She glances up, notices something in my expression. “What happened?”
“Apex Records just tried to poach me from Bishop.”
“That’s good, right? Bidding war means leverage.”
“They made it clear the offer was for me solo. They called you—” I pause, not wanting to repeat it but needing her to understand. “They said you were a nobody holding me back.”
She sets down her pen carefully. “They’re not wrong about the nobody part.”
“Stop saying that.”
“It’s literally true. I have no industry presence.”
“You have The Songbird. You have your songs. You have?—”
“A ten-year-old daughter and a business that barely breaks even and a bar owner who threatens to shut us down every month. I know what I have, Darian. And I know what I don’t have.”
“You have me. As a writing partner, I mean. If you want that.”
She looks at me for a long moment. “Even when labels are offering you stupid money to work with their approved writers?”
“Especially then.”
“You saw the number, didn’t you? The offer?”
“Yeah.”
“And you still said no?”
“Without hesitation.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“Probably.”
She comes around the bar, stops just close enough that I have to look down to meet her eyes. “They’re going to keep coming. Other labels, other offers. They’ll all want you without me.”
“Then they don’t get me at all.”
“You say that now?—”
“I’ll say it every time. We’re creating something real together. That’s worth more than any advance check.”
“Is it though? Can you pay rent with artistic integrity?”
“I’ve paid rent with a lot less. At least this way, I can sleep at night. I’d rather have my integrity than a record deal. I’d rather be someone people can count on, then on a world tour with sell-out crowds.”
She reaches up, touches my face briefly, then pulls back like she’s surprised by her own action. “Thank you. For choosing the music over the money.”
“I’m choosing you. The music is just an excuse.”
“Darian—”
“As a writing partner. Collaborator. Whatever you want to call it.”
“Right. Collaborator.” But she’s smiling now. “You really told Mitchell from Apex to fuck off?”
“More or less.”
