Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“Like I said, I’m in on the station thing. I think it gives us sustainability.”
“It absolutely does. Later, I’ll take you over to the studio and you can see the new additions. Elle’s mad we didn’t think of this sooner, size wise. More recording space, newer and better equipment, and one wall is nothing but windows. Elle wants to start a summer concert series in the park now.”
“Gotta love her ambition.”
There was a time when we questioned why she wanted to go into the music business. It’s a nasty industry and will eat you alive. Our first manager taught us that and it took ten years to get out from under her thumb. Of course, I exacerbated the situation by sleeping with her. I was young and dumb. Elle vowed to never be the type of manager we had and so far, she’s proven that.
“I’m taking Harrison over to the studio to show him the new additions,” I tell Josie and Katelyn when we come up from downstairs. “Do you need anything while I’m out?”
Josie shakes her head. “I think most of the stores are closed. Don’t be long.” She gives me a kiss and tells us to have fun.
“It’s too bad you don’t have your bike here,” I say to Harrison when we climb into my truck. “I haven’t ridden in a long time.”
“I could always ride in your sidecar,” he says, laughing.
I shake my head. First off, I don’t have one, and second, no.
When we get to the building, I’m surprised to see Bex’s car still in the lot. She’d mentioned going back to New York for the holiday. Inside, I walk Harrison through the new construction, the live rooms, Elle’s new office, a social media room for Paige, and where the 4225 West station will be.
“Who would’ve thought.”
“I know. I just wanted a place that Elle could use while she and Ben were here during his treatments. I didn’t think it would turn into this. Upstairs, we turned the top floor into lofts. My station producer lives up there.”
We head down the hall to where The Love Line is and I find Bex in her office, looking exasperated. I knock and then open her door. “I thought you were heading home?”
She shakes her head. “My mom went to Mexico.”
“Ah. Plans for dinner?”
Another shake. “Great, I think we’re eating at three. Don’t be late. Come meet Harrison,” I tell her.
Bex does and the two of them hit it off. She tells him her ideas, how she’ll implement them, and what she hopes to see from him.
“I’m committed,” he tells her and then reminds her he does have a home in California, and he’ll travel back and forth.
Bex lets Harrison play with our control board and I swear, he’s like a kid in a candy store with unlimited funds. He then shows her what he can do on the drums for a few minutes. He plays off the short session as us needing to get back to the house for dinner instead of telling her about his shoulder. Bex seems impressed and tells us she’ll be over shortly.
When we get back, my driveway is full of cars. Harrison rushes in because he hasn’t seen Peyton and the triplets in a while and we all know there’s only so much video chatting one can do.
I follow behind and am in awe at the transformation. Maybe we do need a bigger house. Josie and Katelyn have set up enough banquet tables to fit everyone, and by everyone I mean the Jameses, including Quinn and Justine, the Ashfords, including Talisa, the Millers, and the Westburys. There are five highchairs strategically placed near where the grandparents are sitting, which means I’m about to get mashed potatoes in my ears, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s Jace, Juniper and Maverick’s first birthday. There’s a bouncy house out back, a man with three ponies, and an ice cream truck. All for one-year-olds and their friends from their playgroup.
The house smells like cake. Katelyn is frosting three cakes, while Josie works on one. I start to dip my finger in the bowl and get slapped, along with a stern look.
“Don’t push my buttons today, Westbury.”
Not Page. Not Rockstar.
Today is a don’t test my wife day.
Everyone arrives at different times. Quinn and Justine bring Grandpa Michael and Grandma Tess, Harrison’s mom. My mom shows up shortly after, and the three greats sit in the corner discussing their next cruise.
Elle comes in last with a baby on each hip and no free hands, which doesn’t stop her from passing me one the second she’s through the door. “Ben’s on his way,” she says.
Sonny lasts about a minute against my chest before he’s arching his back for the floor. I set him down and spend the next stretch on my knees, steering him away from everything he shouldn’t have. I came in for a glass of water and now I’m on baby patrol. As soon as Harrison comes in, I’m free as a bird until Josie tells me to go outside and help. I greet all the parents that I don’t know, make sure no one is getting hurt in the bouncy house, and eat one too many ice cream cones.