I entered Holls’s suite. It was the mirror image of mine, complete with a kitchen and dining area.
The earthy smell of pot wafted over me.
Faise and Holls were sitting at the table, munching on snacks and drinking shots of tequila.
Faise raised a glass to salute me. “He has arrived.”
I walked over, sat my (tender) ass carefully on a chair, and grabbed the bottle of liquor, pouring a shot for myself and one for Ronin.
Once all four of us had full glasses, Holls raised his. “Here’s to another great fucking year!”
“To the city of New Orleans!” Ronin called out. “Great food, great booze, and lots of hot men!”
“To friends!” Faise chimed in.
“To finally fucking my manager!” I blurted out while they took their shots.
The guys choked and spewed tequila all over the table and each other.
I was a good performer, but my timing and delivery weren’t always spot-on.
“You all claim to be gay, and yet, none of you know how to swallow,” I quipped before I downed my shot and slammed the glass back on the table.
I poured another round for everyone.
They looked like they were going to need it, and I sure as hell did.
