I nod, aware we’re totally alone here too. No one would see.
I take a step closer.
“Austin!”
I whip my head toward the voice.
Paul is looking out of our bus toward us, wearing a wrinkled shirt and sweats. “Gotta talk to you.”
“Coming,” I say.
He stays put, and I look at Mia.
“Good night, Austin,” she says, and then she disappears into her bus.
I shut my eyes, let out a breath, and head over to Paul, preparing myself
He lets me pass, then closes the door behind me. Maybe it’s because he spent the last twenty hours puking, but he doesn’t look thrilled. He takes a seat on the couch and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees while I wait.
“I just got off a call,” he finally says.
My brows go up as I sit. This isn’t the direction I’d seen this going.
“With Fusion,” he clarifies.
“Okay…”
He sighs. “They want you to play a couple of shows with Noah Hayes.”
“What?”
He nods. “They’re hoping to expand his audience over here, especially with his upcoming album and tour.”
I put my hands up. “Whoa whoa whoa. Hold on.”
He grimaces because he gets it.
“So, what, they want me to hand him my audience on a platter?”
“I know. It’s not what we want.”
“Understatement of the century. I hate Noah, Paul.” Today more than ever.
“I know.”
“And the feeling is mutual.”
“I know.” He sighs, lifting his shoulders. “Fusion really wants this, though. It’s just for the shows in Lyon and Paris.”
I drop my head in my hands and rub my face harshly. Whatsort of sick joke is this?
“Why, though? We don’t even have the same type of music—something Fusion has made sure of since they won’t let metouchthe kind of sound Noah has.” The type of soundIhave. And I had it before him.
Paul nods, and I know he gets it. I’m preaching to the choir here. “Maybe this is an opportunity, though, you know? If the crowds are responsive to Noah, we can make a stronger argument for you leaning into that for your next album.”
I blow out a breath and let my head fall back, shutting my eyes. “Is it even an option to say no?” Noah’s sudden appearance here makes a lot more sense now, as does the whole “Be seeing you around”thing.
“An option?” Paul repeats. “Of course it’s anoption. Would I recommend it? Not really. You know how Fusion is, Austin. They can make your life a heckuva lot harder if they want to.”
