“The studio version?”
My Anchoris the studio version.
“Stolen Moments, brother!” Freddy clarifies.
“Ah yes.” I bump my head with the side of my hand.
I’d actually forgotten about following up with a studio version of the track. No doubt the label will be insisting on one now. They’ll want me to jump on the momentum andhave me push out a fully produced version to keep the ball rolling.
But then that means a video, more promo.
That’s the last thing I want to think about right now.
“Should I look into a studio we can hit up while we’re still here?” Freddy reaches for another fry.
“Talk to Paul, he takes care of all that stuff.”
“Great. I’ll go find him.” Freddy gets back up, taking off as quickly as he arrived.
“Is that track about Christopher?” my mom asks once Freddy’s out of earshot.
“Yes.”
“You really like him, don’t you?” Her arm nudges me, causing me to blush.
“I do. And the best part is, he doesn’t care about any of this. He didn’t know who I was when we first met. He just wants to know me. Alex.”
“When you find one like that, you need to hold on to them.” My mom goes to grab my hand, but stops when she sees the bandage. She pats my hand gently instead.
I’m relieved that she seems to like him as much as I do. That she’s invested in our relationship. Thankfully, she’s okay with the fact that I’m gay. Even if I have to keep it a secret from the rest of the world.
I don’t know how Christopher does it. It’s almost worse that he can be out with the world, but his parents aren’t,weren’t, accepting of it. I reach into my pocket to retrieve my phone, but it’s not in either of them.
“Have you got my phone?”
“No. You must have left it in the dressing room.”
I get up, emptying my remaining food into the trash, and place the cutlery and plate to the side before making my way back to the dressing room. I’m hoping Paul has left and returnedto the management dressing room. I could do without seeing him right now.
Thankfully, no one is in the room when I enter, and my phone is lying on the couch. I head over to pick it up and instantly smile when I see a message from Christopher, who I’ve saved in my phone as Betty.
Betty
Congrats on the number one skater boy. I’m heading down to dinner now, wish me luck. X
I immediately fire back a response.
Thanks Betty. Hope the dinner’s going okay. Oh, and you’ve got my mom’s seal of approval. X
24.Christopher
Friday
“Who’s mum’s approval? And why are they calling you Betty?” My mum slurs her words, keeping her hand firmly on my shoulder as she looks down at my phone screen. It takes two deep breaths before I can stop wanting to just shrug her hand off.
I’m surprised that she can even read my screen with the amount of alcohol she’s consumed. She must be on her fourth glass of wine, and dessert has only just been served. You would think that the death of my father would have curtailed her drinking habits, but no. If anything, it amplified the problem.
Thankfully, I hadn’t saved Alexander’s number under his own name, owing to the extensive list of requirements outlined in the MNDA. And my mum won’t get the Skater Boy reference, the pseudonym I’ve rather come to like for Alexander.
