Foam sprays as he pops it open. "God, I've missed this chaos. Vegas was a circus, but this? New York is home base."
Steven chuckles, sliding in after him. "You say that every damn time, man. Like clockwork."
"Yeah, well, this time it's gospel. After that Vegas madness? Feels like we just dodged a bullet and won the lottery."
I slide deeper into the leather seat, the engine's low growl vibrating through my bones.
That concert?We crushed it.
The audience was spellbound when I finally sang the song I wrote for Maddie. It nearly killed me to cave in like that.
But art is art, despite the fact I now hate the woman who inspired it.
"Tomorrow's the real show," I tell my band mates, staring out atthe Manhattan skyscrapers clawing the gray sky. "Our one shot to be represented by the world's hottest label."
"Aw man, don't sound like such a fuckin' Donald downer," says Keith. "What's this 'one shot' bullshit? You heard Prince Michael. This meeting tomorrow at Midnight Records is not a freakin' formality. They're going to lay the contract in front of us and ask us to sign."
"Hold up, Keith," Steven says. “Rio’s right. Best not to jinx it. That Vegas gig got us the meeting. But nothing's certain."
"And no record company can be trusted," I add.No woman either,I think to myself.
Maddie's betrayal still gnaws at me, but I force it from my mind.
Fresh opportunities lay ahead.
CHAPTER 36
MADDIE
Ido my best to entertain Mom with tales of the kids in my classroom as we share a simple boiled chicken dinner.
“Oh my, Maddie,” she says, touching my hand. “Those kids were so lucky to have you. What will happen to them now?”
“They’ll be okay,” I force myself to say. “The new school's not bad. It’s just four times as big. And I have a secret project I’m working on. Hopefully, I can turn the situation around.”
“Secret project, eh?” she says, raising a curious eyebrow. “Tell me about it.”
“Then it wouldn’t be secret.”
She laughs and gets up to clear the dishes.
“I’ll take care of that. You better rest up. You’re getting your first round of injections tomorrow. I’m going to escort you. I’ve already arranged to take the day off.”
“No need, Maddie. I can handle it.”
“Nope. It’s already done.” I help Mom to her room, finish cleaning the dinner dishes, and head out to the front porch to reflect.
I’m startled to hear the gate latch click.
“Maddie?”
Joseph steps onto the brick path, illuminated by the only garden light that hasn’t burned out.
"Can we talk?" His voice startles me in the darkness.
"What are you doing here?" I grip the porch railing, feeling my knuckles tighten. He steps closer, his expensive brown leather shoes crunching on the gravel path. His face half-shadowed under the dim porch light.
"To apologize. Properly."
