"What!?" I say.How the hell did Steven figure Maddie inspired the song?
"Relax man," Steven says. "Why are you so jumpy all of a sudden?"
With that, I realize it was just Steve's coincidental turn of phrase.
My new obsession with everything Maddie is secret.
At least for now.
“Alright, let’s call it a night,” Steven says, putting his guitar in its case.
I leave the studio, ears still ringing. I take the elevator up to the VIP floor, rubbing a hand over the tense back of my neck.
An irrational urge to tell Maddie I've written a song about her quickens my step. But it's late. She's probably asleep.
And telling a girl you wrote a song about her must be the worst thing a man could do.
Once a girl knows you're under her thumb, that's the end.
I know I'll tell her eventually. But if, and when, remains far in the future.
CHAPTER 20
RIO
Iopen the door to the suite quietly, figuring Maddie's sound asleep by now.
But I find her sitting cross-legged on the cream-colored sofa, wearing a fancy red silk robe that makes her look like a silver-screen siren.
Her phone is plugged into one of those fold-up miniature keyboards. And her fingers fly over the keys like she's racing to finish something important.
"You're up late," I say, dropping into the chair across from her.
Snorty jumps down from where he's been curled up against her side to greet me.
"Hey, buddy." I scoop him up from the floor and settle him on my lap. The little guy leans back against my stomach and splays his legs out in front of him, totally at ease.
"You two look like partners in crime," says Maddie, looking up at us with a cheerful laugh. "How was rehearsal?"
"Good. I’ve got to hand it to your brother. He’s the voice of reason in this crew. Left to our own devices, me, Keith, and Prince Michael would go insane."
"Well, you have Antoine. I find he has a good head on his shoulders."
"Yeah. But he's hired help. And now that the label money's run out..." I trail off, not meaning to let that slip.
"Money's run out?! What do you mean?" Maddie's eyes widen as her fingers freeze over the keyboard.
"Steven hasn't filled you in?"
She shakes her head. "He hates talking business. You know the guy. Keeps everything close to his chest. Just tells me and Mom things are going great."
Maddie hesitates, biting her lower lip. "Isn't that true? Things are going well ..."
I shift in my seat. "Sure it's true. But it's a rough transition right now since we left our old label. They used to pick up our expenses."
"Who's doing it now?" she asks, leaning forward.
"We're doing it ourselves," I say with a shrug. "But it's only temporary. Derek Ward, the president of Midnight Records, is coming to see our performance. Once we're signed, it's easy street again."
