“Bethie, youarespecial.”
“Actually, it turns out I’m pretty typical. Just another stupid girl with an eating disorder.”
“You are not your eating disorder. Anorexia is a part of you. And, okay, right now it’s kind of a big part. But it doesn’t define you.”
She sounded so sure. She sounded... Like Dr. Patel. “When did you get to be so smart?”
Amy tossed her head. “I’ve always been smart. It’s just taken everybody a while to notice.”
Dear Amy. She didn’t let anybody put her in a box. I smiled at her, my eyes damp. “You do like to play dumb sometimes.”
She grinned. “If it gets me what I want.”
I carried a bucket to the spigot and began filling little balloons with water from the hose. My phone vibrated in my hip pocket. I dried my hands on my jeans.
Amy glanced over from laying out supplies to decorate loot bags. “If that’s Colt, tell him to go to hell.”
I didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”
“Hey, girl. It’s Dewey. Dewey Stratton?”
“Hi. I know who you are.” We’d met at the Grammys. Dewey Stratton, A&R, signed Colt to the label.
“Heard your demo.”
My mouth was suddenly dry. “Colt played it for you?”
“What?” Amy said. “Who is it?”
I flapped my hand to hush her.
“Listen, I don’t know what’s going on with the two of you,” Dewey was saying, “but I’m calling to let you know the label’s got five certified gold-record artists—women—who’d love to debut this song at the Grand Ole Opry anytime you say the word.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.”
“But...”
“I know what you’re thinking. You let me handle Colt. You two got a contract?”
“I don’t think... I never signed anything.” Not for my songs. “But...”
“That’s all I need to know. Who’s your manager? Because the label sure would love to tie this down.”
“Tie down...?”
“A songwriting deal. Long term.”
“I’m... I’m kind of on a break right now.”
“Who is it?” Amy whispered. “What do they want?”
“Colt said. You’re taking some time for yourself.”
I could barely hear him over the pounding in my ears. I nodded as if he could see.
“I can respect that,” he said when I didn’t answer. “This is a tough business. We can work with you on that.”
