and.
“Please, call me Adam. I feel about ninety years old with all of this Mr. Reynolds nonsense and I’m not even thirty for two more months.” The reporter smiles nervously and sits back down. I take the chair across from him.
“That’s right, February 29th, right?” I nod. “Not an easy one to forget,” Leo says smiling. “Coffee?” he asks, reaching for the carafe on the table.
“Tea, actually, PG Tips if they have it.” He raises an eyebrow and gives me a cheeky grin. “Stop,” I laugh, “I know what you’re thinking and yes, I’m English and do love tea, but I also enjoy coffee and have some almost every morning. Since it’s no longer morning, I thought tea might be a better option.”
He chuckles and signals the waiter, ordering up my tea. “I’m Leo Grey from GQ magazine. I spoke to your relations manager and she said I have permission to discuss,” he checks his notes, “the solo album, your work with Sphere of Irony, and any other topics you chose to bring up. Also that we are not to speak about your relationship with Kiera Radcliff or any other personal subjects except for those regarding your music, is that correct?”
Christ, I hate this crap. What can and can’t be discussed in interviews, but if you don’t spell it out ahead of time, they pounce all over you like a piece of fresh meat in a lion’s den.
“Yes, that sounds right.” I casually stir creamer into my tea, trying not to let my irritation show. Being with Kiera, now that she’s on the rise in Hollywood, has become a bit of a nuisance when it comes to interviews. Everyone wants the gossip, the inside scoop on our relationship. Apparently it’s much more interesting to readers than my music.
The waiter takes our lunch order and as soon as he leaves, Leo pulls out his phone, setting it on the table between us. “Do you mind?” he asks, setting it to record.
“Not at all.” I wave my hand at him, letting him know it’s fine.
Leo begins by asking me about the band, the usual questions that I’ve learned to expect. “How did you meet?” “Where did you get your start?” Then he moves into more recent events. I tell him that I’ll be leaving New York City at some point to tour and finish up the album with the band. We discuss the Grammy Awards, how Sphere of Irony won album, record, and song of the year.
“So tell me about Unconscious Devotion.”
I stiffen up when he mentions the song I wrote in rehab. There’s no way Leo doesn’t know that I don’t like to talk about it. I haven’t told anyone in the media anything about that song, and they’ve tried. God, they’ve tried. Only the guys know what it means… well, and Ellie, if she’s ever even heard it.
“What about it?” I ask coldly, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms. That song is way too personal for me to chat about casually.
My hostile body language flusters the young reporter, something he’ll need to work on if he wants to make it in this business. A more experienced journalist wouldn’t have batted an eye at my less than enthusiastic response.
“Ummmm, uh…” Leo fumbles to recover his composure. “It’s said that you wrote it in rehab. Is it about someone specific?”
Crap. The kid is better than I thought. He got his footing back and went straight in for the kill.
“It is.” I fold my hands and place them on the table, waiting for him to ask another question, refusing to do his work for him and make his job easy.
Leo’s mouth drops open in shock. He didn’t think I’d answer him, obviously. He’s gotten more of a response than anyone else who’s asked me that. “Care to elaborate?” I can see the excitement dancing in his eyes, at being the one to crack the ‘notoriously tight-lipped rocker’s’ mile-high walls.
Deciding I like Leo, I throw him a bone. “I let someone very important to me drift away. Well…” I stop and think for a moment, tapping on the table with one finger, “actually, I pushed her away. Then, I thought I got her back, but I guess the damage I’d done was too much.”
Taking in a deep breath, I continue, “Being sober forced me to figure out who I am and what I want. I don’t want to be that guy anymore.” I shrug. “The song is about what happened instead of what should have been.”
Leo’s eyes are as big as saucers at my admission. He struck interview gold and knows it. “Would you tell us who she is? I’m sure our readers want to know who the woman is that inspired that song, what she’s like.”
I shake my head and frown. “No, Leo. I’m not going to do that to her. You know full well what would happen if I gave you her name. She knows who she is.” My brows pull together as I think about it, “Well, I think she knows. Honestly, I haven’t spoken to her in years, so I haven’t a clue.”
“Well, if she’s heard the song, I’m sure she knows what it’s about.” Leo’s eyebrows rise as he waits for my reaction.
“Yeah, probably.” I drop my gaze and fiddle with my glass of water, not wanting to talk about Ellie anymore.
“So,” Leo takes the hint and moves on, “you’ve been in New York for the last three months recording your solo album, do you have any favorite haunts in the city?”
Smiling, I think about Sydney and the Village Coffee Bar, where I’ve meet up with her loads of times since we met in September. She’s so sweet and kind, and Leah, who owns the café, is always funny and not at all a star struck fan. They’re both like little sisters to me, especially Sydney, who reminds me so much of Ellie. I’ve stayed sober partly because of them. I want to protect them both, make their lives better. Maybe I can help them out by doing something nice.
“Well… I’ve been right busy, and the studio hours are really early, but Galaxy, a nightclub in SoHo is brilliant. And there’s a neat little café, the Village Coffee Bar, in the West Village that makes the best specialty croissants you’ve ever had.”
Leo laughs, “Who knew you were a croissant lover?”
“I know,” I laugh with him, smacking my abs. “I can’t eat too many, it’s too painful to sweat off later in the gym. I’m hoping to make it back to New York soon, because a friend of mine is redesigning Verve, the nightclub at the Warren Hotel, I’ve seen some of her work and she’s quite the talent. I’m keen on checking it out.”
“I’m sure the Warren will send you an invite to the opening,” Leo jokes.