“All right, I’ll keep working on Cutter. You guys focus on blowing the roof off the Shooting Fences gigs.”
After that, we’re set free. The guys are already discussing where to celebrate our good news.
“Chaser,” Val says in a low voice.
“I’ll catch up.” I nod to Alvin and shut the door behind him. “What’s on your mind, Val?”
I return to my seat, and she moves into the chair directly across from me. “How is everything? How’s Mallory?”
“Mallory’s fine.” Like you give a shit.
“Is she still willing to star in the next video?”
“As far as I know, yes.”
She blows out a breath. “Good. So, you two are…”
“We’re solid, Val.”
“She’s more than welcome to attend the Shooting Fences gigs. But she won’t be asked to come on during ‘Candy Jar.’”
The pleasant buzz I had going from the good news bursts. Val’s treading on dangerous territory with that comment. “You realize she never wanted to do that, right? You came up with that bright idea. It made Mallory uncomfortable, but she did it for me. To help the band. Don’t act like she was trying to use Kickstart to further her career because we both know that’s bullshit.”
Fuck, if anything, I’m starting to wonder if Mallory’s association with Kickstart will hurt her career. Plenty of tabloids have only referred to her as the “‘Candy Jar’ girl” or “Chaser Adams’s girlfriend” or worse, “the busty blonde model” since news of our relationship went public.
“It was good exposure for her,” Val says with a straight face.
“Yeah, it’s been great.”
She winces at the venom in my voice.
“Are we done?”
“The record company suggested something simple for the next video.” She taps her fingers on the table, completely avoiding my question. “Show how versatile you are. Everyone has you pigeon-holed as glam metal, but you’re rugged, too. I suggested footage of the four of you riding Harleys through downtown or something.”
“Great. Except, Jacob knows dick about bikes.”
She grins. “One of you will take pity on him and let him ride bitch, won’t you?”
Finally, I laugh. “Not me.”
After saying goodbye to Val, I find Alvin, Garrett and Jacob sitting and flipping through magazines out in the lobby. “You waiting around for me?”
“Who else, wanker?” Garrett says.
“You in trouble with Val?” Jacob asks.
“Nope.”
“Good.” Jacob turns and slaps Garrett’s shoulder. “We should all go down to The Palace and celebrate. Wishing Well is playing tonight. We can fuck Brent’s girlfriend while he’s onstage.” The two idiots double over laughing.
I roll my eyes in Alvin’s direction, and he smirks.
When he doesn’t get the reactions he’s seeking from Alvin or me, Jacob straightens up. “Seriously, we should celebrate. This is a big deal.”
“Val didn’t say so, but I think we need to keep this quiet for now.” I glance around the empty lobby. Even the chair behind the reception desk is vacant. Still, I keep my voice down. “A lot of time between now and those shows for something to go wrong.”
“Good point.” Jacob shrugs. “We’re fresh off a successful U.K. tour. That’s enough reason to go out and celebrate.”
None of us mention the “Candy Jar” video being sunk. I’m not as bent out of shape as I should be about it, and I suspect the guys aren’t either. The video’s cheesy as fuck and not at all what we want to be known for.
So, fuck Davey Revolver. As far as I’m concerned, he did us a favor.
“Shooting Fences.” Alvin grins at me and slings his arm around my shoulders. “Did you think we’d ever open for them?”
Sure, I’ve had all the same daydreams every wanna be rock star has when they land in L.A. But to have it actually happen? “Hell no.”
“You need to call your dad and let him know. He’ll be so stoked.”
“I will. You planning to call your folks?”
“They won’t care.” He rubs his palms together, and his eyes gleam. “I can’t stop picturing Revolver being all pleased with himself for getting our video yanked.” He chokes on a laugh. “Then hearing we’re opening for Shooting Fences. Stupid fucker.”
“Hey.” My serious tone stops him, and he raises an eyebrow. So the other two don’t overhear me, I pull Alvin in for a hug. “Thanks for having my back. With everything.”
“Always, brother.” He slaps my shoulder a few times. “You know that.”
He casts a look down the street where Jacob and Garrett are yelling and carrying on. “We need to stick together.”
The implication in his words is plain.
While today we had good news, no one knows what tomorrow will bring.
One thing is certain. The road only gets harder from here.
Chapter Eleven
Chaser
“Where’s my girl?”
No one answers, but as I close our apartment door, the sound of running water reaches me.
Perfect.
I’m about to sneak into the bathroom and join Mallory in the shower when the water shuts off.
Damn.
I knock, and Mallory yelps. “Chaser?”
“It’s me.” I open the door. “I wanted to soap up your back.”