Run Rose Run(41)

“If I’d known I was coming in for an inspection, I’d’ve worn my clean pair of jeans,” AnnieLee said.

“I hope you’re not offended. Everyone in the business thinks these things,” Mikey Shumer said. “I believe in saying them out loud. It makes everything simpler.” He held out his hands, palms up, as if he were offering her something invisible. “If you think labels don’t care at least as much about what you look like as about what you sound like, well, then you’ve got a lot to learn. So it’s extremely lucky for you that you have other…assets besides your lovely voice.”

Two people—a stern-looking woman and a man with a baby’s face and a pro wrestler’s build—came into the room. Once Mikey sat down, they silently took their places at the table on either side of him. Mikey introduced Meredith and Hitch, calling them his “A team,” and then he crooked his finger, and a pretty assistant appeared to ask if anyone wanted a cappuccino.

AnnieLee asked for a double. She also wanted one of the fancy doughnuts on the platter in the center of the table, but she didn’t want to get powdered sugar all down the front of her shirt.

“Don’t be shy,” Mikey said, pushing the platter toward her.

“I didn’t come here for breakfast, Mr. Shumer,” she said.

“Well, you’ve got a giant basket of food back at your motel anyway, don’t you?” He grinned. “So let’s talk business. Your single’s on the radio. People are calling in, saying they love it—they’re trying to figure out who this AnnieLee Keyes chanteuse is. Have you checked your streaming numbers?”

AnnieLee looked at him blankly. Ruthanna had told her that she needed to focus on the music, and so that’s what she’d done.

“Well, Meredith here did. She can go over all the figures if you want her to. They’re pretty solid for a non-album single with absolutely zero promotion, paid or otherwise, but you’ve got a long way to go.” He leaned back as the assistant placed their coffees in front of them. “You’re not even on social media, are you, AnnieLee?”

“I’ve been writing songs, not tweets, Mr. Shumer. I’ve finished seven real good ones, just in the last couple weeks.”

“Seven, huh? Good for you,” he said. “That’ll keep you onstage for about thirty minutes. What’ll you do for the rest of the time? Magic tricks? You gonna pull a bunny out of a Stetson?”

AnnieLee laughed, but she knew that Mikey was challenging her. Maybe he was even doubting her abilities. “I’ll write more songs,” she said. “No problem. I’ve been rhyming since I could talk, and I’ve been singing longer than that. I can write a verse faster than you can eat one of those doughnuts.”

Mikey Shumer reached slowly and deliberately for a doughnut. “On your mark,” he said. “Get set. Go.”

AnnieLee grabbed her guitar out of its case and strummed a quick C, then F, G, back to C. Basic. Familiar. Then she began to sing, looking Mikey Shumer right in the eyes as she did.

You walk into the room like a big man, do ya

Never seen you before, but I can see right through ya

You tell me you can help me go high and go far

While you’re sittin’ in a chair that’s worth more than my car

Then she took her hands from the strings and grinned. “I’m just kidding,” she said. “I don’t even own a car.”

Mikey Shumer stared at her. He’d taken two bites of the doughnut.

AnnieLee felt her palms begin to tingle. Had she gone too far? Had she offended him? She couldn’t tell what he was thinking at all. “These chairs are really comfortable, though,” she added, just to break the silence.

Mikey Shumer began to laugh. After a moment, the others began to laugh, too.

“You’ve got fire, girl,” Mikey said. “I like it.”

“Damn straight I do,” AnnieLee said. “Because I ain’t got nothing else.”

“I’ve got fire, too,” Mikey said. His voice grew softer, confidential. “That’s why we’ll make such a good team. Your friend, Ruthanna, she’s been out of the game for too long. She doesn’t need the hustle. She’s gone soft. Me, though, I live the hustle.”

“She doesn’t seem to like you much,” AnnieLee said.

“That’s true. I can’t understand why, though. I’m an extremely charming person, once you get to know me.” Mikey Shumer set the half-eaten doughnut on the table, and the assistant appeared out of nowhere to take it away. “Tell me, AnnieLee, how much longer does Ruthanna think you ought to keep grinding it out in honky-tonks?”

AnnieLee plucked lightly at her guitar strings. “She wants me to get experience. You know: easy come, easy go, put your time in—that kind of thing?” Even as she said it, she wondered if Ruthanna was right. Why do something slow if you have the chance to do it fast?

“Maybe she doesn’t have your best interests at heart,” Mikey said lightly.

AnnieLee frowned. “If she doesn’t, why’s she doing everything she’s doing? You think I know how to get a song on Spotify?”

“I’m sure you’re familiar with the phrase ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’” Mikey smiled at her with teeth that must’ve cost ten grand in bleach and crowns.