Sweet Little Thing(11)

Trying to remain as cool and collected as possible, I set the paper down and looked up, right into Charlene’s eyes. “I had nothing to do with Chad’s ear infection, and you know it. Why don’t we stop right here, because I know you don’t want to blackmail me. That’s not your style. Put your cards on the table, and tell me why you’re here.”

At first it seemed like my words had angered her. She began tapping a paper clip on the table fervently. After a few deep breaths through her nose and out her mouth, she asked calmly, “Will you help my nephew?”

In the same calm voice, I replied, “Not. In. This. Fucking. Lifetime. Or the next.”

“Will,” Frank said in a no-nonsense tone.

Charlene shook her head for emphasis as she tried to persuade me. “Listen to me, Will, he promised—no more shenanigans. He needs you guys. He’s a good kid, he really is, and he looks up to you so much.”

“He doesn’t need me, he has a record deal. Live Wire will find another producer and studio. It’s not a big deal.”

“He really wants you guys. He knows what a talent you and your girlfriend are.”

“Fiancée.”

“Fiancée, of course. Just sit with it for a while. You can decide in a few days.”

Frank nodded his head at me as if to say take her up on the offer.

I thought about Mia and how she seemed so concerned with stability. I wondered why I was fighting this kid. I wondered why it sometimes felt like a fight to give up our songs. The one thing I knew in that moment was that no matter what, we had control. I leaned back and crossed my arms. “I will not move forward until I have everything in writing. He has no creative input at all, and I want a higher percentage in royalties.”

There were several moments of silence.

Charlie stared at me, chewing on the side of her lip nervously. “You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Ryan, but I think Chad and the label will agree to your terms,” she said with a perfunctory smile.

As I walked her out through the lobby, she stopped when a black-and-white picture on the wall caught her eye. It was Mia sitting on my lap at the piano, both our faces frozen in laughter.

“She’s beautiful. What’s her name?”

“Mia.”

Charlene nodded. “Ah, well, good for you.” She stuck her hand out for me to shake. I knew she’d realized it was the girl I was pouring my guts out to her about that night back in the hotel room. “We’ll be in touch, Will.”

“Bye, Charlie.”

She smiled genuinely for the first time and then walked out the door.

My phone buzzed loudly in my pocket. I took a long breath and looked down at the screen. It was Mia and I was relieved the drama was over for the day.

“Hi, babe. How was the fitting?”

“Good. The dress should be perfect.”

“I can’t wait to see it.”

“I want it to be a total surprise.”

“Yeah,” I said, but I was still preoccupied, thinking about the cluster-f*ck that had just transpired over Chad. I should have been happy; it had basically gone in my favor.

“What’s wrong, Will?”

“Nothing.”

“I thought about you all day today. I just couldn’t stop thinking that something was bugging you.”

Mia could always sense things. Call it female intuition, who knows, but I couldn’t get anything past her. “Why?”

“I don’t know, just had a weird feeling.”

“I’m okay. Everything’s fine and it’s all good now. Don’t worry.”

“You’re gonna have fun with the guys tonight, right? By the way, I’m meeting Martha for an early dinner, so I probably won’t see you.”

“Okay, tell her I said hi. I won’t be too late.”

“Just have fun, baby,” she said vehemently.

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”





When Tyler got to my apartment, he looked disappointed. Scowling and shaking his head, he said, “What are you wearing?”

I had on a red T-shirt that said “Sup” on it and black jeans. “I like this shirt. What’s wrong with it?”

“Don’t you have any shirts that don’t have writing on them?”

I walked back to my room, tore my shirt off and threw it on the bed. I stared up into my closet.

Tyler came to my room and stood in the doorway. “How do you have f*cking abs? You don’t even work out.”

“You admiring my physique?” I said to him without taking my eyes off the closet.

“It’s just not right.”

I pulled a plain black T-shirt off the hanger and slipped it over my head. “How’s this?”

“Better.”

As we headed down the stairs, Tyler yelled back, “We’re meeting Josh and Kyle.”

“Are you kidding me? I can’t stand Josh.”

He turned to me just before walking out into the street. “He’s fun.”

“He acts like a fool. He’ll either get into a fight, get kicked out of the bar, or get arrested.”

“He hasn’t been arrested in two years and anyway, so what if he does? It’s entertainment.”