Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
I can’t even be disappointed about the blowjob.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Harley
Once the details for Brix’s dad moving in fall into place, I move on to the next thing on my list.
I have a list.
A life list.
In order of priority, it goes: Brix, the label, and then the future of Harley Valentine.
Gideon couldn’t find a loophole or an affordable exit strategy, so I’ve offered the label the next best thing.
I’ll give them my last album. I’ll even tour for them next year. But after that? I walk away with my name … and Eleven’s.
I’m just awaiting their response.
Gideon is pitching it to them that I’m ready to cut all ties because of “creative differences.” If they even suspect what I want, there’s no way they’ll hand over the rights to everything Eleven.
It’s a long shot, but the more I’ve been thinking about it, the more I want to bring the guys back together and do another Eleven album. Maybe even a tour.
But I want to do it differently than the insane Joystar schedule they had us on when we were together. I don’t want us to get burned out the way we did.
The plan is to make an album of all solo songs from each of us. Two solo songs each. Five new songs together.
Ryder can produce.
I can manage. Maybe create my own label.
We can have a redo and release an album in our voice.
All I have to do is get the guys to agree. That will be a feat in itself because we’re so spread out and doing our own things now.
Ryder wanted out because of Kaylee. Mason is God knows where. Blake is in a completely different industry. And Denver has got his own crazy schedule going on.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. I need out of my current contract first. All the rest can come later.
When Gideon arrives and Brix brings him into the living room, my balls jump into my throat.
Gideon is stoic, not giving away anything. “I brought you something.”
A voice I know well comes from the entryway. “Hurry up and tell him I’m here.”
“She’s so impatient.” He says that, but you can hear the love in his voice.
“Get your butt in here, woman,” I yell.
Evah turns the corner and basically crash-tackles me. I fall backward with her on top of me, and her knee lands suspiciously near my good bits.
“Whoa, there.” I push her off me.
She hits the floor next to me with a thud, laughing hard. “Missed you too.”
“You almost kicked me in the nuts.”
“Yeah, don’t hurt those,” Brix says. “I kinda like them.”
Evah gasps. “No! Really? You guys are together? I knew you had a crush.” She shoves me.
I sit up. “You’re so violent today.”
God, I’ve missed her.
She looks at Gideon. “You never told me!”
“I think Harley’s team has had enough NDA violations this year.”
She gets off the floor and approaches him. I expect her to shove him too until she sinks into his arms. “You still could’ve told me.”
“I’m loyal to my job.”
“Aww, thanks, man, but I don’t have secrets from her, so tell her whatever. For future reference.”
They both have this happy glow about them.
“Okay, this is a little weird,” I admit. “But good weird. You deserve the best, Evah … which is why I have no idea why you’re with him.”
“Hey,” Gideon complains.
“I’m kidding. I’m happy for you. Both of you.”
Gideon looks positively gleeful. “You’re about to be happier.”
“Really?”
“This will be your last album with Joystar.”
“Yes!” I jump to my feet.
“Wait, there’s more. I couldn’t get you out of the tour—”
I shrug. “Figured.”
“But I did get them to agree to a similar tour as the first album. Four months, tops.”
“So, if I get this album finished as soon as I can, I could be free in …”
“A year. Max. Eight months if you push really hard. And then you can do whatever you want. Even release a new Eleven album.”
That. That is what I want.
“With no cut going to Joystar?”
“Not on the new stuff. The old stuff will get a bump with a new release, and your royalties will be the same on that, but any new songs are all yours. Well … split between you and the other guys, but this is what you wanted.”
I take a deep breath and slowly release it. “And coming out?”
Gideon winces. “You’re free to do whatever you want, but you know my stance on that.”
“You think I should still keep it on the DL.” I agree to some extent, but maybe we don’t have to be as uptight about trying to hide it.
I’ll become looser with my vagueness. Maybe even hint, so when I do come out, no one is shocked.
“You okay?” Brix asks.
I look up into his eyes. “I’m free. I’m really free. I mean, well almost. But the sentiment is the same.”
I don’t care if the Eleven thing doesn’t end up working out. I don’t care if my future in music is uncertain without a big label behind my name.