Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Yeah, totally,” Marcus says, his big brown eyes sad beneath his shock of floppy blond hair. “Be there in a few, man. Just going to say bye to Bea.”
Checkers shoots back a chill, “Cool,” and then he’s gone.
As the door shuts with a snick, leaving Marcus and me alone in the oppressive quiet, I’m suddenly not sure if I’m going to cry or start throwing things. Either way, I should definitely be far away from here before it happens.
“I’m sorry, Bea,” Marcus says. “Dude, I feel like shit. I should have kept my mouth shut, huh?”
I force a smile. “No way. It’s fine. Checkers already had his mind made up. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Okay, but still, this is such a bummer.” His lips turn down almost comically at the edges. “I’m going to miss seeing you. And working with you. I loved that new stuff you sent from Scotland.” He glances over his shoulder before turning back to add in a confidential tone, “I’m pretty sure Checkers wouldn’t have been game to shift the sound that much on the early tracks, but I dug it, man. I could already hear how good they would sound. Once we stripped ‘em back, rubbed off the gloss. Gave ‘em teeth again, you know?”
I thrust a vindicated hand his way. “Yes! Thank you! Seriously, Marcus, thank you. That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking. I can feel it, you know? In my guts and bones and the places where the best music lives. This is the way forward.”
His nodding picks up pace as he catches my excitement. “Preach, girl. I’m with you.”
With me…
Is he with me? Really? Maybe?
I bite my lip, weighing the risk I’d be asking him to take. It could get tricky socially, but as long as he hasn’t signed an exclusive contract with Checkers…
Finally, I ask in as idle a voice as possible, “I wonder if you might have time to work on that with me? Maybe? If you’re not contractually obligated elsewhere?”
A smile bursts across his face. “Hell yeah, I would. Thanks for asking. Seriously. I would be stoked to make this magic with you, girl.”
I fight the urge to throw my arms around him in gratitude, wanting to be sure he’s looking after himself. He’s so young. He might not realize how vindictive people in this business can be.
“Are you sure?” I ask. “Even if it pisses Checkers off?”
He wrinkles his nose. “Nah, Checkers doesn’t care about shit like that. As long as he doesn’t have skin in the game, he’s cool. And it sounds like y’all are about to be skin-free. Once you’re clear, reach out, and we’ll get to work. I have my own studio now. It’s not much to look at, and the board is nothing like this, but it’ll be perfect for your tracks. No cap.”
I extend a hand, hope swelling in my chest. “I’ll call you as soon as I’m a free agent again. Thanks, Marcus. I can’t tell you how excited I am.”
“Me, too, lady.” He clasps my hand, squeezing it gently, before adding with a wink, “And keep your chin up, right? Not everybody hates babies. I think they’re hella cute. I totally want a few someday once I find my baby mama.”
“Thanks,” I say, touched.
It isn’t the baby that’s the problem, of course. It’s me with the baby inside me. At least from Checkers’ perspective. But I know not everyone agrees with him, and I’m going to prove it.
Outside, I text Charlotte in the parking lot, leaning against the brick wall in the shade as I plot my next move—Hey, Char. I need a favor. Kind of a big one. I know your parents are on the board at the Botanical Garden. Any chance you might be able to get permission for me to do a photo shoot there?
Her response comes almost instantly—Sure. No problem! I do it all the time for my wedding clients. It’s not a big favor at all, girl. We can get you in right after they close. You’ll hit magic hour and get some fantastic shots. When were you thinking?
I wince, feeling terrible as I type—This weekend? I know it’s soon, and I hate to ask, but we just lost the venue for the album shoot.
I also lost the photographer and the art director and everything else, but I’m confident I can put the rest of the pieces together if I can get access to the gardens. Between the fall blooms and the hothouses, I know we’ll get some insane shots with the same vibe as the set for a fraction of the price.
That’s a little tight, but I’ll put in a call and get back to you, Charlotte shoots back. I’m ninety percent sure we can pull it off, but let me confirm before I promise anything.