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“They still got it,” Johnny chuckled as he playfully punched Harlow’s arm. “I knew this was going to work.”
“I had no doubt.”
Harlow rechecked her watch. It was after one in the afternoon and their social media manager still wasn’t there. She was supposed to be creating content for the band, but it was hard to do that when she was late. Despite never having met her, Harlow was already annoyed at Riley DeLuca.
Skylar had insisted that Riley was perfect for the job, and Harlow could admit that was probably right. Not only had Riley run the unofficial Maine Event fan club website since the band’s inception, she also seemed to have a knack for creating content. Harlow had stalked her social media accounts when Johnny first told her about Riley, and she liked what she saw. Riley was definitely going to be an asset for the team.
If she’d show up.
“I thought Riley was supposed to be here.” Harlow shifted in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. Johnny leaned back in his chair and shrugged.
“Her flight might have been delayed. She was flying in today.”
“Shouldn’t she have been here before now?”
“You ask like you’re paying the hotel bills for all of you,” Johnny snorted a laugh.
“I offered to pay for my own.”
“I know, we got it. The band is happy to have you back.”
“I’m happy to be back. Thanks for hiring me.”
“No one else could manage a Maine Event tour like you can. You’ve been with them since the start; it only makes sense you’re with them now.”
Harlow tried to hide her smile. She was extremely thankful for the opportunity to be back with the band and touring, but she also knew plenty of other people could have gotten the job too. Of course, they didn’t have the recommendation of Elena Cruz and the support of the rest of the band to resume her role as tour manager.
In a flurry of motion, the door to the studio burst open as a lanky woman stumbled into the studio. Harlow watched in horror as she tripped over a guitar stand and nearly faceplanted the floor as the band stopped playing. Everyone’s eyes were locked on the woman as she whipped her hair out of her face and nervously smiled at everyone.
“Sorry I’m late.”
Riley DeLuca.
Harlow recognized her from her Instagram stalking. She wore the same Taylor Swift concert hoodie Harlow had seen in old posts. Standing, Harlow and Johnny exited the recording booth as the band all gathered around Riley to meet her. Skylar took over introductions, which seemed fitting since they knew each other.
“And this is Harlow Hawkins, she’s our tour manager.”
Riley’s bright green eyes lit up as she turned to Harlow. “Oh! You were the tour manager before.”
“Um, yeah,” Harlow nervously laughed.
Apparently I’m not the only one who does their research before meeting someone new.
“And I hear we’re going to be bus mates! Yay!”
Harlow had to have heard her wrong. Bus mates? As in sharing a bus? With Riley DeLuca, the human golden retriever?
“I’m sorry, what?” Harlow looked to Johnny, who clearly didn’t want that news to be dropped on Harlow just yet. “I’m sharing a bus with her?”
“You didn’t think you’d have a bus all to yourself, did you?” Johnny laughed, tucking his hands into the pockets of his loose jeans. “You and Riley are sharing a bus.”
“Oh,” Harlow shook her head, trying to remember if that tidbit of information had even been given to her. “I must have missed that detail in the contract.”
“I don’t take up much space.” Riley nervously laughed as she scratched her arm. She was younger than Harlow had assumed. Even at only thirty-three, Harlow easily had several years on her. “Despite what my entrance may suggest, I’m usually not this disruptive.”
“Mhmm.”
Forcing a smile, Harlow excused herself from the band and walked out of the studio. She needed a moment to process everything she’d just learned. Looking back, Harlow knew better than to assume she’d have her own bus. Hell, it wasn’t like she was the lead like Elena or Skylar. Nothing about her title indicated she deserved her own bus. Touring managers typically traveled with the band, not in their own private buses.
