Starting from Scratch (Starting from 2)

“Hi, Charlie. Remember me? I’m Lauren…Ky’s girlfriend.”

I smiled automatically at the pretty blonde. We’d only met a couple of times, but of course, I knew who she was. No doubt the unnecessary intro was for Ky’s posse of young admirers. I thought he’d said they broke up. Not that it mattered to me. The sick feeling in my gut had to be bad ginger ale. Was that a thing? Whatever. It couldn’t be jealousy. So what if Lauren was naturally pretty in a surfer-girl way that complemented Ky’s skater-boy vibe? It was nothing to me but a good indication I needed to get laid. Sooner rather than later.

However, my faulty filter didn’t leave room for too many mysteries. At least not this one. I yelled a polite hello above the din, then blurted, “Are you and Ky still…together?”

She gave me a thumbs-up and leaned in. “We’re kind of on and off at the moment. I think we’ll be fine in the long run. Either way, I’m not missing any of their shows. They sound better every time. Ky told me you’re on the hunt for a label.”

“Yes. We’re looking for the right fit, but we have some nice options,” I said in a neutral tone.

“You’ve got to get them on the radio, Charlie. There’s an official-looking guy in the corner. The older man wearing a baseball cap with his arms crossed. See him? I think he’s a music bigwig. Talk to that guy. I bet he’s someone.”

I spotted the rather nondescript gentleman off to the side of the bar. He was tall, thin, and serious looking. I’d studied the profiles of the recording companies who’d voiced an interest in Zero. This guy had the bored music exec expression down pat, but he didn’t look like one.

“Thanks for the heads up. Take care, Lauren.” I gave her a harried smile, then sidled sideways, setting my glass on the bar before turning toward the stage as Justin finished the final refrain from one of Zero’s more popular songs.

“…Run away with you, hide away with you

Wherever you go, I go too…”

Most of the audience danced and sang along with their hands in the air; the rest swayed happily or played air guitar. I had to agree with Lauren. Zero looked and sounded better than ever. I cast my gaze from the action on the stage to the older man standing in the shadows. He looked as out of place as I did. He had to be here for a reason.

I slipped through the press of bodies and found a narrow space to navigate along the perimeter until I reached the man. He met my friendly grin with a bored sideways glance. Yep. Probably an industry guy.

I flattened my back to the wall and gestured toward the band. “They’re on fire tonight.”

“Hmph,” he grunted. “They’re okay.”

“They’re better than okay. I’m Charlie, by the way. Zero’s manager.”

The man tipped his cap so it fell lower on his forehead, sending his whole face in shadow. “Then you’re biased, aren’t you?”

“Maybe.” I stood next to him for the duration of the song and caught his smile when Ky did an impromptu solo. He was more interested than he let on. He had to be a rep or a blogger or a critic. “Which record label are you with?”

“What makes you think I’m with a label?”

I shrugged. “Are you?”

“No.” He folded his arms and looked straight ahead. When he sensed my stare, he shot me a warning glance. “You’re being rude.”

I frowned. “You must be Nelson.”

“The name’s Ed.” His gruff rumbling affectation made him sound like a gangster.

“Ed,” I repeated. “Are you a critic, by chance?”

“Everyone’s a critic. You want a real opinion you can trust, you get it here.” He thumped his chest twice before refolding his arms.

“True. So you’re a Zero fan?”

“No. I’m just passin’ through.” He tapped the bill of his cap, then nodded briskly and turned toward the exit. “G’night.”

I had less than two seconds to mull over the odd exchange before Vin from Vin Records caught me by the elbow and pushed a cold beer bottle at my chest. “Yo, Charlie! How ya doin’, man? Your boys are fuckin’ magic tonight.”

Vin Vasquez was a bit…smarmy, but he was easy on the eyes. He ruined his tall, dark, and handsome dreamy exterior every time he opened his mouth and promised more than he could deliver.

“They are,” I agreed, nodding absently.

He motioned toward the stage. “And that song alone is gonna go fuckin’ platinum. I see the vultures closing in, and I don’t wanna see you guys go the wrong direction and…”

I tuned Vin out and sipped the beer even though I hated the taste. It seemed polite to nod and pretend to be interested. Zero was never going to sign with his company, but it wouldn’t be smart to alienate him. Besides, he was saying exactly what I’d been thinking, and he came to all of our shows, so—