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“I would try for more money,” Paige says. “You built that band, Cass. They kept your songs when you left. They wouldn’t be where they are without you. Ask for more money.”
“A hundred and fifty thousand is a lot of money.” My stomach ties itself into a knot even saying the words. “There’s no way that they are going to give me more than that. And that’s if I do this. I don’t know if I even want to do this.”
“You would be stupid to give up the opportunity to get back out there.” Paige gets up and rounds the table. She pulls me into a tight hug, the scent of her perfume wrapping around me. “Use this chance to your advantage, Cassie.”
“Dealing with Tyler will be hell.”
“I’m not so sure about that. He’ll probably barely be around. Just work with the other two and get a good show going. Other people are going to want to work with you once they see what you can do.”
I know she’s right. This is the chance of a lifetime. With this one show, I might be able to get back to performing. Though I’m not sure that I ever want to be a solo artist, it’s better than never making music again.
“You also need to ask for more money.” Paige steps back and crosses her arms, her eyebrows knitting together. “They want something from you. You’re going to have to do work in your free time, and you deserve to be compensated for that. Ask for another hundred thousand on top of the one fifty.”
I laugh and shake my head. “There’s no way that they’re going to go for that.”
Paige runs a hand through her dark blue hair. “You’re going to make me rip my own hair out, Cassie. Tony knew your worth back then and he knows it now. Don’t let the bastard lowball you.”
“Fine. I’m going to call him back and tell him that I’ll do it for two hundred and fifty thousand.”
My heart races as I call Tony back and listen to the phone ring. With each ring I’m certain that he’s not going to answer. I take a deep breath and try to focus on the sleeves of tattoos that climbs up Paige’s arms to distract myself. The comic book characters stare back at me.
“I knew you’d say yes,” Tony says as soon as the call connects.
“I want two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I deserve to be paid for my time and for having to put up with Tyler.”
Tony’s laugh echoes through the phone. “You know what? You’re right about that. Done. I’ll have a contract overnighted to you and then I’ll send you Ben’s address. You’re going to meet them there tomorrow night for the first rehearsal.”
This time, I hang up on him. Paige squeals as I toss my phone on the table and stare down at it.
I thought that this moment — if it ever came — would be exciting. Instead, it feels like I’ve just made a massive mistake.
CHAPTER 6
TYLER
One of these days, Kennedy is going to be waiting on the front step with a shotgun to greet me.
She glares at me, her arms crossed over her chest as she storms toward me. I glance at the watch on my wrist. I’m only an hour late. Normally she doesn’t look this pissed unless I’m two hours behind schedule.
“Hey,” I say, grinning as she stops in front of me.
Kennedy stabs her finger into my chest. “Don’t youheyme. I’m tired of this shit, Tyler. Ben is too nice to really say anything to you about it, but you can’t keep showing up late. You’re supposed to be the lead singer. You’re the asshole that plays the guitar. You realize that Matt and Ben can’t practice without you?”
“I’m not even that late. I had other things that came up that needed to be dealt with.”
She scowls. “Blowing your money at a strip club is not another thing that needed to be dealt with.”
“How did you know where I was?”
“Because there are pictures of you plastered all over the internet! All I had to do was search your name and then I found out where you were hiding out.” She takes a step back and shakes her head. “If you drag Ben down with you, you’re going to regret it.”
I arch an eyebrow, trying to smother the smile that is tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Is that a threat?”
“It is.” She stands taller, her shoulders rolling back. “My husband wastes too much time wondering when you’re going to make the band a priority again. He is wasting time he could be spending with our daughter because of you. Do you even know what that does to him?”
“This is the way that life is, Kennedy. Ben needs to learn to be more flexible with his time.”
She gapes at me. For a moment, I think she’s going to slap me. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been slapped for saying something out of line.
