Her throat tightened.“Jami…”
He shook his head.“No hiding.You fought for us.They need to see that.”
For a moment, she couldn’t speak.Then she nodded.“Okay.”
By late afternoon, the barn transformed into a small studio.The cameras rolled.The band stood behind Jami, quiet but united.Carlene sat beside him, her heartbeat steadying as the red light blinked to life.
Jami looked into the lens.“I’ve always said our music belongs to the people who listen, not the people who sell it.Somewhere along the way, that got lost.We’re taking it back.Together.”
He turned, taking Carlene’s hand.“This is Carlene Matthews.She stood by us when others tried to tear us apart.She’s family now.”
The words caught in her chest.Family.
He faced the camera again.“We’re Hart & The Hurricanes.We’re still here.And we’re not done.We're supposed to have our first record drop next week.Our record label, Summit Sound, has been manipulating our news feeds and stirring up drama.The only thing we've lied about..."He looked into her eyes once more, then turned back to the camera.“Was the photo of Carlene and me walking on the beach.At the time of that photo op, we weren't a couple.We fabricated a romantic moment because Carlene thought I had detached emotionally from my music, and that you saw that."He turned to her again, that smile...the one that made the women go wild, he bestowed it upon her.He lifted the joined hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles."But now, it's true.We are a couple, and I'm not at all unhappy about that.We stand for truth and honesty, and that's what I'm giving you.From this moment moving forward, if you see something that doesn't come directly from me, or one of my bandmates here..."He pointed behind him."Then assume it's not true.Join our newsletter, which can be found on my website, and you'll hear only the truth about us and what's happening in our lives.Anything from Summit Sound, unless also shared by us, is not true."
When the feed ended, the barn fell silent except for the sound of her heartbeat.
Tony finally grinned.“That’ll shake the industry.”
Sean let out a low whistle.“You sure you’re ready for the fallout?”
Jami looked at Carlene.“As long as she’s beside me, yeah.I’m ready.”
Carlene squeezed his hand, the spark between them stronger than fear.
Because for the first time, this wasn’t about contracts or headlines.
It was about freedom.
And maybe, if they were lucky, about forever.
ChapterTwenty-Nine
His phone hadn’t stopped vibrating.Every few seconds, another notification lit the screen, a steady stream of messages that blurred together until the sound felt like static in his chest.
By the time the camera crew packed up and left, the barn buzzed with quiet chaos.Everyone talked at once, half-excited, half-concerned.
Sean leaned against a speaker, phone in hand.“We’re everywhere.Hashtags, clips, reaction videos.People are calling it the most honest thing a band’s done in years.”
Tony rubbed the back of his neck.“The industry’s either gonna hate us or start a revolution.I hope it's the latter.”
“Probably both,” Axel said, his tone dry.
Maddyn elbowed him lightly and smiled.“If you're going to start Hart Records, it's great press for the new label.You'll encourage other artists to do the same.Get out from under an oppressive label.”
Jami sat on the edge of the stage, phone in one hand, the weight of what they’d just done settling on him like a familiar chord, heavy, resonant, right.
Across the room, Carlene stood by the mixing console, her focus sharp as she scanned the data on her laptop.Her brow furrowed, mouth set in that determined line he recognized.
He pushed up and walked toward her.“Tell me something good.”
She turned the screen so he could see.“Engagement’s through the roof.Eighty percent positive sentiment.And...”She looked up at him, a flicker of disbelief in her eyes.“...you just hit number one on trending worldwide.”
He blinked.“Seriously?”
Tony laughed from behind them.“Brother, you broke the internet.Again.”
Livia crossed the studio, notebook in hand.“Before we celebrate, we need to plan for the other shoe.Summit will strike back.”
