I looked at Summer, hoping she had her friend’s enthusiasm.
“I told you everyone would like it,” I said.
Riley wasn’t the only one who was crazy about Summer’s music and helping her promote it. The morning after the concert, I’d reached out to Sara Mayes, a former client who was a record producer, with the links to Riley’s original post. She was the one I’d mentioned to Summer, but I hadn’t told her that I’d reached out. I was loving her excitement and newfound interest in songwriting and didn’t want to curb any of that if Sara wasn’t interested.
“People are using the clip of music for their own posts,” Riley said, eyes on her phone. “I don’t watch a ton of social media like some of my friends, but even I know this is nuts.”
“I’m not sure what to–”
My cell rang from the pocket in my flannel. I pulled it out and saw that it was Sara calling. “Hey, Sara.”
“Boone. Glad I got you. Wow, that woman you shared, she’s on fire.”
I looked to Summer, who was now chatting softly with River, their heads together as they looked at Riley’s phone.
“Told you,” I told Sara.
“I listened to it right away and loved it, but had to go to a shoot in Jamaica and just got back.”
“Rough life,” I muttered but softened it with a laugh.
“Thanks to you,” she countered. “I circled back to the clip on the plane, and holy shit, it’s taken off. How many calls has she gotten?”
“Calls?”
“From producers. I’m sure I’ve missed out.”
“No. You haven’t. She’s open to hearing what you have to say, I’m sure.”
Fuck, I was so proud of Summer. Her music was wanted for a talent she didn’t seem to realize she had. It’d been shut down for so long, she doubted herself. Hopefully now, with Riley’s help, she could see that it wasn’t just a bar in Cooper Valley or a concert venue in Missoula where she was liked, but the world over.
“That’s great.”
But then I paused, thinking about what I’d done. “Sara, you’re not interested because you think you owe me one, do you?”
She laughed. “Boone. I do owe you one. More than one, but this? Her? No. I wouldn’t give a music contract to someone who sucked. It’s my butt on the line, too.”
I sighed. “Okay. Right. You want to talk to her?”
“She’s there?”
“She’s my girl,” I said.
Riley and Summer looked up at that.
“Wow, Boone. I’m happy for you. And yes, I want to talk to your soon-to-be-superstar girlfriend.”
I passed the cell to Summer. “Someone wants to talk to you.”
Summer took the phone with a frown. “Hello?”
Riley stood and came over. “Everything okay?”
“Oh yeah. It’s a friend who–”
“WHAT?” Summer screeched then popped to her feet. “You want a demo? Yes, I can put that together. Totally. Oh my God!”
If I didn’t know who was on the phone and what was being offered, I’d have panicked. Summer was upset and agitated and… shit, crying.
